Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I had first seen these on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago on Just a Taste.   They of course looked amazing and I am drawn to anything that can make a lot, cause I love to share!  I picked up some pretzels to have on hand for when the time came to actually make these.  That day came when I was invited to a potluck BBQ at the last minute and told to bring a dessert.  I made a classic Kathy mistake and didn't pay attention to how long these little guys actually take before they can be served, but fortunately everyone that tried them enjoyed them.  I had made a double batch so I was then able to take most to work the next day, by then they were perfect for eating and got gobbled up really fast!

They come together pretty fast, it's the setting up before cutting and serving that takes awhile, be aware!

If you like chocolate chip cookies, plus the salty flavor of a pretzel, these will be just perfect the next time you need a treat to share, or eat by yourself!  If you choose not to share, don't worry, I won't judge or tell!

To start, it is pretty much the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies, with some pretzel pieces thrown in for good measure.

Start with your butter and sugar, cream those together until smooth.  Add in the eggs and vanilla until those are all blended in.  Stir in the dry ingredients until just incorporated, being careful not to over mix.  Finally stir in the chocolate chips and pretzel pieces.

Spoon that into your pan and sprinkle more pretzels on top.  Lightly press those into the dough.  The site where I found this had lined her pan with parchment paper.  I honestly struggle lining pans and then getting the lining to stay put.  So until someone invents a lining that is shaped like my pan, I will deal with cutting around the edge of my pan!
You will end up baking this for at least 30 minutes.  The dough needs to cook all the way through.  Keep an eye on it and do toothpick tests so you can take it out when it is done.
So this is where I hadn't paid enough attention.  These need to cool completely before you move onto the chocolate drizzle step.  Like normal cookies, this continues to bake when out of the oven and then it needs to set up so you have individual bars vs a gooey mess.  A very yummy gooey mess but still a little messy when trying to serve!  When they are cool, drizzle with melted chocolate and oil mixture.

Once that is done, they need to cool completely again.  The chocolate needs to cool and harden before serving.

If you can manage to wait for them to set up you do have some very yummy and addicting cookie bars that will get you lots of compliments, if you can save enough to share with others!

Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ingredients
1 cup of butter, melted (I always use salted, just my preference)
1 cup brown sugar, packe
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips, divided
1 cup crushed pretzels, divided
1 tsp vegetable oil

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  If you choose, line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper.  You can also just spray your pan.
2. Whisk together melted butter with both sugars until smooth.  Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined.  Stir in flour and salt just until combined.  Stir in 1 cup of the chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of the pretzels.
3. Pour or spoon batter into prepared pan.  Smooth the op and sprinkle remaining pretzels on top.  Press them lightly into the batter.  Bake for at least 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
4. While they are cooling off, melt remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and oil in double boiler or microwave.  Once bars are cool, drizzle with melted chocolate.  Allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.