Monster Eyeballs are where salty pretzels meet melty rich caramel candies and a pop of chocolate crunch! It’s the kind of snack that keeps you coming back for more.
Monster Eyeballs
There’s something thrilling about the bold Halloween colors and those oversized edible eye candies, especially when they take the form of these pop-able Monster Eyeball pretzels!
Not only are these “eyeballs” an affordable Halloween treat for friends and neighbors, but they also double as quirky table decor and a delectably eerie bite to enjoy!
And the best part? These treats come together in a snap, giving you extra time to perfect that epic Halloween costume!
Monster Eyeball Ingredients
Rolos:
- Freshness is key. Go for newly bought packs; older Rolos® sometimes do not melt properly, and can even crumble when exposed to heat.
Pretzel snaps or twists:
- I’m partial to twists for that perfect circular eyeball shape that fits the Halloween vibe. Just a heads up: steer clear of the butter-flavored pretzel varieties – they don’t do any favors for the overall taste.
M&M’s and Edible Eye Candies:
- There are plenty of options when it comes to M&M’s®. While classic milk chocolate is always a hit, don’t hesitate to play around with peanut or crispy versions for a flavor and texture twist.
- Eyeing the edible eye candies? They’re spot-on for the Halloween theme (pun intended!). Just make sure they’re soft and fresh; nobody wants a hard eyeball.
- On the hunt for these candies? Most baking sections in stores, or specialty shops, stock them in various sizes. If you’ve got your heart set on the jumbo ones featured in our photos, a quick online shopping trip is your best bet; I’ve yet to spot them in local grocery aisles.
How To Make Monster Eyeballs (Tips)
- Spacing: Give each pretzel ample space on the baking sheet. Crowding can cause uneven melting and make the candies stick together.
- Timing: Rolos can go from perfectly melty to horribly burnt quickly. Keep an eye on them, especially during your first batch, to get a feel for the perfect baking time, since ovens can vary.
- Cooling After placing the M&M’s or edible eye candies on the Rolos, let them sit undisturbed so they set properly. Moving them while they’re still soft can cause them to lose shape and the caramel to fall through.
- Storing: Store in a cool, dry place. If the treats are exposed to too much heat or humidity, they can become sticky or melt.
- Modifying: Consider Hershey’s® cookies and creme chocolate drops for a different look or different flavored Rolos (like dark chocolate) for a fun flavor twist.
- Setting: If you’re short on time, pop the tray into the fridge for about 15 minutes post-baking to speed up the setting process.
Fun Serving Ideas
- Creepy platter: Use a black platter and scatter some edible orange and purple sprinkles around for a Halloween touch.
- Eerie environment: Lay down some white cotton candy on a serving dish to simulate spider webs or fog; then place the Monster Eyeballs on top.
- Mini cupcake liners: Use Halloween-themed mini cupcake liners to hold each Monster Eyeball. It makes them easier to pick up and adds a decorative touch.
- Glowing eyes: Place the Monster Eyeballs on a tray and situate some small, battery-operated tea lights between them. This can give a subtle, eerie glow, making the eyeballs look as though they’re glowing in the dark.
- Jar of eyes: Take a clear glass jar and fill it with Monster Eyeballs. Add a label that reads “Freshly Picked Eyeballs” for a spooky touch.
- Graveyard scene: Create a small graveyard scene using crushed chocolate cookies as dirt. Embed the Monster Eyeballs in the dirt as if they’re peeking out.
- Tag and serve: Attach a tiny tag to each Monster Eyeball with creepy sayings, like “I’ve got my eye on you” or “Beware of the bite.”
- Layered look: Use a tiered serving tray. Start with other Halloween treats on the bottom and have the Monster Eyeballs be the star on the top tier.
More Halloween Fun:
- Ghost Cookies with a sugar cookie base
- Mummy Bark with crushed Oreos
- Halloween Bat Treats made with Reese’s and Oreos
- Easy Halloween Treats made with four ingredients!
- Printable Halloween Treat Bag Toppers with free printable toppers
Monster Eyeballs
Monster Eyeballs combine salty pretzels, gooey caramel, and a chocolatey crunch for a snack that’s impossible to resist!
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- Silicone baking mat or parchment paper
Ingredients
- 25 Rolos unwrapped
- 25 pretzel snaps or twists
- 25 M&M’s and/or edible eye candies, see note 1
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a rimmed sheet pan with a silicone liner or parchment paper. This step is crucial to prevent the candies from sticking to the pan.
- Lay the pretzels in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan. Place an unwrapped Rolo on each pretzel. Bake in the preheated oven for about 2–4 minutes. The Rolos should be soft but not melted (see note 2).
- Immediately after taking the pretzels out of the oven, press an edible eye or M&M onto each softened Rolo.
- Let the pretzel bites sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes. This allows the Rolos to harden back up. If you need to speed this process up, pop them into the fridge for about 15 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: You can either opt for regular M&M’s and sift through them to get the Halloween shades or snag a bag of Halloween-themed M&M’s. You’ll typically find edible eye candies in the baking aisles of many stores, at specialty shops, or online. I usually only find the super-sized ones online.
Note 2: It’s essential to monitor the chocolate during baking. If it crumbles, it indicates the oven temperature was too high, or they baked too long. If the M&M’s/eyes don’t press into the chocolate smoothly, it means the oven was not hot enough or the chocolates weren’t baked long enough. It’s helpful to test-bake a single Rolo-topped pretzel to gauge the optimal baking time for your oven. Then you can adjust the baking time for the rest. Avoid using the oven’s convection.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 86mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
