These Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzel Monsters are a fun, no-bake Halloween snack that’s naturally vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free. Crunchy pretzel sticks coated in smooth melted chocolate, these fun little treats are perfect for kids, classrooms, or anyone who loves spooky-silly desserts and they don't take long to make!
Crunchy pretzels meet silky-smooth chocolate and a pair of mischievous candy eyes that seem to stare right back at you, get ready for some giggles! This allergy friendly recipe is made with just 3 simple ingredients, no oven, no stress! Everyone (including the allergy crowd at the party) can join in the fun with these easy no-bake Halloween treats!
This is a great recipe for the kiddos to help with, they will love putting the eyes on the pretzel sticks. And yeah, whenever I work with melted chocolate everything in the kitchen gets chocolate on it including me but like I always say, "If you’re not making a mess, you’re not having fun — especially during spooky treat making season!" Grab an apron (you'll need it) and let's go!
Pair these little monsters with a cold glass of my Easy Vegan Chocolate Milk, it’s creamy, chocolatey, and totally dairy-free. Enjoy it refreshingly ice cold or as hot cocoa with tons of vegan marshmallows! For another easy vegan treat kids can help make these allergy friendly No-Bake SunButter Balls are a simple, nut-free school approved snack.
Jump to:
- 💗 Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Covered Halloween Monster Treats
- 🍫Ingredients & Helpful Substitutions
- 👀How To Make Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzel Monsters
- 🔄 Variations
- 🧊 Storage & Make Ahead Tips
- ❓FAQ's
- 👩🏻🍳Creating the shot: A behind the scenes look
- ⭐Did you enjoy these Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzel Monsters?
💗 Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Covered Halloween Monster Treats
- School-safe & party-ready: Nut-free, vegan, and dairy-free. Great for classroom parties or Halloween gatherings.
- Kid-approved kitchen fun: Easy, hands-on, and perfect for little helpers (because mess = fun!). Kids can help stir, dip, and add the candy eyes!
- Make ahead & freezer friendly: Whip them up early, stash in the freezer, and they’re ready when you are.
🍫Ingredients & Helpful Substitutions
For the full list and measurements, see the recipe card below. Here are the main ingredients and easy swaps:
- Pretzel Sticks: Use classic or mini pretzel sticks to make these Halloween Pretzel treats, pretzel twists work too! For this recipe I used Whole Foods 365 brand Organic Pretzel Sticks. For a gluten-free version, use your favorite gluten-free pretzel sticks.
- Vegan Chocolate Chips: Melt semi-sweet or dark vegan chocolate chips. I use Enjoy Life brand in my recipes. You can also use vegan white chocolate or even drizzle the white chocolate over the dark clusters for extra fun.
- Coconut Oil (optional): At FFF we like to cook and bake without oil whenever possible, however, a small spoonful of liquid coconut oil here will help the chocolate become smoother and gives a glossy finish. I did not use oil but, if you choose to, simply stir a teaspoon into the melted chocolate.
- Candy Eyes: Any brand works! Mix different sizes on the same treat for extra character and monster personality — it’s adorable! 👀
👀How To Make Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzel Monsters
Gather your spooky ingredients!
Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until smooth and glossy.
When I tested this recipe I only had to do two 30 second intervals.
Dip several pretzel sticks into the melted chocolate and lay them on a parchment-lined tray. While the chocolate is still wet, press a candy eye onto each stick. Place the tray in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to set.
During testing, this recipe made 12 monsters, so 24 sticks with eyes should do the trick (or treat...pun intended🙄)!
In a separate bowl, gently break up the remaining pretzel sticks to make them smaller. Use your hands (kids are great for this). I found that a potato masher did great too!
Next, pour the remaining melted chocolate over the broken pretzel sticks.
Stir until everything is evenly coated.
Spoon the coated pretzels into cupcake liners placed inside a muffin tin, forming small mounded clusters.
I filled them just even with the top of the liner and had enough to make 12 cluster cups.
Once your “monster bodies” are shaped, gently press two of the chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks (with eyes) into each cluster to create the monster heads. The other pretzel pieces hold them in place.
Chill in the fridge or freezer until firm, about 20–30 minutes. Keep them chilled until ready to serve, or freeze for later — they thaw perfectly for party day!
🔄 Variations
- Add a pop of color: Sprinkle Halloween-colored nonpareils (those tiny round sprinkles) over the chocolate clusters before adding the candy-eye sticks for a festive touch.
- Mix up the chocolate: Try vegan white chocolate, or swirl two types together for marble-style monsters.
- Go wild with the eyes: Make a few extra chocolate-dipped eye sticks and give some monsters three eyes (or more!) for silly, spooky fun.
🧊 Storage & Make Ahead Tips
- Refrigerator: Store your Pretzel Monsters in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Keep them chilled so the chocolate stays firm and shiny.
- Freezer: Freeze in a sealed container or zip-top bag for up to 2 months.
- Thawing: They thaw quickly — just leave them on the counter for a few minutes before serving.
- Make ahead: Perfect for party prep! Make them days (or weeks) in advance and freeze until you’re ready to bring them to life. 👀
💭 Pro Tip: Be sure to add the eye sticks while the chocolate is still soft — once it sets, they won’t go into the cluster, and your monsters will lose their heads!
❓FAQ's
Absolutely. These are naturally vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free. Use gluten-free pretzel sticks if needed. They’re a fun, no-bake classroom treat perfect for Halloween gatherings. Enjoy Life brand makes Dairy Free Vegan chocolate chips that are delicious!
Make sure the chocolate is still soft when you press in the eye-sticks. Once done pop them all into the freezer or fridge for 20-30 minutes. For extra fun, make a few extra sticks for three-eyed monsters.
Yes! You can make them days (or even weeks) ahead, freeze them in an airtight bag or container for up to 2 months, and thaw on the counter in minutes when you’re ready to serve.
Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzel Monsters
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 Silly Monsters 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzel Monsters are a fun no-bake Halloween snack that’s naturally vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free. Crunchy pretzel sticks coated in smooth, melted chocolate, these fun little treats are perfect for kids, classrooms, or anyone who loves spooky-silly desserts!
Ingredients
Pretzel sticks (one 8 oz bag, or gluten-free pretzel sticks)
Vegan dairy-free chocolate chips (one 9 oz bag, such as Enjoy Life brand)
Candy eyes (one package, any size — you can make extra eye sticks for fun!)
Instructions
-
Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until smooth and glossy. If desired, add a small spoonful of coconut oil for an extra smooth texture.
-
Dip several pretzel sticks (at least 24) into the melted chocolate and lay them on a parchment-lined tray. While the chocolate is still wet, press one candy eye onto each stick to create “eye sticks.” Place the tray in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to set.
-
In a separate mixing bowl, gently break up the remaining pretzel sticks to make them smaller. Use your hands (kids are great for this). I found that a potato masher did great too!
-
Next, pour the remaining melted chocolate over the broken pretzel sticks. Stir until all the pretzels are evenly coated.
-
Spoon the coated pretzels into cupcake liners placed inside a muffin tin to form small clusters — these are your monster bodies! I filled mine just to the top of the liner and had enough for 12 clusters.
-
While the chocolate is still soft, gently press two of the eye sticks into each cluster to create the monster heads. You can make a few extra eye sticks and give some monsters three eyes for extra fun!
-
Chill in the fridge or freezer until firm, about 20–30 minutes.
Notes
Keep the monsters chilled until ready to serve, or freeze in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 2 months. They thaw quickly on the counter in just a few minutes.
For the best shape, use cupcake liners in a muffin tin to hold the clusters while they set. It helps them stay round and cute instead of spreading flat.
If your melted chocolate feels too thick, stir in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to loosen it up for easier dipping and coating.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack, Holiday
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
👩🏻🍳Creating the shot: A behind the scenes look
When your snacks develop a sense of humor (and a cry for help).
Proof that I make friends with my food. I ate this friend shortly after the photo.
What Really Happened
For once, nothing burned, broke, or stuck to the counter. I almost didn’t recognize myself. I did manage to get chocolate all over the kitchen. It looked like Willy Wonka’s crime scene by the time these little guys were finally chillin' in the fridge. But it's okay because we were making a mess and having fun!!
⭐Did you enjoy these Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzel Monsters?
If you give these silly Pretzel Monsters a try please leave a comment and rating below! Justin and I read every one! Your feedback helps more people find my recipes and keeps the delicious messy chaos going in the Fresh Fun Flavor kitchen. Plus, we just love hearing from you!
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided for Halloween Pretzel Monsters is an estimate calculated using Nutrifox, an online tool. Please note that this information is for general guidance only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. Additionally, this page may include affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through those links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Fresh Fun Flavor!
Linda Napier says
I love these! And you can make them even if you’re not vegan! So much fun can’t wait to take them with me to my card group tomorrow night.
Rhonda Jones @ Fresh Fun Flavor says
Ahh I love this! 🎃🧡 You’re so right, these little chocolate covered monsters are for everyone! I bet your card group is going to get such a kick out of them. Have fun tomorrow night, and thank you for sharing your comment Linda, this totally made my day! 👻