Leprechaun Thumbprints are the perfect sweet-and-salty treat! With just three ingredients, they’re easy to make and perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.
Leprechaun Thumbprints
I love any excuse to whip up these quick “turtle” treats—they’re so good I’ve made them for nearly every holiday (like Rolo Pretzel Turtles, Easter Pretzels, and M&M Flower Pretzels).
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I had to make a festive version!
With just three ingredients and a few minutes in the oven, these easy treats are perfect for last-minute parties. Plus, they’re a fun project for kids—they’ll love unwrapping chocolates, assembling pretzels, and topping them with green M&M’s!
St. Patrick’s Day Pretzel Ingredients
- Pretzels: Use snap or twist pretzels to keep caramel from slipping through. Avoid butter-flavored pretzels, as they can cover up the chocolate’s flavor.
- Chocolates: Rolos melt the best, but Hershey Kisses or Hugs work too in these Leprechaun thumbprints.
- Green M&M’s: Sort out green M&M’s from a mix or buy all-green ones online.
Variations
Switch Things Up
- Chocolate: Try different chocolate candies like dark salted caramel Rolos.
- Nuts: Sprinkle chopped nuts—like almonds, pecans, or almonds—on the chocolate before it sets.
- Sprinkles: Add green sprinkles or sanding sugar to the warm chocolate.
- White Chocolate: Drizzle melted white chocolate over the pretzels.
- Sea Salt: Sprinkle flaky sea salt on the warm chocolate for a sweet and salty mix.
Leprechaun Thumbprints Quick Tips:
- Watch the chocolate: It should soften, not fully melt or burn.
- Let them cool: Wait until the chocolate sets before moving or eating.
- Line the pan: Use parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Act fast: Press M&M’s in right after melting so they stick.
Storage
Leftovers?
- Room temp: Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Refrigerate: Chill in hot or humid areas; layer with parchment.
- Freeze: Keep in an airtight bag for up to 2 months.
More St. Patrick’s Day Fun:
- St Patrick’s Day Treats with free bag toppers
- Lucky Charms Bars marshmallow cereal bars
- Shamrock Shake a mint milkshake
- St. Patrick’s Day Popcorn with Lucky Charms marshmallows
- Leprechaun Bait a yummy snack mix
Leprechaun Thumbprints
Leprechaun Thumbprints are the ultimate sweet and salty treat for St. Patrick’s Day! With just three ingredients, they’re easy to make and perfect for sharing.
Equipment
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Ingredients
- 30 pretzel snaps or pretzel twists
- 30 Rolos unwrapped
- 30 green M&M’s or other candy-coated chocolate, see note 1
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone liner. This will prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Place the pretzels on the prepared sheet pan and top each pretzel with an unwrapped Rolo.
- Bake the pretzels in the preheated oven for about 2 minutes, or until the Rolos are soft but not melted (see note 2). Keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn!
- Once you take the pretzels out of the oven, press a green M&M into the center of each Rolo.
- Let the pretzels cool and the chocolate harden completely before eating. This should take about an hour at room temperature, or you can speed things up by putting the tray in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Pick out green M&M’s from a regular pack or buy an all-green bag online or at specialty stores.
Note 2: Troubleshooting
- Chocolate crumbling? Oven was too hot or baked too long.
- M&M’s won’t press in? Oven was too cool or treats weren’t baked long enough.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 37kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m Chelsea’s sister and she made these years ago and I’ve been making them every st Patrick’s day since then with my kids! It’s a favorite tradition!