Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe
If you’re on the hunt for a treat that brings together creamy peanut butter, salty-crunchy pretzels, and puddles of melty chocolate, then the Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe is about to steal your heart and taste buds. Each cookie delivers the perfect contrast—soft and chewy, generously dotted with chocolate chunks and pretzel bites for a truly irresistible bite. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just want a sweet-and-salty snack at home, these cookies never fail to impress with their bold flavors and homey charm.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be amazed how just a handful of pantry staples come together to make these show-stopping cookies. Each ingredient has a specific purpose, ensuring the cookies hit all the right notes—creamy, chewy, salty, and chocolatey!
- Unsalted butter: Ensures a buttery, tender crumb and gives richness without overpowering the other flavors.
- Light brown sugar: Adds a hint of molasses flavor and keeps the cookies chewy and deliciously moist.
- Granulated sugar: Gives structure and just the right sweetness to balance the peanut butter and pretzels.
- Creamy peanut butter: Melts into the dough, creating rich peanut flavor and delightful softness.
- Large egg: Binds the ingredients together and helps the cookies hold their classic shape.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances all the other flavors with its warm, aromatic undertones.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure so the cookies are thick, but still soft and slightly chewy.
- Baking soda: Creates a gentle rise for that ideal, slightly puffy cookie center.
- Baking powder: Adds just a touch more lift, giving these cookies a light texture.
- Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and amplifies all the flavors—don’t skip it!
- Chopped chocolate (semi-sweet or dark): Provides gooey, melty pockets of chocolate in every bite—use extra on top for bakery-style results.
- Mini pretzel twists, chopped: The star of the show for that ultra-satisfying salty crunch—save some extra to press on top before baking for more visual appeal.
How to Make Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars
Start by placing the softened unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar into the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes, until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. This step builds the foundation for soft cookies with a lovely texture.
Step 2: Blend in Peanut Butter
Add the creamy peanut butter to your butter-sugar mixture and mix on medium speed for one minute. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl so everything gets thoroughly blended—it’s the key to an even peanut butter flavor in every bite.
Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. This brings even more richness and ensures every ingredient melds together seamlessly. Don’t rush; proper mixing here gives your cookies that classic, chewy interior.
Step 4: Whisk and Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt. This step evenly distributes the leaveners and salt, helping the Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe rise just right and taste perfectly seasoned.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Add your dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Use your stand mixer on low, mixing just until you still see a few streaks of flour. Over-mixing can toughen your cookies, so stop as soon as it comes together—less is more.
Step 6: Stir in Chocolate and Pretzels
Fold in the chopped chocolate and pretzel pieces gently with a spatula. This is where the magic happens—the add-ins give that irresistible texture and burst of flavor, making the Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe uniquely delicious.
Step 7: Scoop and Chill the Dough
With a large 2-ounce cookie scoop, portion the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. For best results, pop the tray in the fridge for at least two hours (or overnight). Chilling intensifies the flavor and helps prevent too much spreading in the oven.
Step 8: Prep for Baking
When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment. Place your chilled dough rounds on the trays, leaving about 2 inches in between. These cookies love to stretch out, so give them some space!
Step 9: Bake to Perfection
Bake for 11 to 12 minutes. Halfway through, remove the pan and tap it firmly on the countertop—this encourages an even bake and those glorious crackly tops. Rotate the pan for even browning, then finish baking until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underbaked.
Step 10: Cool on the Pan
Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This extra rest sets their shape and keeps them oh-so-chewy inside.
Step 11: Finish with Sea Salt
For the ultimate upgrade, sprinkle flaky sea salt over the still-warm cookies. The salt highlights the sweet-salty magic of this Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe. Enjoy your reward—you definitely earned it!
How to Serve Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
A few extra chocolate chunks and pretzel pieces pressed on top before baking transform these treats into bakery-worthy beauties. Once baked, finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for that professional, Instagram-ready finish—your guests will swoon before they’ve even taken a bite.
Side Dishes
These cookies are perfectly delicious on their own, but they absolutely shine alongside a cold glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a cup of coffee for a sweet-and-savory pick-me-up. Think of them as the ultimate partner to your favorite cozy beverage.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking the cookies in a tall glass jar with a ribbon for a memorable homemade gift, or serve them on a platter interspersed with whole mini pretzels and chocolate pieces for a fun, snack-inspired dessert board that will totally wow your friends and family.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They’ll keep their chewy texture and bold flavors if you keep them sealed—just try not to eat them all at once!
Freezing
If you want to plan ahead, freeze scoops of dough on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container. Baked cookies can also be frozen—just wrap them well and enjoy within a month for ultimate freshness.
Reheating
Revive leftover cookies by warming them in a 300°F oven for about 3 to 5 minutes or microwaving for a few seconds. The chocolate will go gooey again, just like when they first came out of the oven!
FAQs
Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
Absolutely! Crunchy peanut butter adds extra pockets of peanut bits for even more texture. Just know the finished cookies may have a slightly chunkier bite, but the flavor will be just as fantastic in this Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe.
Do I have to chill the dough?
Chilling the dough is essential for thick, chewy cookies and prevents too much spreading during baking. If you’re pressed for time, even a short chill (30 minutes) helps, but for best results, go for the full two hours or overnight.
What kind of chocolate works best?
Semi-sweet or dark chocolate is lovely for balancing the sweetness, but feel free to experiment with milk chocolate or even white chocolate for fun new twists on the classic Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe.
How can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Swap the all-purpose flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free blend, and double-check your pretzels and other add-ins for gluten-free labels. The results are still every bit as chewy and delicious!
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Definitely! You can keep the dough covered in the fridge for up to 48 hours, or portion and freeze it for cookies on demand—meaning fresh-baked Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe goodness anytime the craving strikes.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one cookie you absolutely need to try, it’s the Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe. With their unbeatable combination of flavors and textures, these cookies are always a crowd-pleaser—and you’ll savor every chewy, chocolate-studded, salty-sweet bite. Trust me, once you bake a batch, this recipe will become a cherished favorite in your kitchen, too!
Print
Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: Makes about 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies strike the perfect balance between sweet and salty, with a delightful crunch from chopped pretzels and richness from creamy peanut butter. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, these cookies are a true crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 2/3 cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup (160 g) creamy peanut butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (266 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate, semi-sweet or dark
- 1 cup mini pretzel twists, chopped into pieces
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Add the butter and sugars to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add Peanut Butter: Add the peanut butter and mix on medium speed for one minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the egg and vanilla and mix well to combine.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.
- Add Mix-Ins: Stir in the chocolate chunks and pretzel bits with a spatula.
- Scoop and Chill: Use a cookie scoop to portion dough onto a baking sheet. Chill for at least 2 hours.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place dough on prepared baking sheets and bake for 11-12 minutes.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
Notes
- For a flavor twist, try using different types of chocolate or adding chopped nuts.
- Ensure the cookies have enough space between them on the baking sheet to prevent spreading into each other.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies, Sweet and Salty Cookies, Chocolate Pretzel Cookies
