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Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies – it’s holiday cookies season! Homemade chocolate chip cookies made with praline covered pretzels pieces and pecans. The dough is mixed with chocolate chips and chocolate chunks to create the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Each cookie is slightly crisp on the edges but soft and gooey in the center with just a little salty pretzel crunch, sweet pralines, and milk chocolate throughout.

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

As if you couldn’t tell, I’m pretty happy the holiday season is here. I know I go on and on about this every season, but it really is a magical time of year. Thanksgiving is quickly approaching with Christmas to follow, I love it!

I drove past an Anthropologie store just yesterday and I couldn’t help but smile! It’s so fun!

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

With so much entertaining and gifting moments ahead, I’m focusing on recipes to share. Family, friends, neighbors, the hard-working UPS guy dropping off packages left and right (Santa’s elves), and everyone in between! Nothing gives off welcoming, cozy holiday vibes more than a thoughtfully put-together delicious cookie box. I’ve been planning mine for weeks. And today’s cookies are special enough to include in my 2024 box!

My inspiration for this cookie was simple, the chestnut praline latte that year after year is one of the most popular holiday drinks ordered at Starbucks.

Chestnuts are hard to source, but pretzels can actually be even better. Especially when mixed into yummy big cookies!

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

Details

Ingredients

  • salted butter
  • dark brown sugar
  • heavy cream
  • bourbon (this is optional, but I think it’s a great flavor addition)
  • vanilla extract
  • mini salted pretzel twist
  • raw pecans
  • granulated sugar
  • eggs
  • flour
  • baking powder and baking soda
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • dark chocolate chunks
  • flaky sea salt

Special Tools

Nothing new here, an electric mixer (stand mixer or hand mixer), a couple mixing bowls, and a pot to make the praline sauce in!

Steps

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

Step 1: make the pralines

To be honest, this is just an easier version of caramel or butterscotch sauce. It’s a mix of salted butter, dark brown sugar, heavy cream, bourbon (if you’d like), and vanilla.

Everything but the vanilla simmers on the stove until the sauce bubbles and thickens. Then remove from the heat and mix in the vanilla.

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

Step 2: bake the pralines

Now arrange the pretzels and pecans on a baking sheet. Pour the sauce over and bake until the praline sauce is baked onto the pretzels.

Let the mix cool, then can give it a rough chop, chop.

Step 3: to make the cookies

For this cookie dough, beat the butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add vanilla, 1 whole egg, and 1 egg yolk.

Mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Nothing new or crazy here.

Step 4: the mix-ins

Next, take the praline-covered pretzels, chocolate chips, and chocolate chunks and add them to the dough.

Use a spatula to mix everything gently into the dough. You don’t want to over mix or you’ll risk breaking the praline into fine pieces. Just give this dough a gentle stir.

Step 5: bake

Scoop the cookie dough into 1/4 cup size balls and arrange on a baking sheet. These will be big cookies!

Bake for around 12-15 minutes! Until the edges are just setting.

You can eat these warm or let them cool for later. They’ll be delicious at all temps!

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

A couple of notes

It’s important to note that these cookies do spread, so be careful when cooking the dough! They’re meant to have slightly crisp edges and perfectly soft, gooey centers, just like in the photos.

If you want a bit of a thicker cookie, simply omit the additional egg yolk and use only 1 egg. This will give you a thicker cookie without as much spreading.

To get the pretzels to really pop, my trick is to add in a few just before the cookies finish baking completely. This way, each cookie has a bit of the pretzel right on top.

I’m excited to include these on my Thanksgiving menu, and in this year’s 2024 Christmas cookie box. They’re perfect for packing up and gifting to friends for the holidays!

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

Looking for other holiday cookies? Here are my favorites: 

2020 Holiday Cookie Box

Holly Jolly Santa Cookies

Easy Vanilla Bean Christmas Lights Cookies

Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies

Lastly, if you make these Pretzel Praline Cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies

Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 20 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 236 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients

Praline Pretels

Cookies

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
    2. To make the pralines: arrange the pretzels and pecans in an even layer on the baking sheet.
    3. Add the butter, brown sugar, and cream to a pot set over medium heat. Let the butter melt. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar has melted and the mixture is bubbling and thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla. Pour the praline sauce over the pretzels/pecans, tossing to coat. Bake for 10 minutes, until the praline sauce is baked onto the pretzels. Sprinkle with salt. Let cool, then roughly chop.
    4. To make the cookies. In a bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the egg and egg yolk. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
    5. Fold in the pretzels, pecans, chocolate chips, and chunks.
    6. Roll the dough into 1/4 cup size balls. Place 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
    7. Bake for 8 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake another 3-5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet. They will continue to cook slightly as they sit on the baking sheet.
    8. Eat warm or let cool and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 
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Salted Pretzel Praline Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com

5 from 3 votes

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Comments

    1. Hi Aaron,
      Lol so glad to hear you have been enjoying these cookies, thanks so much for making them! Happy Thanksgiving! xT

      Reply

  2. 5 stars
    These were delicious & a hit between my husband and toddler! I definitely don’t think I did the correct “tossing” needed for the praline since a lot of mine cooped into some pretzels, so I tried to just crumble it on top, then ended up with some burnt praline after baking (likely due to oven temperature difference). But those pieces were able to be broken off! Will definitely make these again 🙂

    Reply

  3. I made these today and they are delicious! The praline really makes them so special and unique. I’ll definitely make these again. Thank you for sharing this recipe! ♥️

    Reply

    1. Hi Erin,
      Wonderful! Thank you so much for making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xx

      Reply

  4. 5 stars
    I bake and cook a new recipe of yours weekly for my husband and I and he said this was his absolute favourite so far!! They were amazing and belong in bakery for sure. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

    1. Aww, thanks so much, Mackenzie! I appreciate you making so many recipes and so glad to hear this was a hit! Happy Thanksgiving! xx

      Reply

  5. Just saw these on insta stories, they look fab! Curious to know how you developed this recipe? Based on your recipe intro on Instagram, doesn’t seem like you were familiar with the word praline? Did you do any research on the flavor profiles (or pronunciation?) especially if they are better than the Starbucks drink like you describe, I’m surprised you wouldn’t have learned the pronunciation when ordering the beverage!

    Reply

    1. Hey Diana! Hmm I wasn’t aware I was saying it wrong but I do have a hard time saying certain words so I must have just messed this up a bit!

      I did do some research around praline and read that it is really just a brown sugar sauce made from butter and cream. Very similar to butterscotch sauce actually!

      Mine might not be exact but it does taste so delicious! Let me know if you have other questions. I hope you love the cookies and happy thanksgiving!! xx

      Reply

  6. I just made these. They are delicious but mine did not spread at all. They are super thick. Any suggestions for the next time.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Michele! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and appreciate you making it! Next time, bang your baking sheet on the counter for a flatter cookie. Have the best day! xx

      Reply

    1. Hey Cheryl,
      Totally, just reduce your bake time:) I hope you love these cookies, please let me know if you give them a try! xT

      Reply

  8. This looks terrific. I do have one question. Step 5 says to fold in pretzels and pecans, but they’re listed as if they are separate ingredients. Do you mean fold in the praline mixture? Thanks for clarifying!

    Reply

  9. These look great! I was considering making these and bringing them to work, but try to avoid anything containing nuts due to coworker allergies. For the pralines, would you just omit the 1/3 cup pecans and make the recipe as is otherwise? Or add an extra 1/3 cup pretzels? Thanks for your help.

    Reply

    1. Hi Casey,
      Thanks so much!! I would add 1/3 cup extra pretzels. I hope this helps, let me know how the cookies turn out! xx

      Reply

  10. You make such a big deal about how much you love NY. Why would you fly from Colorado to NY for two nights, fly back to Colorado for one night, and then back to NY for one night. Why not just stay in NY the whole time? You make a big deal about it in your stories. Makes no sense.

    Reply

  11. You have mentioned several times recently about a holiday cookie box. Can you share more info about this? Do you make up boxes for family and friends? Do you mail the boxes? If so, what is the best way to ensure the cookies are safe while in transit. I am interested to know more about this tradition of yours.

    Reply