Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies: A Sweet and Salty Delight
These Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies are the ultimate indulgence, combining the rich, chocolatey hazelnut flavor of Nutella, the creamy, nutty goodness of peanut butter, and the salty, crunchy bite of pretzels. They’re surprisingly easy to make and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Get ready for a flavor explosion that will leave you craving more!
## Why You’ll Love These Cookies
* **Flavor Sensation:** The combination of Nutella, peanut butter, and pretzels is a match made in heaven. The sweet and salty contrast is addictive, and the nutty, chocolatey flavors are simply irresistible.
* **Easy to Make:** This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, making it perfect for both beginner and experienced bakers.
* **No Chill Time Required (Optional):** While chilling the dough helps prevent spreading, you can skip it if you’re short on time. Just be sure to keep a close eye on the cookies in the oven.
* **Customizable:** Feel free to adjust the amount of Nutella, peanut butter, or pretzels to suit your preferences. You can also add other mix-ins like chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
* **Perfect for Sharing:** These cookies are great for parties, potlucks, or simply enjoying at home with family and friends.
## Ingredients You’ll Need
* **All-Purpose Flour:** The base of the cookies, providing structure and texture.
* **Baking Soda:** A leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and become light and airy.
* **Salt:** Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and balances the sweetness.
* **Unsalted Butter:** Adds richness, flavor, and tenderness to the cookies. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
* **Granulated Sugar:** Sweetens the cookies and adds a slightly crisp texture.
* **Brown Sugar:** Adds moisture, chewiness, and a caramel-like flavor to the cookies. Pack it firmly when measuring.
* **Eggs:** Bind the ingredients together and add richness and moisture.
* **Vanilla Extract:** Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and adds a warm, comforting aroma.
* **Nutella:** The star of the show! Adds a rich, chocolatey hazelnut flavor.
* **Creamy Peanut Butter:** Adds a creamy, nutty flavor and helps to keep the cookies moist.
* **Pretzels:** Provides a salty, crunchy contrast to the sweet and creamy flavors. Use pretzel twists or sticks, and crush them into small pieces.
## Equipment You’ll Need
* **Mixing Bowls:** For mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately.
* **Electric Mixer:** A stand mixer or hand mixer will make the mixing process much easier.
* **Measuring Cups and Spoons:** For accurately measuring the ingredients.
* **Baking Sheets:** For baking the cookies.
* **Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats:** To prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets.
* **Cookie Scoop (Optional):** For creating uniform cookies.
* **Wire Rack:** For cooling the cookies.
## Step-by-Step Instructions
**1. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:**
* In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures that the leavening agent is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
**2. Cream the Butter and Sugars:**
* In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer. Creaming the butter and sugars properly is crucial for achieving the right texture in your cookies.
**3. Add the Eggs and Vanilla:**
* Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
**4. Add the Nutella and Peanut Butter:**
* Stir in the Nutella and peanut butter until well combined. The mixture should be smooth and creamy.
**5. Gradually Add the Dry Ingredients:**
* Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough cookies. A few streaks of flour are okay at this stage.
**6. Stir in the Pretzels:**
* Gently fold in the crushed pretzels until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
**7. Chill the Dough (Optional):**
* Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This will help prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. However, if you’re short on time, you can skip this step.
**8. Preheat the Oven:**
* Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
**9. Scoop and Bake the Cookies:**
* Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
* Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set. If you didn’t chill the dough, start checking the cookies at 8 minutes to prevent overbaking.
**10. Cool and Enjoy:**
* Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
## Tips for Perfect Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies
* **Use Softened Butter:** Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature before creaming it with the sugars. This will ensure that it mixes evenly and creates a light and fluffy texture.
* **Don’t Overmix the Dough:** Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
* **Chill the Dough (Optional):** Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, resulting in thicker, chewier cookies. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step, but keep a close eye on the cookies in the oven.
* **Use a Cookie Scoop:** A cookie scoop will help you create uniform cookies that bake evenly. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, you can use a spoon to measure out the dough.
* **Don’t Overbake the Cookies:** Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly cookies. Bake the cookies until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set. They will continue to firm up as they cool.
* **Cool the Cookies Completely:** Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before storing them. This will prevent them from becoming soggy.
* **Experiment with Mix-Ins:** Feel free to add other mix-ins to the dough, such as chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or sprinkles.
* **Adjust Sweetness:** If you prefer a less sweet cookie, reduce the amount of granulated sugar or brown sugar.
* **Salt Level:** Adjust the amount of salt to your liking. Some people prefer a saltier cookie to balance the sweetness.
* **Type of Pretzels:** Use your favorite type of pretzels. Mini pretzels work well too.
* **Peanut Butter Type:** You can use chunky peanut butter for added texture.
## Variations to Try
* **Chocolate Chip Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies:** Add chocolate chips to the dough for an even more decadent treat.
* **Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Blondies:** Press the dough into a baking pan and bake as blondies for a chewy, fudgy dessert.
* **Peanut Butter Cup Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies:** Press a mini peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie before baking for a Reese’s-inspired twist.
* **Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookie Bars:** Spread the dough in a baking pan and bake as bars for an easier way to enjoy these flavors.
* **White Chocolate Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies:** Substitute white chocolate chips for a different flavor profile.
* **Add Oats:** Incorporate rolled oats into the dough for a chewier, heartier cookie.
* **Espresso Powder:** A touch of espresso powder can enhance the chocolate flavor of the Nutella.
* **Sea Salt Sprinkle:** Sprinkle sea salt on top of the cookies after baking for an extra burst of salty flavor.
## Serving Suggestions
* **Enjoy them warm from the oven:** There’s nothing quite like a warm, gooey cookie fresh out of the oven.
* **Serve them with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee:** These cookies pair perfectly with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of coffee.
* **Pack them in lunchboxes:** These cookies make a great addition to lunchboxes.
* **Bring them to parties or potlucks:** These cookies are always a hit at parties and potlucks.
* **Gift them to friends and family:** These cookies make a thoughtful and delicious gift.
* **Ice Cream Sandwich:** Use the cookies as the base and top for an ice cream sandwich.
* **Crumble Topping:** Crumble the cookies and use them as a topping for ice cream or yogurt.
* **Pair with Wine:** A sweet dessert wine pairs well with the flavors of these cookies.
## Storage Instructions
* **Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days.**
* **For longer storage, you can freeze the cookies for up to 2-3 months.** To freeze, place the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.
* **To thaw frozen cookies, simply let them sit at room temperature for a few hours.**
## Nutritional Information (Approximate)
* *Please note that the nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used.*
* **Serving Size:** 1 cookie
* **Calories:** 200-250
* **Fat:** 10-15g
* **Saturated Fat:** 5-8g
* **Cholesterol:** 20-30mg
* **Sodium:** 100-150mg
* **Carbohydrates:** 25-35g
* **Sugar:** 15-20g
* **Protein:** 3-5g
## Recipe Card
**Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies**
**Yields:** About 24 cookies
**Prep Time:** 20 minutes
**Chill Time (Optional):** 30 minutes
**Bake Time:** 9-11 minutes
**Ingredients:**
* 1 ½ cups (192g) all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* ½ teaspoon salt
* ½ cup (1 stick, 113g) unsalted butter, softened
* ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
* ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* ½ cup (160g) Nutella
* ½ cup (128g) creamy peanut butter
* 1 cup (approximately 70g) crushed pretzels
**Instructions:**
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
5. Stir in Nutella and peanut butter until well combined.
6. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
7. Gently fold in crushed pretzels.
8. (Optional) Cover and chill dough for 30 minutes.
9. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies.
10. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and centers are set.
11. Let cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
**Notes:**
* For thicker cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
* Adjust the amount of pretzels to your liking.
* Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
## Conclusion
These Nutella Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies are a delightful treat that combines the best of sweet and salty flavors. With their easy-to-follow recipe and customizable options, they’re perfect for any occasion. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake a batch of these irresistible cookies. Your taste buds will thank you!
Enjoy!