Ingredients :

• Pretzels — Take round pretzels, standard size — neither mini nor giant. The ring shape naturally creates the round silhouette of a chick’s body. Lorenz or Intersnack work well, but any store-bought pretzel does the trick as long as it is firm and very dry, not soft.
• Cheddar — It needs to melt into a truly liquid state, not just soft. Mild cheddar melts more easily than extra-sharp, but both work. Forty seconds in the microwave in a bowl, a good stir, and you be the judge. If you don’t have cheddar, grated Comté or even a melted Laughing Cow cheese in a saucepan give a very similar result.
• Mimolette — This provides the bright orange beak, the touch of color that makes the whole thing immediately recognizable. Cut a tiny triangle from a thin slice — really small, about 5 mm on each side. If you can’t find any, a sliver of raw carrot cut very thinly can play this role with almost the same visual effect.
• Chia or sesame seeds — One seed per chick for the eye. Chia is smaller and more discreet, sesame a bit more visible and crunchier under the tooth. Both work perfectly. It’s the tiniest part of the recipe and also the most fun to place.