Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites Recipe

The Perfect Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites Recipe for Sweet-Salty Joy

Sweet-toothed friends adore these delectable cookie dough pretzel bites that combine salty crunch with creamy indulgence.

Crunchy pretzels serve as the perfect base for a dreamy chocolate chip cookie dough coating.

Nobody can resist the irresistible combination of textures and flavors in this simple treat.

Mixing takes mere minutes, making these bites a quick solution for sudden dessert cravings.

Chocolate chips nestled within the soft dough provide bursts of rich sweetness against the pretzel’s crisp backdrop.

Each bite delivers a playful balance between smooth and snappy elements that dance across your palate.

You’ll find yourself reaching for handful after handful of these addictive morsels.

Whip up a batch and watch them disappear faster than you can imagine.

  • Conquer Sweet and Salty Cravings: Satisfy both sweet and salty taste buds with this incredible pretzel-cookie dough combo that delivers maximum flavor in one irresistible bite.
  • Master Impressive Snack Crafting: Create a show-stopping treat that looks professionally made but requires minimal culinary skills, perfect for home cooks wanting to impress friends and family.
  • Customize with Ease: Experiment with different chocolate coatings, sprinkle variations, or add fun toppings to make this recipe uniquely yours, transforming a simple snack into a personalized delicacy.
  • Quick Party Crowd-Pleaser: Prepare these bite-sized treats for gatherings, game nights, or potlucks where guests will love the playful combination of crunchy pretzels and soft cookie dough.
Cookie Base Ingredients:
  • Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor and helps create a smooth dough texture.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and deep caramel-like sweetness to the cookie dough.
  • Granulated Sugar: Contributes to the overall sweetness and helps with cookie structure.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor profile with its warm, aromatic notes.
  • Milk: Helps bind the ingredients and creates a softer cookie dough consistency.
Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the cookie dough and provides structure.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
Coating and Finishing Ingredients:
  • Mini Pretzels, Milk Chocolate Chips, Vegetable Oil, Egg, Baking Soda, Sea Salt: Create the sweet and salty exterior, help with browning, and add a delightful finishing touch to the pretzel bites.

Step 1: Mix Butter and Sugars

Grab a mixing bowl and combine unsalted butter with brown and granulated sugars. Whip these ingredients together until the mixture becomes smooth and looks fluffy like a cloud.

Step 2: Add Liquid Ingredients

Pour in vanilla extract and milk into the butter mixture. Blend everything until the ingredients are completely merged and look uniform.

Step 3: Create Cookie Dough Base

Slowly fold in flour and salt into the wet mixture. Mix gently to form a soft cookie dough, being careful not to overmix which can make the dough tough.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Place the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This helps firm up the dough and makes it easier to shape into balls.

Step 5: Shape Dough Balls

Remove chilled dough and roll small, compact balls that will perfectly fit between mini pretzels.

Step 6: Assemble Pretzel Sandwiches

Carefully nestle each cookie dough ball between two mini pretzels, creating adorable sandwich-like bites.

Step 7: Prepare Egg Wash

Whisk an egg and combine it with baking soda to create a golden-brown egg wash.

Step 8: Coat Pretzel Bites

Brush each pretzel-dough sandwich with the egg wash, ensuring a beautiful golden and crisp exterior.

Step 9: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 10: Arrange and Bake

Spread pretzel bites evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn light golden and pretzels look crisp.

Step 11: Cool Down

Transfer bites to a wire rack and let them cool completely.

Step 12: Chocolate Coating

Melt milk chocolate chips with vegetable oil in a double boiler or microwave until silky smooth.

Step 13: Dip in Chocolate

Partially or fully dip each cooled pretzel bite into the melted chocolate.

Step 14: Add Final Touch

Place dipped bites on a parchment-lined tray and sprinkle with sea salt for an extra flavor punch.

Step 15: Set Chocolate

Refrigerate for 10 minutes to help the chocolate coating harden.

Step 16: Serve and Enjoy

Serve these delectable bites chilled or at room temperature for a mouthwatering sweet and salty experience.

  • Prevent Dough Stickiness: Lightly dust your hands with flour when rolling cookie dough balls to stop them from sticking and ensure smooth, easy shaping.
  • Chill for Perfect Texture: Refrigerate dough for at least 20 minutes to help it firm up, making it easier to handle and preventing spreading during baking.
  • Achieve Golden Pretzel Crust: Use egg wash with a pinch of baking soda to create a glossy, crisp exterior that gives pretzels their signature golden-brown color.
  • Control Chocolate Coating: Add a touch of vegetable oil to melted chocolate to create a smoother, shinier coating that sets more evenly and prevents cracking.

Fun Flavor Twists On Pretzel Bites

  • Nutty Crunch Edition: Replace half the flour with ground almonds or pecans for added texture and rich, toasted flavor profiles.
  • Salted Caramel Sensation: Drizzle homemade caramel sauce over chocolate-dipped bites and sprinkle extra flaky sea salt for intense sweet-salty complexity.
  • Chocolate Lovers' Dream: Swap milk chocolate with dark chocolate and mix cocoa powder directly into cookie dough for deeper, more intense chocolate experience.
  • Seasonal Spice Blend: Add ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to cookie dough for warm, festive winter-inspired cookie pretzel bites that capture holiday essence.
  • Pair with Rich Beverages: Complement the sweet and salty pretzel bites with creamy hot chocolate or a bold espresso, which enhance the chocolate and cookie dough flavors.
  • Balance with Contrasting Drinks: Match these treats with cold milk or a crisp chai latte to cut through the richness and provide a refreshing counterpoint.
  • Create Sweet Wine Experience: Select a dessert wine like moscato or a late-harvest riesling that echoes the cookie's sweetness while adding elegant complexity to each bite.
  • Elevate with Cocktail Pairing: Mix a salted caramel martini that mirrors the pretzel's salty notes and amplifies the dessert's decadent chocolate undertones.
  • Store cookie dough pretzel bites in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keep layers separated by parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delightful texture.
  • Carefully place pretzel bites in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag, ensuring they are not crushed. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving to preserve their crispy exterior and soft cookie dough center.
  • Keep the treats in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Choose a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight to maintain their chocolate coating and prevent melting.
  • Avoid storing near strong-smelling foods, as the pretzel bites can absorb other flavors.
  • Can I use different types of pretzels?

You can use regular-sized pretzels or gluten-free pretzels, but mini pretzels work best for creating perfectly proportioned bites.

  • Is it necessary to chill the cookie dough?

Yes, chilling helps the dough become firm and easier to handle, preventing it from becoming too sticky when forming the pretzel bites.

  • How do I prevent the cookie dough from spreading during baking?

Chilling the dough and using cold ingredients helps maintain the shape and prevents excessive spreading in the oven.

  • Can I make these pretzel bites ahead of time?

You can prepare the pretzel bites and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before serving.

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Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites Recipe

Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites Recipe


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4.8 from 39 reviews

  • Total Time: 32 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Indulgent cookie dough pretzel bites blend sweet nostalgia with salty crunch, creating an irresistible snack that dances between childhood memories and grown-up cravings. Chocolate-drizzled and perfectly balanced, these treats will become your new favorite quick dessert.


Ingredients

Scale

Pretzels and Cookie Dough:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Coating and Binding:

  • 8 oz milk chocolate chips
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 package mini pretzels

Extras:

  • 1 large egg (for egg wash)
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 pinch of sea salt (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Cream unsalted butter with brown and granulated sugars in a mixing bowl until smooth and fluffy.
  2. Incorporate vanilla extract and milk into the butter mixture, blending until completely integrated.
  3. Gradually fold in flour and salt, mixing until a soft cookie dough forms without overmixing.
  4. Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to firm up and make it easier to handle.
  5. Remove chilled dough and roll into small, compact balls that will fit perfectly inside mini pretzels.
  6. Carefully nestle each cookie dough ball between two mini pretzels, creating a sandwich-like bite.
  7. Whisk the egg and create an egg wash by combining it with baking soda.
  8. Gently brush each pretzel-dough sandwich with the egg wash to ensure a golden, crisp exterior.
  9. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  10. Arrange pretzel bites on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
  11. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden and pretzels look crisp.
  12. Allow bites to cool completely on a wire rack.
  13. Melt milk chocolate chips with vegetable oil in a double boiler or microwave until smooth.
  14. Dip each cooled pretzel bite partially or fully into melted chocolate.
  15. Place dipped bites on a parchment-lined tray and sprinkle with sea salt.
  16. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set the chocolate coating.
  17. Serve chilled or at room temperature for a delightful sweet and salty treat.

Notes

  • Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain compact shape during baking.
  • Use room temperature ingredients for smoother, more consistent cookie dough texture.
  • Experiment with different chocolate coatings like dark or white chocolate for unique flavor variations.
  • For gluten-free option, substitute regular flour with almond or gluten-free blend and use gluten-free pretzels.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 298
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Truc Tran (Kris)

Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

  • Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
  • Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
  • Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.

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