Sweet and Salty St. Patrick’s Day Treat

Many days I try to make a little something special for my kids. During the school year I usually take it as a treat for the ride home after school. I found that their excitement over the “surprise snack” helps the bickering and complaining that was happening after school. Now they have a small treat on the way home and the positive comes out, about their day and toward each other. Then when we get home they grab a healthy snack; an apple, string cheese, a slice of whole wheat toast with almond butter… before running off to play or start homework.

One of my favorite things to make are pretzel bites. Any size little pretzel works well, I prefer using the square Snaps.

I preheat the oven to 350 degrees and then lay out a layer of pretzels on a baking tray. Next, I unwrap Hershey’s kisses and set one on top of each pretzel. The tray goes in the oven for three minutes, just to let the kisses melt a bit.

When the tray comes out of the oven I push M&Ms down on top of the kisses. Then the tray goes in the freezer for an hour or I leave it on the counter for a couple of  hours to let the kisses harden.

Because St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, I topped the kisses with green M&Ms. Around Christmas I had bought a bag of red and green M&Ms and made these treats with Christmas colors. Then I used the leftover red M&Ms for Valentine’s pretzel bites. That left me with the green ones for St. Patty’s.

I have to admit though…I really make the pretzel bites for my husband. They are his favorites! I think they remind him of his favorite ice cream, Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby.

They are the perfect bit of sweet and salty. Just a few satisfy my sweet tooth. And they sure look cute in my little milk glass bowls!

See more of my after school snacks on my Pinterest board.

Shared at Tatertots and Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lil’ Luna, The Wicker House, Tidbits,

A Burst of Beautiful, Craftberry Bush, The Cottage Market, Too Much Time On My Hands, AKADesign, Love of Home