Caramel Pretzel Sticks

Caramel Pretzel Sticks

From The Taste Of Home

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 package (10 ounces) pretzel rods
• 6 to 12 ounces white candy coating
• 6 to 12 ounces milk chocolate candy coating
• 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and butter. Bring just to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling, without stirring, at a moderate-steady rate for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in milk. Return to the heat. Reduce to medium-low; cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 245° (firm-ball stage). Keep warm.
• Pour 2 cups caramel mixture into a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Quickly dip each pretzel halfway into caramel. Allow excess to drip off. Place on well-buttered baking sheets; let stand until hardened.
• In a microwave, melt white candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip half of the caramel-coated pretzels into coating. Melt milk chocolate coating; dip remaining pretzels. Drizzle white-coated pretzels with milk chocolate coating; drizzle milk chocolate-coated pretzels with white coating. Sprinkle with walnuts if desired. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.