Monday, November 8, 2010

Chocolate + Pretzels + Cookie = Brain Power


It should come as no surprise that food (read: treats) can be a highly motivating reward--and powerful tool of persuasion--when working with high school students.

I'm fortunate enough to have a job that I love, doing work that I find both fulfilling and inspiring. The students I work with are bright and determined, and they certainly make sure that no day is a dull day!

They also like to remind me that homework will get done faster during tutoring, and they'll listen more intently during programming, if they have a snack to power up their energy.

My response? Bring on the treats!

Tonight I baked a Chocolate Pretzel Cookies to take for the students this week. I found this perfectly sweet n' salty recipe on Monet's blog, and knew that it would be the ultimate after-school snack to power their brains through tutoring.

If you like chocolate-covered pretzels, this one's for you. I love the crunch, I love the chocolate, and I love the hint of salty peanut butter--these little guys showcase a great twist on the classic chocolate chipper, and they don't require any elaborate or unusual ingredients. I added a half cup of peanut butter to my batch because, well...when do I not add peanut butter to my chocolate?

Grab your apron and cookie up! It's Chocolate (plus peanut butter) Pretzel Cookie time, friends.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies
(adapted from Monet's recipe)

These cookies are the perfect kid-pleasing treat--salty pretzels, yummy peanut butter, and chocolate, all wrapped up into cookie form.

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or white--or a combo of all three!)
  • 1 - 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat baking sheets with cooking spray.

2) With an electric mixer, cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until well-blended. Sift in flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until thoroughly combined. Stir in pretzels and chocolate chips.

3) Drop by rounded spoonfuls on baking sheet. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned around the edges.

13 comments:

  1. I love sweet 'n salty things, and these look like they fit the bill! Crunchy, nutbuttery, chocolatey...YUM!

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  2. DROOL!! I have never made a cookie with pretzels in it, let alon even tried one!! This is such a good idea. I totally love the new pretzel m&ms, so I know I would love these cookies!! Theres just something great about sweet and salty things :)

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  3. I think that making treats for yourself is SO necessary.

    The world would be a dark and sad place without the sweet-salty combo.

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  4. How lucky are those students?! I hope you made extra for your home!

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  5. Lucky students, indeed! I love sweet and salty, and so am definitely a fan of chocolate-covered pretzels. These sound like the perfect snack, especially with peanut butter. Yum! :)

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  6. Love the sweet-salty combo in a cookie. :) Your students are lucky!

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  7. what an awesome idea! i can't wait to try these :)

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  8. I love pretzels + choc -- and in a cookie??? I'm sold!

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  9. Sounds delicious!

    Chocolate & pretzel go so well together. For some reason {none other than it has the same ingredients} this makes me think of the new pretzel m&ms!

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  10. As soon as I read the title, I was sold! I'll have to try this with a Flax egg or something so I can make it vegan! Those seriously look so tasty. Your high schoolers are so lucky!

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  11. It's the perfect combo! I love pretzels and chocolate together, I never thought about them cookiewise. Genius!

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  12. I'm so glad that you enjoyed these! Aren't they amazing? I adore chocolate and pretzels, and now that I'm seeing your photos, I want to make a batch of my own. Thank you for mentioning me sweet friend!

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  13. wow these looks absolutely amazing. Definitely a fabulous combo!

    xo

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