Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies are loaded with salty pretzels, crunchy peanut butter, and sweet chocolate chips. These cookies have it all and are a unique dessert.
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PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
I realize that the name Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies is quite a mouthful but I feel like you have to included all those words so you know what you are getting into. And this cookie is ev-ry-thang. I usually post on Mondays but since Sundays are so good for making cookies, I wanted to share these cookies with you today.
Remember when I told the story in a post about almost being hit by a tornado at the airport and someone accused me in the comments of making up the entire story? Hey, thanks for having my back guys. I might be desperate for a lot of things (*cough* cookies) but I’m not desperate enough to make up a story about a tornado for more website clicks.
Not only did I NOT make up that story but now every time it rains (which in Florida is everyday), I stare out the window with big eyes watching the sky to make sure no tornadoes coming in my direction. I’m traumatized for life.
On Friday as a storm settled in, I did what any rational person does when fear strikes,…I baked cookies. I know it sounds strange but baking cookies has always been my go-to therapy and can calm my nerves one scoop at a time.
I didn’t bake just any cookie, I baked these Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies. My friend Claire made three kinds of cookies this week for a get together and these were the overall favorite. I ate six of these that night and could have eaten more but am practicing my self control. Haha, can’t you tell?
Some tips to making these Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies:
- Quick oats and old-fashioned oats are not the same. Using old-fashioned oats here will completely change the texture of the cookies. Quick oats are finer and almost act as a flour in the cookie.
- The original recipe calls for bittersweet chocolate chips. I use semi-sweet chocolate chips because that’s what I prefer and with all the salty components the sweeter chocolate balances it all out.
- If you chill your dough your cookies will be thicker. The thickness of your cookies depend on the temperature of your fat (butter). So if you want a little bit thicker cookie you can chill the cookie dough. The amount of flour also plays into the thickness. Most people measure their flour wrong. You should spoon it into your measuring cup not scoop, which will compact the flour and result in too much flour.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups (6.25 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (3 ounces) quick oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (6 ounces) bittersweet chocolate chips, (more for the top)
- 1 1/2 ounces (2/3 cup) pretzel sticks, coarsely crushed
- flaked sea salt
Instructions
- Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until smooth (about a minute). Add the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla and mix until combined. Slowly add the flour mixture until just combined.
- Add the chocolate chips and pretzels and mix until just combined. Refrigerate until dough is firm, about an hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough for each ball and roll dough in a ball. Press extra chocolate chips on top if desired.
- Bake on the middle rack for 8-12 minutes or until cookies crack on top and are barely golden brown. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and sprinkle with salt while cooling. They will continue to cook as they cool.
Notes
Source: America's Test Kitchen
How much sugar reduction do you think is okay to maintain the texture? These are bomb! But a tad too sweet for my taste. Thank you!
That’s up to you. I haven’t tried it
Wow! Great cookie! The idea popped into my head and I’m glad I found your recipe.
Can’t wait to make them but I have only regular oats. Can I use that?
yes!
These are always a big hit in my family. Can you make the dough and chill overnight before baking?
YEs of course!
Just wondering, can you make the dough, roll into balls and then freeze, so the dough is ready for when you need it?
Yes, totally!
One of our friends made these cookies tonight, and they are one of the best cookies I have ever tasted. I had to look up the recipe when we got home. Absolutely YUMMY!!
So glad you liked them!
I have to give this cookie 5 stars as it is very good. It is salty, sweet and the peanut butter with nuts provides just the right amount of nuts. The pretzel has the crunch and the salt tops it off. I really like these cookies. My family didn’t care for them but they just don’t know a good cookie like I do. Thanks for sharing this great cookie.
So happy you liked them!
Sorry… you probably don’t know, but…. how many calories do these have?
I don’t. I just enter all the ingredients into myfitnesspal to figure it out.
Hands down, no questions asked, these are the best cookies EVER–and I make a lot of cookies. Sweet, salty, peanut butter, chocolate… mmmm. They are on permanent rotation! Thanks for this great recipe.
Thank you!
Your comment about baking when fear struck reminded me of the philosophy of Maida Heatter, who died earlier this month at 102, with her new cookbook in stores. She called it “Happiness is Baking” because she believed it and said when she heard some “expert” listing things to do when stressed, she kept yelling at the TV, “BAKE COOKIES”. She was disappointed her go-to wasn’t listed. 🙂
Meanwhile I just bought some peanut butter with pretzels in it, so am going to try this with that pb. Thanks!
Haha thanks for telling this story!
These were a huge hit for Easter. All got eaten. I didn’t change anything. I salted with the salt from the bottom of the pretzel bag. Oh, I also added 1/2 peanut butter chips and 1/2 chocolate chips instead of only chocolate.
Can I make this without the oats?
Absolutely. Just adds some texture.
I just finished making these! The constancy was perfect but a tad too sweet for my taste. I would reduce the sugar!
Glad you liked them!
Can these be made with smooth/creamy peanut butter instead of chunky?
Yes!
Made these to bring to a church event. They were a huge hit, & my husband & I love them, too! Definitely a keeper! Didn’t have crunchy peanut butter, so I used smooth, & it worked fine.
I bet smooth was great! Glad you liked them!
Made these cookies today and they were really, really good. Everybody liked them a lot. I did not have enough semi sweet chocolate chips at home so i added some reese’s pieces and it worked out great. Thanks for sharing this recipe, definitely a keeper!!
These cookies look amazing! I need them in my life!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Oh you do girl.
Your tornado story basically gave me an anxiety attack just reading about it! I’m gonna have to self medicate with some of these. 😉 Take 5 candy bars are my favorite—I’m so excited for a kinda cookie version!
We have a tornado warning now and I totally have PTSD. AHH. I will never look at the sky again and not worry.
These look amazing. I have started salting ALL my cookies, because flaky sea salt is life, basically.
I went back and read the comments on your tornado story. Seriously, some people… keep doing you, those guys are weird. The “self-centered” one made me laugh. Good thing that commenter was there in person to see what a heartless monster you were to leave a defenseless old woman to the mercy of the twister 😉
Oh geez. I didn’t even SEE that comment. The hits just keep on coming! She was older (like 60) and with all her family so no I did not desert her. Holy moly.
hey girl- these cookies look so yummy!
Thank you!