Bar Cookies: Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip

Remember these Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip cookies?

Well, they are a hot commodity in these parts. People just can't get enough of their goodness. I'm so excited everyone loves them!

One my teens requested a cookie cake (bar cookies) of this cookie batter for her birthday. I excitedly obliged. 

I'm not sure I've ever made bar cookies. 

I had no idea what size pan to use or how long to cook them or how they'd turn out. 

But I made some random choices and they were the right ones!

These bars are SUPER EASY. I had them in the oven in 15 minutes flat! 

They baked up beautifully and taste delicious. 

I'm glad I hoarded a few for myself! :)

Serves 24 

Ingredients

1/2 cup margarine, room temperature

(slightly less than) 1/2 cup shortening

(slightly more than) 1/4 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2-1/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup crushed pretzels 

1-1/2 cups chocolate chips

2 squares candy coating/chocolate bark (or 1 cup chocolate chips)--for drizzling 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. 

Cream together margarine, shortening, peanut butter and both sugars. When light and fluffy and thoroughly combine, mix in one egg at a time. Then mix in vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir into creamed ingredients in 2 or 3 additions--just until thoroughly combined. Stir in pretzels and chocolate chips. 

Spoon into a jelly roll style baking sheet (15.25"x10.25" or a little larger.) Spread out evenly. 

Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and just crisping on the edges. The center might not look set. Let cool completely on a wire rack. 

Melt 2 bars of chocolate bark (candy coating) or 1 cup of chocolate chips. Drizzle over the top of the cooled cookie bars. Slice and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

  

This recipe is truly an original recipe.

It was inspired by my love of chocolate.

my love of pretzels. 

my love of peanut butter. 

and my love of any combination of those previously listed items. 

I wanted to whip up a batch of cookies to celebrate with our Bible Quizzers before they head to their first quiz of the season on Saturday. 

They deserve a treat. 

I knew the cookie needed to be classic. 

But it needed a twist.

As much as I love chocolate chip cookies, when I thought of adding peanut butter for a flavor flair and the pretzels for a salty crunch, I was REALLY hoping I was onto something. 

Sure enough, Kevin calls these his new favorite cookies. 

And I may or may not have had 5 of them today. 

YUM.
I shared these with our teens and all of them devoured the mound of cookies saying they were the best cookies ever and requesting them for their birthday (cookie) cake!

These cookies are just as amazing as your classic chocolate chip except with a tasty hint of creamy peanut butter and a crunchy, salty surprise of the pretzels!

Ingredients

1/2 cup margarine, room temperature

(slightly less than) 1/2 cup shortening

(slightly more than) 1/4 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2-1/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup crushed pretzels 

1-1/2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

Cream together margarine, shortening, peanut butter and both sugars. When light and fluffy and thoroughly combine, mix in one egg at a time. Then mix in vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir into creamed ingredients in 2 or 3 additions--just until thoroughly combined. Stir in pretzels and chocolate chips. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until just browning on the edges and not quite set in the center. Let cool on baking sheet 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 4 dozen cookies.