'Tis the season to pay way too much for stuff. Much as I love Williams-Sonoma, they do get a good bit of heat this time of year for their high-priced food gifts. Last year, I made a homemade version of their marshmallow snowman stirrers.

I could make a dozen for the cost of four. And you can make seven or eight times the number of handmade Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark pretzels for the same cost as the store-bought version. Omit the peppermint extract and you'll save even more.

And since these treats taste so good and are such a great homemade gift idea, you'll want to make seven or eight times the number. They have just the right balance of salty and sweet, smooth and crunchy, and a lovely, chocolate-y minty flavor that isn't overpowering. I could actually eat seven or eight times the number myself.

For packaging as a holiday gift, find some inexpensive tins and line them with wax paper. Or package them in mason jars. Or fill an oversized mug with the treats alongside some hot cocoa mix. Or just skip gift giving and eat them.

To easily pipe the chocolates, I melt the chocolate first in the microwave and then pour into disposable decorating bags. Disposable decorating bags are inexpensive and a fantastic tool to have around, especially for working with chocolate.

You can find them in the baking aisle of the craft store. You may also substitute a freezer-safe ziploc bag (because the freezer ones are a bit thicker) and use the corner to pipe, although I find the decorating bags much more user-friendly.

Aside from the time it takes for the chocolate to set, homemade Peppermint Bark pretzels take only about 15 minutes to make. Any gift this good I can whip out in 15 minutes during the busiest time of the year goes right to the top of my list.