Tag Archives: pretzels

Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Pretzel Ice Cream

No churn peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter chunks and chocolate covered pretzel pieces.

basically the best ice cream ever.

I’ve been working very hard to bring you the very best no churn peanut butter ice cream you will ever eat. And by working hard, I mean eating my weight in peanut butter ice cream. No regrets over here!

HOLY COW peanut butter chocolate covered pretzel ice cream!

While I basically eat and breathe peanut butter, I wanted to find a balance between incredible peanut butter flavor and whoa this is pure frozen peanut butter (<—- not that there’s anything wrong with that!). I found that in order to do that, dividing the peanut butter into two parts: 1) peanut butter ice cream base and 2) peanut butter ripple was necessary. I know, I really took one for the team figuring that out.

no churn peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter swirls AND chocolate covered pretzels

And while that was ultimately awesome on its own, I wanted to add a mix-in, because ice cream with mix-ins is almost always better than ice cream without! The peanut butter was just calling for something crunchy and chocolaty so chunks of chocolate covered pretzel were a clear choice. I chopped up some Bark Thins because I’m mildly obsessed with them and the chocolate is rich, dark and not too sweet. Peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter ripple and chocolate covered pretzel in almost every bite. Sweet, salty, indulgent.

The BEST homemade ice cream!

In case it’s not already been made clear, this was complete peanut butter ice cream perfection.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Pretzel Ice Cream
 
No churn peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter chunks and chocolate covered pretzel pieces.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
For the ice cream:
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 130g (1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter (if using salted natural peanut butter, omit sea salt)
  • 3g (½ teaspoon) sea salt
  • 210g (2 cups) chopped chocolate covered pretzels (I used Bark Thins because I’m obsessed with them)
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
For the peanut butter swirl:
  • 130- 200g (1/2- ¾ cup) creamy peanut butter (see notes*) (if using salted natural peanut butter, omit sea salt)
  • 1g (¼ teaspoon) sea salt
Instructions
Make ice cream base:
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk and sea salt until smooth; stir in chocolate covered pretzels
  2. In the separate bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into peanut butter mixture
  4. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan or ice cream storage container
Make peanut butter swirl:
  1. Microwave peanut butter for 15 seconds and stir in salt
  2. Drizzle half of peanut butter swirl over top then run a knife through peanut butter to marbleize; repeat with remaining ice cream and peanut butter
  3. Wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart
*I prefer to use the full 200g of peanut butter but that can make the ice cream very peanut buttery; use less if you aren’t quite as peanut butter crazy as I am

 

 

The BEST peanut butter ice cream!

This post contains affiliate links.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

You might also like:

No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts

No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts

No Churn Peanut Butter Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream 

Peanut Butter Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream

Drumstick Ice Cream Cake

Drumstick Ice Cream Cake

Milk Chocolate Tart with Peanut Butter Pretzel Crust

An easy no-bake dessert that only uses four ingredients! This tart is simple but impressive.

No-bake AND only 4 ingredients!!!

I’m currently joining in on the chorus of everyone asking how Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away. My theory is that the warm fall weather we have had was actually a huge mind trick. How could Thanksgiving be coming if I barely need a jacket?

This tart is incredible and only takes 4 ingredients!

The good news is that I’ve got a dessert recipe for you that is perfect for dealing with limited holiday prep time. This milk chocolate tart looks impressive and complicated, but it actually is super easy. In fact, this tart is no-bake. Yes, three cheers for a dessert that won’t put pressure on your oven itinerary for Thanksgiving!

Pretty much the best no-bake EASY dessert ever

And beyond all that, the tart tastes pretty extraordinary. The peanut butter pretzel crust is kind of amazing. It’s crunchy and salty and, well, it’s made with peanut butter. The filling? The filling is creamy, rich and decadent. I’ve noticed that milk chocolate doesn’t get enough praise in the elevated dessert world and this tart is telling me it really should get some more love.

So while I’m still mildly panicked about all the things I want to do before Thanksgiving, I’m just going to go ahead and enjoy a big slice of this chocolate tart and not worry about it too much.

A super easy tart that would be perfect for Thanksgiving!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Milk Chocolate Tart with Peanut Butter Pretzel Crust
 
An easy no-bake dessert that only uses four ingredients! This tart is simple but impressive.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients
Filling:
  • 340g (12 ounces) good quality milk chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 355 milliliters (1 ½ cups) heavy cream
Crust:
  • 130g (1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter
  • 200g (2 cups) crushed salted pretzels plus additional for topping tart (optional)
Instructions
Make the filling:
  1. Place chocolate in a large heat-safe bowl and set aside
  2. In a small saucepan, bring cream to a rolling boil over medium high heat (do not stir) and then immediately pour over chocolate; let sit for five minutes and then whisk until completely smooth
  3. Let cool at room temperature for one hour and make crust
Prepare crust:
  1. In a medium bowl, melt peanut butter in microwave by heating for 15 seconds, stirring and repeating until easy to stir; stir in pretzel crumbs
  2. Press mixture into a 11-inch tart pan so that it is evenly spread out and up the edges; place in refrigerator until ready to use
  3. Once ready, pour chocolate mixture into chilled crust; then chill tart in refrigerator 4 hours (or up to 24 hours)
  4. Use additional pretzels to decorate tart before serving if desired
Notes
Significantly adapted from Food and Wine
The filling requires one hour of cool time and then the tart requires four hours of chill time before serving.
The crust may be a little crumbly when you remove it from tart pan.

My new favorite dessert!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

You might also like:

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

Sweet & Salty Candy Bar Blondies

Sweet and Salty Candy Bar Blondies

Pretzel Cookie Sandwiches

Chewy pretzel infused cookies sandwiched together with buttercream.

Chewy pretzel infused cookies sandwiched together with buttercream.

I got the crazy idea that I needed to make a cookie that was flavored like a pretzel.  It happened sometime after these Oreo cookies disappeared.  However the crazy idea popped into my head, I’m so glad it did.  These chewy cookies were pretty addicting.  Frankly they didn’t need any buttercream at all but I thought it would be fun to play on the salty pretzel theme with some salted caramel buttercream (and why not?).  Next time I’ll leave them be……. or sandwich them with chocoalate or peanut butter buttercream.  Uhoh!

Pretzel Cookie Sandwiches
 
Chewy pretzel infused cookies sandwiched together with buttercream.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 13 cookie sandwiches
Ingredients
  • 165g (~1¼ cup) all-purpose flour
  • 105g (~1 cup) finely ground salted pretzels (I started with ~5 cups of large pretzel thins)
  • 2g (1/2 teaspoon) baking soda
  • 2g (1/2 teaspoon) salt
  • 170g (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 105g (~1/2) cup granulated sugar
  • 120g (~1/2 cup) packed light brown sugar
  • 50g (1 whole large) egg at room temperature
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • Salted Caramel Buttercream (or other filling of choice)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350; line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside
  2. Whisk flour, pretzel crumbs, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside
  3. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on high speed until light and fluffy
  4. Beat in egg and vanilla on medium speed just until combined
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add dry ingredients but do not overmix; use a spatula to make sure all cookie batter is combined
  6. Use a medium cookie dough scoop or tablespoon to make cookie dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (about 1½ tablespoons each)
  7. Bake cookies for 9-10 minutes or until edges have slightly darkened and centers appear set
  8. Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack; once cool, match each cookie with a second cookie of same size
  9. Spread or pipe frosting onto bottom of half of the cookie sandwiches, about 1½ tablespoons each; lightly press remaining cookies down onto frosting to create sandwiches
Notes
Cookie adapted from these Oreo Overload Cookies and these Graham Cracker Cookies
Store cookies in an airtight container up to four days (eat within two for best texture).  Can be frozen up to one month.

Chewy pretzel-flavored cookies... with buttercream!

Serious Pretzel Cookie Sandwiches
Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Sweet and Salty Toll House Pie

This warm sweet and salty cookie pie is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Sweet and Salty Toll House Pie -This warm sweet and salty cookie pie is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

This is just one of those posts where I’m going to cringe looking at the pictures, but the recipe is too good not to share and frankly, sometimes the most UN-photogenic desserts are the tastiest.

Way back on our first Valentine’s Day together (2004!), Matt took me to dinner at Murphy’s in Atlanta.  Pretty much everyone who went to Emory has gone there at least once (likely during a parental visit where there was a rental car and someone else’s credit card involved).  This was actually my second date at the restaurant but I don’t think I told that fact to Matt that night…  Anyway, our meal involved some delicious food (to this day Matt still talks about the grouper he had) and ended on a sweet note with Toll House Pie.  I had no idea that this was a thing at the time, but apparently it was and anyone who went to Murphy’s had to have it (a sign that my first date there was definitely not meant to be).  When the server brought out the warm slice of pie oozing with melted chocolate and topped with creamy vanilla ice cream melting away, we were in dessert heaven.  Way back then I was a bit on the stricter side (ahem, very strict) when it came to indulging, but you better believe I ate my fair share of that pie.

Since then I’ve made the traditional version once (sans nuts), but this time around I wanted to make it sweet and salty.  Swapping out the chopped nuts for pretzel pieces and loading it with big milk chocolate chunks was a good move.  As was the sprinkling of smoked sea salt on top!

Sweet and Salty Toll House Pie -oozing and warm... perfect with ice cream!

Sweet and Salty Toll House Pie
 
This warm sweet and salty cookie pie is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie crust dough, cold* (I used
  • Audra’s pie crust recipe– so flaky!)
  • 100g (~2 large) whole eggs
  • 10 milliliters / 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 235g (~1 cup packed) light brown sugar
  • 170g (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 64g (~1/2 cup) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½g (½ teaspoon) salt
  • 150g (~1 cup) milk chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 40g (~1 cup) broken salted pretzel pieces
  • 2g (1 teaspoon) flaky sea salt, preferably smoked
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees
  2. Roll out pie crust and press into a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie-plate; set aside
  3. In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt; set aside
  4. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs and vanilla on medium-high speed for several minutes until light and foamy
  5. Beat in sugar and butter on medium-high speed until well-combined; use a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the mixing bowl
  6. Put mixer on low and slowly add in flour mix
  7. Stir in chocolate and pretzels but do not overmix
  8. Carefully spread filling into pie shell; top with flaky sea salt
  9. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a knife comes out clean from side of pie, center should still be moist
  10. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving warm with ice cream
Notes
Adapted from the original Nestle Toll House Pie

Sweet and Salty Toll House Pie -such an awesome dessert

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

These sweet and salty dessert bars are packed with an Oreo crust, chocolate, pretzels and salted caramel.  You won’t believe how easy these are to make.

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

Of all the salted caramel recipes I’ve made, these are by far the most dangerous.

The first time I made them, Matt joked about how ugly they were and then we proceeded to devour the pan…. warm with ice cream.

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

But a few days later, after they had disappeared, I decided that I simply must make them again because it just wouldn’t be fair to you if I didn’t share the recipe.  Let’s not talk about how much of both batches I inhaled.  Sweet and salty recipes just do it for me.

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

When I decided that January was going to be Salted Caramel Month, I wanted to make some spin on the ever famous Seven Layer Bars / Magic bars / Hello Dolly Bars.  These are quite different from that but conceptually the building blocks are the same.  Oreos instead of graham crackers, salted caramel instead of sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and pretzel pieces to replace the other toppings you may be used to (you know how I feel about coconut… just no).  Once you have your caramel, they are super easy to put together… and just as easy to eat!

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars
 
These sweet and salty dessert bars are packed with an Oreo crust, chocolate, pretzels and salted caramel. You won’t believe how easy these are to make.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 9-12 servings
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces (~2 cups / 20 cookies) finely crushed Oreos
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 8½ ounces (~1¼) cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 ounces (~1½ cups) salted pretzel pieces
  • 1 cup salted caramel
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees; spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside
  2. In a medium bowl, combine Oreo crumbs and melted butter; press mixture down evenly into prepared baking dish
  3. Pour about half of chocolate chips over crust
  4. Combine pretzel pieces and salted caramel, pour mixture over chocolate chip layer
  5. Pour remaining chocolate chips over top of bars
  6. Bake for about 25 minutes or until caramel is bubbling around edges and bars appear set
  7. Allow to cool before slicing
  8. Store leftover bars covered at room temperature up to four days

 

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars

Salted Caramel Oreo Bars that are SUPER easy to make!!

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

You might also like:

Oreo, Peanut Butter Cup, Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Oreo, Peanut Butter Cup, Chocolate Chunk Cookies

No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies: A How-To Video!

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies: A How-To Video!

Remember when I promised you eHow videos?  Well, I’m going to try to get past my embarrassment and share them, yikes!  You already have the recipe, but I figured you might like the video for how to make these Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies.  I’d love to hear what you think!

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

These peanut butter cookies are thick and chewy (like most cookies should be), sweet and salty, and absolutely delicious. 

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

Last week was…. well, it sure was a week.  Emotionally my head was somewhere else.  As soon as I heard about the marathon bombing my heart just ached for everyone there.  Then there was the explosion in West, Texas.  It was too much for one country in just a few short days.

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

But then something amazing happened.  Early Friday morning, my beautiful niece was born!  Hannah is the most amazing baby girl and just like that, I was reminded of the wonderful miracles happening every day!  I’ve been excited to be an aunt for months, but this brand new addition to the family is even beyond what I could have expected.

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

And in the middle of all that, for every minute that I wasn’t glued to the news or hanging around the hospital maternity ward, I was prepping to film videos for eHow.  10 videos.  In one day.  AKA craziness.  When I originally agreed to do this, I didn’t grasp quite how much work it would entail prepping to film, baking on camera, and rushing to clean up during the taping.  In case you are wondering, it is a lot of work.  Initially I was also really nervous.  I’ve never done something like this before.  Well, in all of the excitement of everything else.  Okay, mostly because of the fact that I could NOT wait to finish taping so that I could get to the hospital and meet Hannah, I actually wasn’t nervous at all.  There is another miracle for you!  I think I’m actually more nervous to see how cheesy and awkward I ended up looking.  If I’m not completely embarrassed by the final products, I promise to share them with you once they are done! [UPDATE: You can see the eHow video for the Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies here!]

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

So the good news for you?  I made a few things that I really want to share the recipes for.  These cookies for instance, make them.  You know how much I love chocolate and peanut butter and this cookie is no exception.  Thick and chewy (like most cookies should be), with a little crunch from those salty pretzels.  Seriously, just make them.

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies

Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies
 
These peanut butter cookies are thick and chewy (like most cookies should be), sweet and salty, and absolutely delicious.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 24 large cookies
Ingredients
  • 1 cup (4⅝ ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 1 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 5⅝ ounces (¾ cup) granulated sugar
  • 4⅛ ounces (1/2 cup) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 x-large eggs, room temp
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup pretzel pieces (1 ½ ounces)
  • Sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, set aside
  2. Using a mixer, in a large bowl beat peanut butter, butter and sugars on high until light and fluffy
  3. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined
  4. Reduce speed to low and stir in flour mixture just until combined
  5. Stir in chocolate chips and pretzels
  6. Chill dough for 2 hours
  7. After, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper
  8. Use a large cookie dough scoop to place cookie dough balls (about ¼ cup each) on top of parchment paper, 1-2 inches apart
  9. Lightly sprinkle cookie dough with sea salt
  10. Bake ~14 minutes until cookies are brown around the edges

 
And a few behind-the-scenes pictures for good measure

eHow filming for Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter CookieseHow filming for Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter CookieseHow filming for Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter CookieseHow filming for Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies
This post contains affiliate links.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

You might also like:

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches

The Best Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies

The Best Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies

Pretzel Cookie Sandwiches

Pretzel Cookie Sandwiches

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Yes, I’m still alive.  I’ve just been buried in butter, sugar and chocolate… especially in the form of blondies over the last few weeks.  Keep It Sweet Desserts was lucky enough to get a very flattering mention in Star Magazine and readers have been calling, emailing and placing orders like crazy.  It is amazing.

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Some highlights include: “What makes your black and white blondies black and white?” (that would be the dark and white chocolate chips) as well as “Can I order over the phone? I don’t have an email address… or a computer.”  Can’t make this stuff up.

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

And if I told you how much someone was willing to pay for overnight shipping for a rush delivery you might choke so I won’t mention that (ahem, over $100).  Hey, when you need brownies, you really need brownies.

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

But last week in-between a college friend’s wedding hangover, a late night rush to the eye doctor for a scratched cornea, celebrating our 2nd anniversary and a list minute trip to Philadelphia to see my 94-year old grandfather (highlight: his reaction to the cost of college today, low: having to remind him that my grandmother died five years ago), I managed to get back into the kitchen for some actual recipe creation.

Let me pause to tell you that I absolutely love what I am doing.  But on weeks when I am busy processing orders for my regular cookies, brownies and bars, I miss my moments of creativity.  That is part of why I love the Cookie of the Month Club and a huge reason why I won’t stop blogging.  There is always something new and fun to do in the kitchen and I don’t want to lose those opportunities.  So when I finally had a few minutes of “play” time, I did something that I’ve wanted to do for a while.  I dipped pretzels in cookie butter and then in chocolate and sprinkled some sea salt in top.  Addicting snack? Father’s Day gift?  Party dessert?

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels
Makes 2 dozen

Ingredients:
2 dozen short salted pretzel rods
2/3 cup cookie butter (or any version of creamy speculoos)
6 ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside
Dip pretzels into cookie butter and place on lined baking sheet; freeze for thirty minutes or until cookie butter is firm
Melt chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between
Dip pretzels in chocolate and immediately sprinkle wish sea salt
Allow pretzels to cool before serving (I put them in the refrigerator to speed up the process)

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Ooey Gooey Peep Stuffed Cookies

Ooey Gooey Peep Stuffed Cookies

These days, it is very rare that I make a dessert recipe a second time.  Other than what I am selling, I like to constantly try new things and am always on a mission to share something new and creative with you.

Ooey Gooey Peep Stuffed Cookies

But sometimes, your friends and family cling onto that cookie you made and ask you about it every time you see them for an ENTIRE YEAR.  Never mind that the recipe takes all of 20 minutes to put together.  Never mind that there is pre-made cookie dough involved.  Never mind that I’ve baked you cakes that take HOURS until they are in their final form.  Seriously, why are the easiest desserts sometimes the biggest hits?  This is a frustrating but wonderful thing all at the same time.

Ooey Gooey Peep Stuffed Cookies

So when Peep season started again I finally caved and made these cookies for a second time.  I have to admit, there is something irresistible about a giant cookie oozing with a gooey melted peep right out of the oven.  Stick some salty pretzel in there and you really do have a winner.

Ooey Gooey Peep Stuffed Cookies

Want to make these cookies for  your Easter celebration or just because you can’t stock up on Peeps fast enough while they are everywhere you turn?  Go get the recipe here!

Ooey Gooey Peep Stuffed Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies stuffed with Peeps so freaking genius!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Pretzel and Chocolate Chip Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies

Pretzel and Chocolate Chip Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies 6

So we are basically a week into the holiday season and all I want to do is bake all day and eat cookies. Even more so than usual.  The good news is that in one week I’ll be on a much needed vacation from work that will allow me to focus most of my energy on just that.

The bad news? Well, there isn’t much.  I just have to find a home for all these cookies because at my current rate of consumption I’ll need an entirely new wardrobe a couple sizes bigger come January 1’st. Not in the budget and not quite so desirable.

Pretzel and Chocolate Chip Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies 11

So other than eating cookies 24/7 and exercising as much as I can to support that habit, I’ll be finding homes for these baked goods. Some will go towards the multitude of cookie swaps* I’m signed up for. Others will go to friends. These cookies, one of my favorites that I’ve had in a while, will show up on the doorstep of a few of my favorite people in the very near future.  I hope each of them has their sweet and salty tooth ready!

These peanut butter cookies are chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside but the best part about them is that each bite also comes with the perfect amount of pretzel and chocolate. You can make this huge batch to share with friends or easily cut it in half for your own stash, because who doesn’t need 3 dozen delicious cookies on hand?

*I’m pretty sure that eating cookies I receive in a cookie swap doesn’t count

Pretzel and Chocolate Chip Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies 3

[print_this]

Chocolate Chip and Pretzel Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies

Yield: Makes 6 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 3 cups salted creamy natural peanut butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 2 cups salted pretzel pieces

Cooking Directions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, set aside
  3. Using a mixer, in a large bowl beat peanut butter and sugars on high until light and fluffy
  4. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined
  5. Reduce speed to low and stir in flour mixture just until combined
  6. Stir in chocolate chips and pretzel pieces
  7. Use a cookie dough scoop or tablespoon to place cookie dough balls (about 2 tablespoons each) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (Note: the dough will be a little greasy, that is OK)
  8. Bake for 11-13 minutes until or cookies are brown around the edges

Adapted from my Chocolate Chip Blueberry Peanut Butter Cookies [/print_this]

Pretzel and Chocolate Chip Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies 9

Are you taking any time off around the holidays? If so, what will you be doing?

[pinit]

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 19

I told you I’d come back with these cookie dough balls.  Actually, the only thing that kept me from eating the entire batch at once was all of the ideas brewing in my head.  Some of the ideas that you all suggested were kabobs, frozen yogurt/ice cream topping and mix-in, cheesecake, and cupcakes.  I can’t wait to try them!  This week, I wanted to keep it simple.  Between apartment hunting, preparing for a week away from the office, and just the normal summer craziness I didn’t have a ton of time in the kitchen.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 24

Hence, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops were formed!  So easy, but so delicious.  The hard chocolate shell on the outside and chewy cookie dough on the inside compliment a salty crunchy pretzel stick.  How fun would these be at a party?

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 29

Speaking of party, I’m going to start a monthly blog party!  The next one will be on  Tuesday, August 30th with sweet and salty desserts.  Send your favorite links to me by Sunday, August 28th (keepitsweetlcl at gmail dot com).

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 23

[print_this]

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops

Ingredients (Makes 16 pops)

  • 1 batch Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls
  • 2 cups semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
  • 16 salted pretzel sticks
  • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls:
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup salted natural creamy peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Prepare cookie dough balls as directed without freezing
  • Push each pretzel halfway into a cookie dough ball
  • Freeze pops for about thirty minutes or until cookie dough is firm
  • Once pops are frozen, melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments
  • Dip cookie dough pops into chocolate and place on a jelly roll pan covered with wax paper
  • Chill pops in freezer until ready to serve
  • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls:
  • Line a jelly roll pan with wax paper and set aside
  • Whisk together flour and oats in a medium bowl and set aside
  • Use an electric mixer to beat together all of the wet ingredients until well-combined
  • Stir in flour mixture until just combined
  • Stir in chocolate chips
  • Use a cookie dough scoop or spoon to scoop about two tablespoons of dough; roll dough into a ball with hands; repeat
  • Freeze or refrigerate until balls are firm

[/print_this]

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls can be found here.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 10

Any exciting weekend plans?

Chewy Chocolate Covered Pretzel Bars

chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 16

This has been one of those weeks so far:

  • Our bedroom A/C has been broken since last Monday but won’t be fixed until next Monday, never mind the 100 degree weather
  • I thought I figured out the source of my daily stomach pains but was proved wrong, the mystery continues
  • As a result of the two items listed above, I’ve barely been sleeping and my stress-relieving gym trips are suffering/barely happening

Okay, is my whining enough already?

chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 5

On the other hand, I found a delicious and easy no-bake (ie no hot oven) treat to make!  These Chewy Chocolate Covered Pretzel Bars are kind of perfect for drowning my summer sorrows.  They are chewy and crunchy at the same time with more of that salty and sweet combo that we all seem to know and love.  The bars are actually quite addicting if you ask me!

chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 10

[print_this]

Chewy Chocolate Covered Pretzel Bars

Yield: Serves 24

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 10.5-ounce bag mini marshmallows
  • 1 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • 6 cups salted pretzel pieces

Cooking Directions

  1. Melting butter over low-medium heat in a large pot
  2. Add the marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted
  3. Remove pot from heat, and stir in chocolate
  4. Add pretzels to the mixture and stir
  5. Once everything is combined, press the ingredients into a 13X9 pan lined with foil and allow to cool
  6. Once cool, remove bars from the pan; the easiest way to do this is to flip the pan upside down and peel off the foil
  7. Cut the bars in to large pieces (I made slices in a 6X4 matrix) and serve or store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days

[/print_this]

chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 19

What are you whining about this week? Vent in the comments!

It’s Margarita Time

Margarita Cheesecake Bars with a Pretzel and Cookie Crust

This is one of those recipes that I came up with accidentally.  Sometimes I have bakers block and can’t think of anything new or interesting to make.  I was inspired by Victoria’s cookies and wanted to do something with lime and salt.  Then I remembered the cream cheese in my refrigerator and eventually these Margarita Cheesecake Bars were born.Margarita Cheesecake Bars with a Pretzel and Cookie Crust

Thanks to a combination of Vienna fingers and pretzels, they have a wonderfully balanced sweet and salty crust.  Topped with a layer of light but creamy lime cheesecake they become a perfect summer treat.  The lime and the salt reminiscent of a margarita and who doesn’t like that?

Margarita Cheesecake Bars with a Pretzel and Cookie Crust

Ok, I’ll be honest- I’m not the biggest margarita fan.  I prefer to save my sugar calories for more important things like dessert.  Cheesecake and a Vodka Soda with lime juice for me, please.

Margarita Cheesecake Bars with a Pretzel and Cookie Crust

[print_this]

Margarita Cheesecake Bars

Yield: Serves 16

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup Vienna Finger (or vanilla sandwich cookie of choice) crumbs (about 6 cookies)
  • 3/4 cup salted pretzel crumbs (about 1 1/2 cups of small pretzels)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 8-ounce blocks light cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (~2 limes)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Cooking Directions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Grease a 9×9 baking pan and set aside
  3. In a medium bowl, combine cookies, pretzel crumbs, butter, sugar and salt
  4. Press crust mixture into prepared baking pan and bake for ~7 minutes or until lightly browned; set aside
  5. Using an electric mixer and the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese on high for a few minutes until creamy
  6. Add sweetened condensed milk and beat into cream cheese
  7. Beat in eggs, lime juice and vanilla
  8. Stir in flour
  9. Pour cheesecake mixture over crust and bake for 25 minutes or until firm and edges are separating from pan

[/print_this]

Adapted from Eagle Brand

Margarita Cheesecake Bars with a Pretzel and Cookie Crust

Do you drink margaritas? If not, do you have a go-to drink?

Sweet & Salty White Chocolate Blondies

blondies 11

Can you believe it is May now?!  Memorial Day is only a few weeks away and summer is so close I can taste it!  This winter was pretty brutal in the Northeast and I am just now feeling like myself again.  The cold and the snow tends to put me in complete hermit mode.  Good for my baking blog, not so good for my real life.  Now I am ready for longer days, dates with friends, flip-flops and spending all of my money on frozen yogurt.  I’m also ready to plan my summer calendar and travel schedule.

blondies 27

Living in New York, I’ve found that we spend most of our summer weekends out of the city and as a result away from my kitchen.  This is pretty normal for Manhattanites.  Come to the city for the 4th of July and you should be able to get almost any dinner reservation you could imagine.  You also will sweat your way from place to place and especially waiting for a subway.  While I’m a homebody at heart, I have a definite preference for the beach or a pool during those days.

blondies 29

All of this means that most of my cooking and baking from May through the end of August takes place at night after work.  On a good day, I’ll be home by 7.  Given that I am 8626 years old and get into bed before 10pm, that means only three real hours of kitchen time.  I’ve gotten pretty good at coming up with quick dinners for these nights (when in doubt, make eggs), but baking in that time span as well can be a bit more challenging.  Baking is like therapy for me, not something I like to rush.  This means planning ahead, making desserts that aren’t overly complicated, and making desserts that don’t require an insane amount of oven time (air conditioning isn’t NYC’s best quality).  Think cookies, brownies, and ice cream desserts.

These Sweet and Salty White Chocolate Blondies are the perfect dessert for baking under a time constraint. They are pretty easy to make and take only 30 minutes to bake.  Plus, they are easy to wrap up and bring to a summer barbeque or gathering.  The texture has a wonderful chew to it and there is a lovely sweetness and caramel-like flavor from the white chocolate melted in the batter.  Some chocolate chips and pretzel pieces add crunch and my favorite salty sweet taste combo.

Start by melting butter and some of your white chocolate chips over low-medium heat

white chocolate and butter 1

Stir occasionally; Don’t worry if your butter and chocolate separate, you can fold them together to combine

white chocolate and butter 2

Once completely melted, set white chocolate mixture aside

white chocolate and butter 3

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside

dry ingredients

In a large bowl, beat together sugars, eggs and vanilla until well-combined

sugar and eggs sugar and eggs 2

Reduce speed of mixer to medium and add white chocolate mixture

white chocolate added

Stir in the dry ingredients until well-combined

add dry ingredients

Stir in white and semi-sweet chocolate chips and pretzels

add chocolates and pretzlebatter mixed

Pour batter into pan lined with wax paper and greased

batter in pan 1 batter in pan 2

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and a knife comes out clean; allow to cool before slicing

baked 1

 

[print_this]

Sweet & Salty White Chocolate Blondies

Yield: Serves 24-36 depending on size

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces white chocolate (any form, to melt)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup salted pretzel pieces
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips (for mix-in)

Cooking Directions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Line a 9×13 pan with wax paper and grease; set aside
  3. Melting butter and white chocolate over low-medium heat
  4. Stir occasionally; don’t worry if your butter and chocolate separate, you can fold them together to combine
  5. Once completely melted, set white chocolate mixture aside
  6. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside
  7. In a large bowl, beat together sugars, eggs and vanilla until well-combined
  8. Reduce mixer speed to medium and add melted white chocolate mixture
  9. Stir in the dry ingredients until well-combined
  10. Stir in white and semi-sweet chocolate chips and pretzels
  11. Pour batter into prepared baking pan
  12. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and a knife comes out clean; allow to cool before slicing

[/print_this]

blondies 30

Are you taking any weekend trips this summer?

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

There is a place at the Jersey Shore (not that Jersey Shore) that sells the most amazing chocolates.  Every summer I look forward to a few trips for chocolate clusters filled with high quality fillings like caramel, nuts and marshmallows.  On a good day, my grandfather will leave a box of them out in the kitchen with a knife.  (Calories don’t count when you cut off a little piece each time you walk by)  Without a doubt, by the end of the day, the box would be empty.

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Jagielky’s has an incredible variety of chocolates with unique items like Double Dip Mints, essentially peppermint patties dipped in ANOTHER layer of chocolate – milk on dark or dark on milk.  A couple of summers ago they started selling chocolate covered blueberries.  These were large clusters of blueberries coated with a wonderful rich dark chocolate.  It is heaven biting into the creamy dark chocolate and then having a huge blueberry burst in your mouth.  Unfortunately, the chocolate covered blueberries are so popular that they are often sold out by the afternoon.

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

A few times I considered making my own but didn’t get around to it until now.  And rather than stick with just the basic chocolate and blueberry mix, I added pretzel pieces to mine.  These Blueberry Pretzel Clusters have a wonderful balance of sweet and salty flavors in addition to the contrast in textures from the crunchy pretzels, the juicy berries and the creamy chocolate.  With the right dark chocolate, you can create a rich high quality candy.

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Put these clusters out for your friends but make a secret stash for yourself because you will crave them once they disappear.  Just be sure to refrigerate the chocolates so that the berries don’t spoil.

Start with some of your favorite dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl (I used Trader Joe’s 72%)

dark chocolate

Gently melt the chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring in-between; once chocolate is completely melted, add blueberries and pretzel pieces

add blueberries and pretzels

Stir to coat berries and pretzels completely

blueberries and pretzels mixed in 1

Use a tablespoon to drop large clusters of the mix on a baking sheet lined with wax paper

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Chill chocolates in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until candy is completely firm

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

[print_this]

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Makes 14 clusters

Ingredients:

  • 9 ounces high-quality dark chocolate
  • 3/4 cup salted pretzel pieces
  • 1 1/4 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed and dried

Instructions

  • Gently melt the chocolate in 30 second increments in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring in-between
  • Once chocolate is completely melted, add blueberries and pretzel pieces and stir until completely coated
  • Use a tablespoon to drop large clusters of the mix on a baking sheet lined with wax paper
  • Chill chocolates in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until candy is completely firm

Notes:
Store chocolates in refrigerator for up to 3 days[/print_this]

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

What is your favorite chocolate candy?