Popcorn Pretzel Rods are a sweet-and-salty, crunchy treat coated in creamy peanut butter, loaded with fluffy popcorn, drizzled with melted chocolate, and topped with festive sprinkles for an irresistible snack.

If you love a sweet and salty combination, you have to try my Nutter Butter Pretzels, Peanut Butter Pretzel Nachos, Caramel Pretzel Oreos, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bugles, and Peanut Butter Frito Cookies too!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Popcorn Pretzel Rods are the perfect mashup of sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy. The salty snap of the pretzel rod hits first, followed by a rich layer of creamy peanut butter that makes every bite feel indulgent.

The popcorn adds a light, airy crunch that keeps them from being too heavy, while the melted chocolate drizzle brings a silky sweetness that ties everything together. Add sprinkles on top and you get a playful pop of sugar and texture! They taste like a gourmet candy-shop treat, but with the cozy nostalgia of movie-night popcorn!

Ingredients you’ll need:

Microwave popcorn
Pretzel rods
Creamy peanut butter
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Vegetable oil
Sprinkles of choice

If you love the perfect balance of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chocolatey, Popcorn Pretzel Rods are about to become your new favorite snack. These deliciously fun treats combine crunchy pretzel rods, creamy peanut butter, fluffy popcorn, silky melted chocolate drizzle, and colorful sprinkles for a snack that’s impossible to resist!

One of the best things about Popcorn Pretzel Rods is just how ridiculously easy and fun they are to make. This is a no-bake recipe, so there’s no stress, no ovens, no special equipment—just spread, roll, drizzle and chill!

Kids can help with every step, from spreading the peanut butter to tossing on the sprinkles, making these an ideal family activity. Even if you’re not “crafty” in the kitchen, these always turn out impressive with only a few minutes of prep! Not only are they easy to make, but they’re also a popular choice for birthday parties, movie nights, holiday dessert tables, or DIY edible gifts.

How to make the best Popcorn Pretzel Rods:

Pour your popped popcorn into a shallow bowl or pie plate, making sure to remove any unpopped kernels, and set aside.
Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each pretzel rod, leaving a few inches at the bottom to act as a “handle” without peanut butter.
Press and roll the popcorn onto the peanut butter to coat, then place the popcorn coated pretzel rods onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and vegetable oil, then microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until melted and smooth.
Transfer the melted chocolate into a ziploc bag, cut off one end, then drizzle the melted chocolate on top of the popcorn.
Decorate with sprinkles of your choice, then transfer to the fridge to let the chocolate harden before serving.

These treats are endlessly customizable, which is part of their charm. You can decorate Popcorn Pretzel Rods to match:

Holidays (red + green sprinkles for Christmas, pastel colors for Easter)
Birthday themes (rainbow sprinkles, edible glitter, confetti)
Sports events (team-colored chocolate drizzle)
Movie nights (mini chocolate chips + caramel drizzle)
Gourmet gift vibes (dark chocolate + chopped nuts or gold sprinkles)

Switch up the chocolate, toppings, or popcorn flavor, and you’ve got a completely new creation every time. There’s truly no limit to the flavor combinations.

Plus, they store well, travel well, and are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. If you want a dessert that checks all the boxes—easy, fun, customizable, affordable, and unbelievably tasty—Popcorn Pretzel Rods are the answer.

My top tips:

POPCORN: You’ll need roughly 10 cups of popcorn for this recipe- but it’s up to you how you pop it. Feel free to pop your own using about 1/2 cup kernels, use a microwave bag, or buy pre-popped popcorn. Just be sure to remove any unpopped kernels.
COATING: It’s easier to coat each pretzel rod in popcorn when there is a hefty amount of peanut butter for it to stick to. If you feel like the popcorn isn’t sticking to your pretzels, spread more peanut butter on them.
CHOCOLATE: It’s important to heat the chocolate in 30 second intervals because it can burn and seize easily. It’s hard to reverse clumpy chocolate, so I recommend watching it closely!
VEGETABLE OIL: Adding a little vegetable oil to the chocolate chips is my secret trick for silky smooth chocolate every time! The vegetable oil thins out the chocolate and makes it much easier to drizzle over the Popcorn Pretzel Rods.
DRIZZLING: I find it helpful to transfer the melted chocolate into a Ziploc bag before cutting off one end and drizzling. This makes the chocolate drizzle more evenly and keeps things mess free.
DECORATING: The sprinkles in this recipe are completely optional and can be switched up depending on the holiday or occasion! It’s important to add the sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. The wet chocolate acts as a glue, then once the chocolate sets, the sprinkles will stay in place.
CHILLING: You can let the chocolate drizzle set at room temperature, but it will take longer for the chocolate to fully harden. To speed up the process, feel free to place the popcorn in the fridge for 30 minutes to set the chocolate drizzle.
STORING: These are one of those treats that taste best day of so that the popcorn doesn’t become stale and lose its crunchy texture. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container for 1-2 days, but these really are best enjoyed day of.

Looking for more popcorn treats? Check these out!

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