Chocolate Chip & Pretzel Cookie Bars
Pretzels and chocolate are like peanut butter and jelly – you’d think they were each made knowing they would some day be paired up with the other. As natural a combination as cheese and crackers, chocolate and peanut butter, or chips and dip. History has it that chocolate-covered pretzels were invented by Herr Joseph Franz von Liebniz in his pretzel bakery in Hamburg, Germany in 1544. Apparently his bakery was next door to a chocolatier and, well, one thing led to another, and one of the most popular chocolate snacks was born. Thank you, Mr. von Liebniz, you were indeed a genius.
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These cookie bars are a sensational combination of sweet cookie dough, bittersweet chocolate, and salty pretzels. And because I couldn’t help myself and believe that peanut butter makes just about everything better, I went ahead and drizzled some on top of these cookie bars, along with more chocolate and more crushed pretzels. Have you ever had the Ben & Jerry flavor “Chubby Hubby”? It’s always been a favorite of mine. Chocolate-covered peanut butter-filled pretzel nuggets. Again, more genius. So I threw some of that flavor onto these cookie bars.
More scrumptious bars you may like:
Strawberry Pretzel Squares
Coconut Chocolate Chunk Blondies
Seven-Layer Bars
Chunky Pecan Pie Bars
Chocolate Chip & Pretzel Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- 1½ sticks (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (220 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 12 ounce (340.2 g) bag bittersweet chocolate chips, or semisweet, if you prefer
- 1½ cups (63.75 g) mini pretzel twists, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup (45 g) chocolate chips, for drizzling (optional)
- ¼ cup (64.5 g) peanut butter, for drizzling (optional)
- ¼ cup (20 g) pretzels, crumbled, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
- 2. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt. Using a mixer, beat the butter and both sugars at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs and the vanilla extract. On low speed, beat in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips and pretzel pieces.
- 3. Spread the batter evenly in the pan and press it down evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool completely.
- 4. In separate sandwich size baggies, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Cut off a small corner on each bag and drizzle the chocolate and peanut butter over the top of the bars. Sprinkle the extra crushed pretzels on top. Let set and then cut into squares.
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Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
These have got to be the ULTIMATE brownies!!!!!!! AMAZING! Chocolate, pretzels, AND peanut butter!!!!!!! I can’t take it! I’ve gotta have one!
I so agree about pretzels and chocolate!!! Take 5 bars were my favorite, but I never see them anymore. These look delicious!
Those look very nice. Do you prefer salted, lower salt, or salt free pretzels for it?
OMG! I am going to have to make these stat!
Great minds definitely think alike!
http://kevnkoi.blogspot.com/2009/07/peanut-butter-and-chocolate-covered.html
http://kevnkoi.blogspot.com/2009/07/twd-rewind-chunky-peanut-butter-oatmeal.html
Your bars look fantastic!
of course peanut butter makes everything better! those looks fab!!
Mmmm want to eat them now.
Gosh this looks really good and I am not a big fan of pretzels!
Coon Doggies…is all I can say!
http://www.alovefornewrecipes.blogspot.com
That salty-sweet combination is nothing short of addictive. I’m imagining myself curling up on the couch, watching a chick-flick, and eating half a pan of these.
Looks fantastic! Interesting history behind pretzels and chocolate, too…thanks!
Riley
Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen
*drool*
Those look really good. It’s funny they were apparently invented in Germany, because I’m a born and raised German and I never saw chocolate covered pretzels here until about 5 years ago. I always thought they were an American invention, especially since hard pretzels aren’t as prevalent here as they are in the States.
I think I’m hyperventilating with delight. I really love the sound of this and shall surely try it. Thank you! x
Bring on the chubby hubby in bar form! these look just amazing!!!!!!!!! I am adding to the list to make!! yum!!!!!
Dang! These look good!!! I am drooling here. I think I might have to make these sometime when I am feeling evil. Nice pictures too.
Great photos, so crisp! And they make that chocolatey goodness look so delicious!
chocolate and pretzels is my favorite combination!! salt and chocolate…mmmmmm!
Those sound GOOOOD! Very clever!
What a fantastic combination – something that I would never have thought of and they look great. Will definitely be trying these.
Wow, these look amazing! I’m a chocoholic so these will definitely be on my list of things to try.
Heidi – I am a huge fan of the strawberry pretzel salad as well! I’m sure your clan will love this!
I’ll definitely have to try those!
These will be perfect for the fall!
Oh, just when I thought I’d seen it all, this is amazing. My family already loves Strawberry Pretzel Salad, I know they’ll love this too!
YES. Chubby Hubby.
Oh. My. Gosh. Looks like heaven on earth.
These look good! I wish I could take a piece right out of my laptop… :)
Love the peanut butter addition! They look delicious! Glad you liked them!
mmmm I could eat those right now!!