Candy Cane Pretzel Kisses are a salty/sweet/peppermint treat! We love these so much!
So remember how I joined the gym? You know, for health and all that?
Well, my friends forced me to take a Zumba class. FORCED. As in MADE ME DO IT.
Ok, they didn’t actually force me, but they were all doing it and…yeah…I gave into peer pressure. I guess if all my friends jumped off a bridge I would too. Sorry parents.
Well, Zumba is this cardio workout that is a kind of Latin-dance-inspired. I am not of “Latin” origin…and I have significantly less rhythm than the average person, so suffice it to say, Zumba was a challenge for me. The class started off bad and ended worse.
The instructor had hip-action to spare, but was unwilling to loan any to me. Luckily I was smart enough to find a spot in the back with low visibility. When the music started I can say with no uncertainty that the astute words of Gloria Estefan could have never been more wrong. The rhythm most certainly didn’t get me.
The women that surrounded me were essentially the Nancy Grace to my Kate Gosselin, but in the moment I felt like their booty shaking rivaled Beyonce. My white girl knee bends and step touches were an embarrassment to the music that blared through the speakers.
Every once in a while I would get a move down and feel proud…until I watched myself in the god-forsaken mirror. It was kinda how you feel if you have had too many margaritas and think you’re a JLo back up dancer… I left the class feeling humiliated and sweaty, a combination that I don’t recommend.
Everyone says, “No, stick with it, you’ll learn the moves.” Really now? All I learned in that class is that my childhood disconnect with Cha Cha DiGregrio was not because she was a boyfriend thief, but because she was an expert Merengue-er. It was like a full circle moment.
The combination of not having “moves like Jagger” nor the desire to “sweat ’til I bleed” coupled with my fear of public humiliation mean my Zumba days are over. Please don’t try and convince me I am wrong, because I have never been more right…acceptance is the most important step, yes?
Now, sometimes when I feel embarrassed and/or humiliated I try to go to my happy place. So basically the entirety of Zumba class I inhabited said happy place. For me that means thinking about cakes and brownies and sugary food. It’s just what I do.
So the idea for these easy treats were basically a coping mechanism to get through the hour of Zumba. I posted THESE a while back. My mom used to make them and they are an all-time favorite snack in our house. I decided to give them a fun Christmas twist.
They couldn’t be any easier. Here’s what you do…
Unwrap a bunch of Candy Cane Kisses.
On a parchment lined baking sheet lay out some waffle-style pretzels and place a Kiss on top.
Pop the baking sheet into a 300° oven for 2 – 2 1/2 minutes and remove. Just until the kiss starts to get glossy.
Squish another pretzel on top of the melty Kiss. If the Kiss is still hard in the middle, place back in oven for 20 seconds.
Pop in the fridge for 15 minutes to set. That’s it!
These are perfect to bag up and give as gifts!
Candy Cane Pretzel Kisses
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 120 candies 1x
Ingredients
- 2 bags of Kisses (Candy Cane or any flavor), unwrapped
- 1 (1 pound) bag of waffle-style pretzels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place approx 120 pretzels on a large baking sheet about 1/2 inch apart. (You can use 2 baking sheets if you don’t have a large enough one…you don’t want them too crowded)
- Place unwrapped Kiss on the pretzel.
- Place baking sheet in oven for 2- 2 1/2 minutes until Kisses are glossy.
- If Kiss is still hard in the middle place back in oven in 20 second increments until soft.
- Press another pretzel on top sandwiching the kiss.
- Place baking sheet in fridge for 15 minutes to set.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
There are many variation of this, feel free to try another flavors of Kisses.
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I have friends that keep trying to get me to come to Zumba…after reading this I am so glad that I have resisted their peer pressure!!! My non dancing white girl body would be in so much trouble too!!! I think I will stick to baking with you….much happier indeed:-)
Well at least you tried, there is no way on God’s green earth that I will ever try it, in public. WII at home, maybe, but probly not! And I am so upset I saw those kisses just yesterday and was all, I would never use those. Sigh, I was wrong.
Love easy recipes like this!
Your posts always make me laugh, smile or spit my coffee on the screen! Thanks for making my day always! And I love your recipes!
These are just the cutest! Can’t wait to get my hands on these!
Simple, easy and delicious- love it!
Pretty sure I’d have the same issue in a Zumba class. It would be extremely embarrassing.
These are my fav Christmas candy! I haven’t bought any yet because well… the bag would disappear!
Absolutely adorable! Please send me the leftovers 😛
I’ve joined the Zumba ranks, but I never look in the mirror. You know I’m as white as they come. 🙂 Although I’ve gotten somewhat comfortable with those moves, I’ve been trying the Cardio Dance Party class they offer at my gym. I definitely hide in the back during that class. I know I have no future as a hip hop dancer! That class just makes me feel stupid, but somehow it’s still fun. What does that say about my self-esteem?
And this is a recipe I can get behind. 2.5 minutes in the oven? Woo hoo! Thanks for sharing!
Oooo, love these kisses and pretzels…. can’t wait to try them together!