Milk Chocolate Dipped Brown Sugar Peanut Butter Swirled Soft Pretzels w/ Salted Caramel
Oh, my... Sundays.
Soft pretzels are kind of my favorite things. Ever.
Okay, so here's just a little example of how much I really do love these soft, buttery, magical pieces of dough...
Growing up in Nashville, most of my summer days were spent in our town pool (in the shallow end, of course), just like any other 5 year old. So, there was this one slide, and at the time, it seemed like the biggest, scariest apparatus I'd ever seen. Every summer since I could remember, my family would try to convince me to conquer the monstrous slide. Well, days would go by, and basically, I just told myself I'd do it the next year. Finally, one year my oldest brother said he'd buy me a big pretzel if I slid down it. Ten seconds later, I was down the slide and in the 12 foot end of the pool. Just like that.
So, after all those years, all it really took was a pretzel bribe.
Anyways, these pretzels look nothing like pretzels. I will admit that. But they taste like them, for sure!
We can just call them 'pretzel claws'. Like a bear claw? Get it??
Whatever they are, they're insanely easy to make- it's just a matter of making the dough, melting some chocolate and making a quick caramel. The dough for these guys doesn't even have to rise!
They're super fluffy & doughy- my favorite! Not to mention they're drenched in chocolate and salted caramel...
...And infused with peanut butter brown sugar-y swirls of goodness.
I'm not sure it gets much better than this.
Oh wait, it actually does. You can totally make these into waffles if you're feeling brunch. I mean, what else are Sundays for?
Just take them out of the oven 5 minutes early, and press them into a waffle maker before dipping into the chocolate. You really can't go wrong wither way!
Warning: If you do make waffles, they'll get a little dense in the process, but to me it just makes them that much better!
Chocolate Dipped Brown Sugar Peanut Butter Pretzels + Caramel
Makes 8 pretzels
1 packet active yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter + 1/4 cup brown sugar- melted together
1 egg- beaten
2 tbs. brown sugar
1 cup milk chocolate chips + 2 tbs. creamy peanut butter- melted together
Salted Bourbon Caramel Sauce (eliminate bourbon if not-wanted)
1 tbs. course sea salt
1 tbs. brown sugar
Pre-heat oven to 425º.
Whisk warm water w/ yeast until dissolved. Add 1 tsp. salt, and 1 cup flour at a time- whisking until 2 cups of flour left. Once 2 cups are left, use hands to combine. On a floured surface, knead for 3 minutes, add peanut butter mixture and then knead until mixture is swirled throughout it.
Separate into 8 balls and make 1 inch wide ropes. Make a circle crossing the tails, and then folding them back up to the other side of the circle, making a pretzel shape.
Lay on a greased baking sheet, and brush with egg wash. Sprinkle with 3 tbs. brown sugar (1/2 tbs. on each pretzel).
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and fluffy all the way through.
Let cool*, dip half in melted chocolate, lay on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, and drizzle with salted caramel. Sprinkle with flakey sea salt. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or until chocolate has hardened. Enjoy!
If wanting warm- dip pretzels in melted chocolate & salted caramel and eat then.
*If making waffles- take out 5 minutes early, and place in waffle maker for 30-45 seconds or until crispy and waffle-shaped. Then continue to let cool before dipping.
I highly recommend dipping in extra salted caramel. Just saying...
XOXO
-Cecilia A.