Soft Pretzel Bites

Sometimes you just need a snack that's salty, soft and pairs well with mustard. Enter these soft pretzel bites. They make the perfect appetizer, game day treat, or really just an excuse to eat salty pretzels. You could easily turn this recipe into regular full size pretzel twists, but I made them into bites when I took them to two different parties and they were a big hit. Just the right size to have a few but not be committed to a huge pretzel. Although I probably popped enough of these delicious and doughy snacks to qualify for a huge pretzel, but that's not the point and really who's counting? As bites, these do take a bit more time, but they certainly aren't complicated. And the dough is super easy to make. Get ready for New Year's Eve or playoff football with these awesome treats.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies

Ok, so I've talked about the little peanut butter pretzel nuggets I can't get enough of. So of course a cookie was in order. These chunky cookies offer two types of peanut butter flavor--actual peanut butter cookie dough and Reese's Pieces strewn throughout for crispy, crunchy fun. And the salty pretzels offer more crunch and flavor. These were a hit with the peanut butter feign in my house (that'd be Dave) and I loved everything about them too. Didn't even miss chocolate! All kinds of peanut butter goodness from a cookie with a tender inside and tons of crunch. Yum!

Beer and Pretzel Cookies

Football season officially kicks off this weekend and I would like nothing more than to kick back with my feet up, beer in one hand and a salty snack in the other, while I cheer on my team and complain about my fantasy team results. Unfortunately, being 6 months pregnant means one of those things has to go. So instead, how about replacing that cold, frosty brew AND the salty snack with this cookie that also brings in some sweetness? The beer in these cookies reduces down and the alcohol is cooked off, so they can be enjoyed for flavor when your drinking mug is sidelined. The cookies are hefty but soft and the pairing of dark beer with sweet, chewy cookies, a bit of chocolate and some salty pretzels is exactly what I could handle as an arm chair quarterback. these cookies made the rounds--some for my brother for his birthday and some for Dave's cousin, Mike, and his wife Donna when we visited them after their son was born. I mean, cause when you have a baby you deserve cookies (HINT HINT). And if you're curious, the answer is no, you can't use a beer other than a stout. Number one, stout just has more flavor when you reduce it down, so you really get the essence that this recipe is going for. And b) stout and chocolate are made for each other. True fact.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Rice Krispies Treats

 

So there's these little nugget-like pretzels filled with peanut butter that are a sneaky little addictive snack. You can get them just about anywhere and all the brands I've had are good. It wasn't until I started eating these by the handful that I realized how peanut butter and pretzels make an excellent combination. Of course, when you toss both of them into some krispies treats you really can't go wrong. Crunchy, sweet, and salty, these krispies treats are delicious and topped with just a smattering of chocolate, they really are perfect for summer cookouts, pot lucks and general no-bake goodies.

Cowboy Bark

Quickly running into Trader Joe's one day, I had a moment of weakness at the register. As I came up to pay for my healthy fruits and veggies, there at the display right before the check out was what can only be described as chocolate crack. At Trader Joe's it goes by the name of Ruggedly Awesome Cowboy Bark. Sucked in by dark chocolate studded with sandwich cookie pieces, pretzels, peanuts, almonds and toffee bits, I bought a bag. Then I immediately got in the car, opened the bag and indulged. Holy crap this stuff is good. I may have hid the bag in the car and never told Dave about it, just selfishly nibbling a piece to make the commute home that much more bearable. And possibly a second bag was purchased without my husband's knowledge until I realized this stuff would be far cheaper to make myself. So the last crumbs and pieces made their way into the kitchen (and Dave was introduced) so I could mimic this delicious sweet, salty, chocolatey treat. Besides being cheaper to make yourself, this recipe makes way more than you'd get in the package from TJ's, making it an even better value. But really, the important thing is that you can whip this up in no time, particularly helpful when you don't have time to get to Trader Joe's. This is a crave-able candy, and you're going to want it often.

Pretzel Crusted Chicken

I love this chicken.  Tender and juicy, coated with a salty pretzel crust held on by a thin mustard glaze, this chicken is a delicious entree, and we have it pretty often in our house.  I love that it's simple to prepare but has a ton of flavor.  Plus, it's a unique twist on baked "fried" chicken.  The pretzels keep their crunch, and I even though I'm not a mustard fan, it's a perfect complement to the pretzel coating.  Serve this up with a salad and maybe some roasted squash or potatoes for a delicious dinner.

Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sweet, salty, soft cookies that just make me smile.  Bits of caramel, chocolate chips and big salty pretzel pieces are packed into these soft and chewy cookies for an amazing combo of salty and sweet, and a twist on the traditional chocolate chip cookie.  I'm always up for an easy drop cookie and these are delicious.   In fact, these are so good, they are likely going to end up in the Christmas cookie tins this year.  I'd been wanting to make them for a while and finally was convinced to do so when I got my September Foodie Pen Pal match who was clamoring for something sweet and salty.

Pretzel Rolls

Pretzel rolls are all the rage in restaurants now.  Even the cafeteria at work has been bringing them in from a local bakery for sandwiches.  I first made these a little over a year or so ago and adored them.  Dave and I love soft pretzels (remember these?) and these big rolls are awesome for sandwiches.  Dave made a ham and cheese slathered with mustard (after all, it is a pretzel), but I topped mine with fresh basil, mozzarella, beautiful ripe tomato slices and lettuce.  Not only delicious, but hearty and fresh.  The pretzels have a beautifully browned crusty outside and a soft, chewy interior, just as the perfect pretzel should.  Don't be intimidated by a yeast dough--these are so easy.

Homemade Sweet and Salty Snack Mix

A few weeks ago I made Snack Mix Cookies using the M&M Sweet and Salty Snack mix and last year I made rice krispie treats using the mix and a salted caramel swirl.  I love that snack mix so much, but it's not cheap.  As I looked at the combination of mini cookies, mini pretzels, peanuts and M&Ms, I couldn't help but think I could mix together something similar.  The trick was finding the right replacements, particularly the right sized pretzels and a mini cookie.  A bit of trial and error later, and I've come up with a pretty tasty alternative to the store bought version, yielding about twice as much mix for just about the same cost.  And I kind of like this version a little better because I think my mini cookie substitute has a lot more flavor to bring to the party.

Snack Mix Cookies

The sweet and salty snack mix that M&Ms put out is a guilty pleasure of mine.  First, M&M's are my kryptonite and by far my favorite candy.  Then the peanuts and pretzels for a bit of salty flavor.  And finally itty bitty cookies to round out the foursome of flavors to make a fun little snack.  All tossed into these cookies for a lot of wow and a bunch of yum.  Dave asked what I was making as a started portioning the dough onto my cookie sheets, and when I told him what was in them, his eyes got as big as saucers.  I said, "There are cookies in my cookies," and he just about died.  Then he ate one later and was in love.  He described them as monster cookies, but without the peanut butter (liiiiight bulb!)

Take 5 Brownies

You know I love a treat that packs a ton of flavor into one convenient package.  And the Take 5 candy bar is one of those that jams together all kinds of stuff--chocolate, peanut butter, pretzels, peanuts and caramel.  So take all of that and jam it into a fudgy brownie and now you're talking all kinds of amazing.  A chewy brownie with an awesome combination of salty (pretzels, peanut butter and peanuts) and sweet (chocolate and caramel), these are by far one of my new favorites.  I made these to take to a friend's house when he invited Dave and I over for dinner.  I love making desserts for Ben because he literally loves everything I make.  He's a cooks favorite taste tester and I know it's not out of obligation because he's not married to me.  When I showed up with him and told him what I brought he actually asked if we should just skip dinner and have dessert.  I like that kind of thinking.

Pomegranate Chipotle Pretzels

A little sweet with a spicy finish, these pretzels are super fun and really tasty.  They were a crowd pleaser during a recent get-together with friends.  And Dave enjoyed the leftovers for afternoon munchies. The flavors are really interesting, starting out as a sweet, almost candy coated pretzel and then finishing with a flavorful heat that's just a touch spicy, but not overly seasoned and hot.

Buffalo Pretzels

I've been wanting to make flavored pretzels for a while.  I snack on pretzels all the time--more than potato chips and I grew up in a serious potato chip house.  So I finally got around to trying these buffalo flavored pretzels for a recent party.  They are delicious.  A little spicy with a kick of heat at the end, these pretzels are great for snacking with a beer during the game, any game.  Or just while watching TV.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles

These are one of my favorite truffles.  I love the salty sweet combo of the pretzels and chocolate paired with the peanut butter creamy center.  It's just so stinkin' good.  This quick treat is perfect for when you want something to satisfy the sweet-salty cravings but don't want to bake or spend a lot of time on them.  There is the chilling component which means you can't just make these and eat them right away, but they don't require a lot of hands-on work.  So you can just use those hands to pop them into your mouth.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

This is a story about eating your stress.  A couple of weeks ago, my dear friends Rachel and John moved into their first home (yay!).  A delightful but stressful experience in general, this particular move was compounded by the fact that the in-laws decided to "help."  And while good intentions always come from the heart, they sometimes are not thought through to an extent allowing the recipients of those good intentions to truly appreciate the gesture.  Such as the in-laws deciding that they would come to the house before the movers came in that afternoon and start painting.  Let me repeat: putting in fresh paint, on walls, before and while the movers bring large boxes and miscellaneous furniture into the house on an already stress-filled day.  Dave and I had already invited Rachel and John to our house for dinner that night, thinking they'd want to get away from the boxes and mess, and in all likelihood, a kitchen unequipped to make ramen noodles let alone anything else until said boxes and mess were unpacked and put away.  So when Rachel burst through our doors venting about their overly-stressed day, before she even finished talking, I went to the fridge and pulled out a giant bowl of this delicious, satisfying, sweet, salty, crunchy bark that seemed to let the stress just melt away.  Yes, this bark has healing powers.  Or it's at least good enough to make you forget about your troubles, at least for a few hours.

Pretzel Dogs

Please allow me a moment to nom vigorously on these.

Ok, now that I've wiped the crumbs, I can share how amazing this hot dog wrapped in a perfect soft pretzel sprinkled with salt is: AMAZING.  Last month I went to two football games and both times I ordered a soft pretzel to enjoy with the game.  so the idea of stuffing a hot dog into that pretzel to enjoy while cheering on my team won me over in a heartbeat.  I whipped these up as a football lunch for Dave and I (he did help a lot) and we devoured them.  I packed the leftovers away in the freezer in two-packs so we could enjoy them later.  The pretzel has a perfect soft and chewy inside with a crusty, golden brown outside that is the perfect "bun" for a hot dog.  I eat my hot dogs with ketchup only, but if you're a mustard aficionado, you will be hard pressed to find something better to pair with your favorite spread.

Texas Trash

Have I got a week of food ready for you.  It's a week's worth of tailgate and football food with some delicious items that will double as football snacks or full on meals perfect for eating while watching the game.  And I'm starting off with a simple party mix with an awesome name that will completely kick the booty of whatever snack mix you've been enjoying up until now.  Smoky flavor with a spicy kick, this Texas Trash snack mix is delicious and hearty with tons of different textures and delicious goodies.  Pretzels, nuts, cereal and corn chips all serve as the delivery mechanism for a lovely mix of seasonings and spices, perfect for munching while drinking a beer and watching the game.  Although it's pretty tasty for movie night, too.

Trail Mix Rice Krispies Treats with Salted Caramel Swirl

It was bound to happen, huh?  Eventually I would get on the salted caramel kick (just in time for some new trend to hit the foodie blog world).  It's not that I resisted on purpose, I just haven't had salted caramel that made the craze make sense to me.  Dave and I visited Portland earlier this summer and I had a cupcake supposedly topped with salted caramel buttercream frosting.  I was less than impressed.  It barely tasted like caramel, let alone a heavenly salted version.  And I've just always had other things I wanted to try.  Not that it doesn't sound like a good idea--gooey salty and sweet treats--and I've certainly pinned, marked, and otherwise saved my fair share of salted caramel concoctions.  And now, I've got to make them because these treats are a perfect ambassador for the trend.  First off, it's a Rice Krispies treat, which gets lots of love from me to begin with.  And the caramel just makes them that much gooier (wow, I didn't actually think that was a word, but spell check is unfazed).  Add in the sweet and salty trail mix from M&M's that I didn't even know existed, which in and of itself is a perfect treat, and there's double deliciousness in the form of my favorite candy.  Plus, this salted caramel shines perfectly against the sweet and salty trail mix and the crunch of the cereal provides the perfect canvas for all that's going on here.  Simply put: yum.

My friend Mere had a birthday last month, but a couple weeks before her birthday, I was going to meet up with her before she caught a flight from Boston after spending a week on a business trip in Vermont.  So I decided a little early birthday baking never hurt anyone and took to searching for something portable for the plane and a little different.  I looked through some of my pins and some of my favorite blogs and noticed this amazing recipe from Shelly at Cookies & Cups and thought, "where has my grocery store been hiding that trail mix?", printed the recipe and hit the store on my way home.

Pretzel Brownies

You knew I wouldn't leave you hanging on those brownies, right? These brownies are fudgy but the pretzels provide a nice balance and hint of saltiness and crunch for another level of taste and texture.  What I really liked was they way they balanced nicely with the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars on the dessert table.  While those bars were crisp and dominated by the peanut butter with a chocolate chip kicker, these brownies are soft and rich with a salty, crunchy punch.  I had few of these left, so I figure they were a hit!

Remember the 50 Tea Sandwiches booklet from Food Network Magazine that I used to make the various tea sandwiches for the baby shower?  Well, in February 2012 for their Chocolate Issue, they published a 50 Brownies booklet and it is chock full of delicious and tempting brownies in lots of (well, 50!!) flavors.  One slight tweak I made to the original recipe was exactly where I layered the pretzels.  The recipe suggested just lining the bottom of the pan with pretzel sticks and pouring the brownie batter over top.  Concerned that the pretzels would fall right off the bottom when I cut them into squares, instead I put a thin layer of brownie batter on the bottom of the pan, then layered in pretzels upon which I poured the remaining brownie batter.  Perfect and delicious and a wonderful twist on the traditional fudge brownie.

Chubby Hubby Rice Krispies Treats

No I can't help myself so just get over it.  Besides, these are delicious and you know you want to try them.  Seriously--chocolate, pretzels and peanut butter all rolled into an amazing little cereal treat?  Your head may say no but your heart (and tongue) say yes.  These were a "just because" kind of treat.  Or a way for me to celebrate getting the kitchen in a reasonable facsimile of "order."  Either way they were well deserved and Dave and I may or may not have finished the whole pan without sharing.  I can't remember.  If I didn't share I meant to, but, stuff happens.  Don't judge, it's not becoming.

I'm convinced that Michelle at Brown Eyed Baker is my kindred Rice Krispies Treats spirit.  She has such good ideas about how to make these simple treats completely over the top, this time using her favorite Ben and Jerry's flavor as inspiration.  I followed the recipe for the treats, adding 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to the treats and instead of melting chocolate chips on top, I spread some canned chocolate frosting over them because a) I had it in the fridge and wanted to use it up and b) because I can.  Admittedly, the melted chocolate chips would probably be better with a more intense candy flavor and texture, but mine were tasty and I would do the same thing again.  If you need a quick treat for a Chubby Hubby lover, these will win you major points.  And I like to think when people taste a different type of Rice Krispies Treat, they forget that they're just cereal treats and simple to whip up, thus earning you points for "slaving away" in the kitchen.