Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Bars
Salty, crisp pretzels, chocolate, and caramel are mixed into a buttery cookie bar. Get out your mixing bowl and whip these up today!
Why I love these cookie bars
Everyone goes through different stages in their life. High school, college, single, dink (dual income no kids), diaper years, whatever it may be at this moment, you are going through some sort of stage in your life. I’m in a stage, or phase if you will, right now. Are you ready for this? I’m calling it my bar stage. No please don’t send me to rehab. My kids are fine. I’m not bar hopping every night. Unless you’re talking about the bars that have caramel pieces, pretzels and a freakish amount of chocolate chips. I’m hanging out at those bars airy-deh. Ask my hips they know. They are screaming for rehab!! And unfortunately my waistline needs to see some bar bells. Okay to avoid confusion maybe I should call it my cookie bar stage, because I’ve been through my bar stage and I do not want to go back there!
Cookie bars have everything a cookie does and are much quicker because one bake and is done. Who else always burns that last sheet pan of cookies because you have gotten busy doing something else?
Gather these ingredients
Why am I calling these years my bar stage? Because I’ll be darned if I have time to make cookies!! Who has time to make 40 cookies these days? Sheesh! And when I do, I always burn the last flippen pan! Always. My brain shuts down after four pans and says, even though the oven timer is going off, I refuse to hear it, and I will not go to the oven and take out the cookies until they are smoking and black. My brain is stubborn and weird. So I’ve turned to the bar. Cookie Bar, that is! One pan, 32 squares of cookie deliciousness. BAM done.
How to make caramel pretzel chocolate chip bars
** step by step photos coming soon**
Please take a moment and rate this recipe in the recipe card below. Also sharing on your social media accounts is so kind and helpful and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it when you snap a pic and tag eat2gather in it! Many thanks.
Peace, love, and cookie bars! XO Sheila
Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Bars
Equipment
- 1 12×15 sheet pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 whole eggs
- 3 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips I also like dark 70% chocolate chips in these bars
- 11 ounce bag caramel bits
- 1 cup (heaping)crushed pretzel pieces I prefer to use pretzel sticks, or traditional small pretzels, crush in plastic bag
- 1/2 tsp course sea salt for topping warm bars
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray 12×15 baking sheet with non-stick baking spray.
- Cream together butter, sugars, and vanilla until smooth and whipped.
- Add eggs one at a time and mix until combined. Add vanilla, mix.
- In a separate bowl measure out flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix until completely incorporated. Scrap down sides of bowl and mix for another couple turns. Do not over mix.
- Add goodies -> chocolate chips, caramel bits, pretzel pieces, at this point my stand mixer gets really full, so don’t walk away from this you might come back to find dough all over your counter and floor!
- Spread dough into greased baking sheet, sprinkle a few granules of coarse sea salt evenly over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven to a wire rack allow to cool for 20 minutes before cutting into bars.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: This recipe was shared with me by my friend Tina who is a master cookie maker, diligent walker, and great friend. She found the original recipe on the blog bystephanielynn.com. I’ve modified it slightly.
I think I like bars better, too! Especially the two cookie bar recipes of yours I’ve made already!
These look so good!!! I want one right now! I miss you. Tacos soon?
These are right up your salty alley!! XO, Sheila
I don’t miss the diaper or runny nose phases but every phase has been full of joy. I thought I was the only one who overcooked the last sheet of cookies. I love a soft chewy bar (called slices here) over a crumbly cookie anyway. These look delicious and easy.
I love that…slices…huh?! Yes I’ll take another slice please! I’ve heard them called slab cookies too. I agree, every phase has it’s blessings! XO you’re the best Maureen! Sheila