Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies
I have a small confession. For the longest time, I could not get myself to eat peanut butter in sweet situations. In Sierra Leone where I grew up, we use peanut butter to make killer chicken or fish “ground nut” soups aka peanut butter stews that are spicy and full of savory flavors. We also use it as a thickening agent in a very popular local dish called cassava leaves. So for a very long time, I found it odd for peanut butter to be used in sweets because it’s always been associated with savory spicy dishes for me.
But then I met Reese’s peanut butter cups. And everything changed.
Chocolate and peanut butter were just meant to be and since then I’ve been convinced the combination of peanut butter in sweets is a great idea. Thanks to this past year of baking adventures, I am over the moon about the combination even more. Of course it does help that a certain someone I live with is addicted to peanut butter cups. Now we both enjoy peanut butter in spicy African stews and in baked goods like these peanut butter chocolate chip pretzel cookies.
ย I made these cookies a few weeks ago to send to my August Bakin Friends, Steph of Steph’s Bite by Bite. They are soft peanut butter cookies studded with crunchy pretzels, M&Ms and chocolate chips. It’s the perfect sweet and salty combination!
And since it’s Friday, these would definitely be a great way to start the weekend! Make these peanut butter chocolate chip pretzel cookies to share with loved ones (or not!).
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies
These soft peanut butter cookies are studded with crunchy pretzels, M&Ms and chocolate chips. Itโs the perfect sweet and salty combination!
Ingredients
- 1 ยพ all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons malt powder
- 3 cups chopped salted pretzels
- ยฝ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup Reeseโs pieces or M&Ms
- Sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, malt powder and pretzels.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes on medium speed. Add in the peanut butter and beat until combined. Add in the eggs, one at a time. Scrape down bowl as needed. Add in vanilla extract.
- Reduce speed to low and slowly beat in the dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Finish folding the flour by hand since dough will be stiff. Stir in the chocolate chips and Reese’s pieces.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line baking sheets with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Drop tablespoon- sized dough on baking sheet and flatten slightly into disks. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes or until lightly golden on top. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
ย Have a great weekend!
Wow…that’s a interesting cookie recipe….love it….
Thanks Lubhna!
Well I’m definitely glad you came around to this whole peanut butter in sweets thing! It’s my favorite. In all applications, sweet or savory. But especially paired with chocolate. Love how sweet and salty these are!
I know..it was just a culture shock at first but so glad I am on-board!
I do enjoy a good pb cookie – but stuffed with Reeses and pretzels? You took it to the next level! I think that is so neat about growing up with pb being a savory ingredient … could you share that stew recipe? (Or have you already and I missed it?)
I haven’t shared it so you didn’t miss it at all. I actually don’t have a recipe, I usually just make it from memory but next time I do, I will take note of the recipe!!
I love peanut butter in all things – sweet and savory! I love “loaded” cookies like this, and the sweet & salty action that’s going on here!
Thanks Kelli! I love the loading cookies too ๐
silly girl thinking pb is for sweets-so glad you’ve learned better ๐ These cookies look FAB!
I learned so fast…and I am so happy I did because I was missing out clearly ๐
These cookies look soooo good!!!! I agree too, Peanut butter and chocolate are just made for each other! This is soooo amazing! ๐
Thanks Samina!
I agree with you on being big on peanut butter in Sierra Leonean dishes but not so much so in others. Its the raw peanut butter that I don’t quite lie. Somehow tastes different in Sierra Leone. But hey ho. I love these fab colourful cookies.
Yes Bintu, the raw peanut butter is best for savory dishes. I think sticking with the regular creamy peanut butter for sweets is best!
Mmmm I love a good peanut butter cookie and these definitely take it up a notch with the pretzels, chocolate chips and M&M’s!! I’m glad that you came around to peanut sweets. If I actually sit and think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever really eaten peanut butter in a savory dish so… I mean I’ve had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but it’s kinda on the sweet side if you think about it. I’d love to see this peanut butter soup you talk about!!
Emily I’m going to make this soup and share it here one day!! It’s pretty good and you can try peanut butter in a savory setting.
I love pretzel cookies so much, they are the sun on a rainy day for me! Definitely would like to make these soon!
I’m so glad you like pretzel cookies. This is my first try and I am in love!
Chocolate and peanut butter is definitely the best combo ever- glad you have come around to the idea! But that spicy stew sounds really good. I once tried peanut soup, and although it wasn’t spicy, it was really good too!
Meghan, spicy stews are the best but again I am biased because all I eat is spicy food lol!
I’d be all over these cookies if they were in front of me, because I love that sweet and salty thing! Peanut butter pretzels are one of my favorite snacks. ๐
Marcie me too! I love sweet and salty very much ๐
Well, you know I’m all over these! I am SO IN LOVE with peanut butter cookies!
Dorothy I thought of you when I posted these. I had just read your husband-approved cookie post! I’m glad you like them :). Thanks!
Peanut butter in soups sounds like something I definitely have to try! Just like these cookies, they look so thick and awesome! I love them ๐
Thanks Consuelo. The cookies are thick and chewy ๐
OMG, yes! I could eat the whole batch! I little sweet and a little salt perfect!
Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you Sami for visiting ๐
These cookies were irresistible!! A little sweet, a little salty, a little crunchy. YUM!
Those cookies are making me hungry!
Hhaha, sorry about that (but not sorry lol!) ๐
I’m the opposite – I love pb in sweets, but I just don’t get it in savory food. Any time there’s a pb dipping sauce at a restaurant I just don’t like it. Meat and pb don’t go together in my head. These cookies sound awesome. Love the addition of malt powder.
Those look good! Have you posted any recipes of African stew that has peanut butter in it? I would love to give it a try.
Lynda I haven’t posted any African stew recipes here but now I am thinking I should. I’ll work on it and let you know when it’s up!
Ok, I want to try some of those savory dishes that you mentioned! I’ve made a couple savory dishes with peanut butter and they are so good! You know what else is good? These cookies. Peanut butter, chocolate, pretzels. YUM! Pinning these, Zainab. Hope you have a great week!
Julie, I’ll have to make some of these savory dishes for the blog! I mostly have the recipes in my head from watching my mom make it at home. Thank you so much for sharing! Have a great week. Expect an email from me ๐
Pretzels in my cookies? Always yes.
Totally!! Thanks for stopping by Sarah ๐
I love pb in savory preparations too! Although for me it probably went the opposite way; I didn’t discover savory peanut butter dishes until later in life, it had always been a sweet treat for me as a child. Your cookies sound fabulous! And I’d love to learn more about the African dishes you’d mentioned too…
These cookies are a combination of everything I love. Have you tried the Pretzel M&M’s? To die.
Please share a recipe for that peanut butter chicken! I love peanut butter in spicy things as much as I love it in sweet things.
Oh man, these look divine! I’ve always loved peanut butter – in sweet and savory recipes!! ๐
I love love love these cookies! Salty and sweet is amazing plus who can say they don’t love the m&m colors.
Do u have to use malt powder? Can it be omitted or can something else be used in it’s place?
I’m so sorry to be seeing this now. I think you can leave out the malt but I’m not sure of a great substitute. Google wasn’t exactly suggesting any good substitutes.