Guest Post: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Bring a large saucepan filled halfway with water to a simmer over low heat. Combine chopped unsweetened chocolate and butter in a glass bowl and set over the pan of simmering water. Stir chocolate frequently until it melts, then immediately remove from the heat.
3. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk until all is incorporated.
4. Combine eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat together with a whisk until eggs are fluffy and sugar is dissolved. Slowly mix in melted chocolate then add flour mixture and chocolate chips. Mix until everything is combined.
5. Combine peanut butter and powdered sugar in a medium bowl and beat together until fluffy.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat and scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet, spreading them about an inch apart. Roll them into balls then flatten the balls with the palm of your hand. Drop a teaspoon-sized ball of the peanut butter filling in the middle of the cookie then top with another heaping teaspoon of cookie dough. With wet fingers, cover the peanut butter with the cookie dough and seal the edges. Transfer formed cookies and remaining dough to the refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes. Sprinkle the tops of each cookie with pretzel crumbs.
7. Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges are firm (it will still be soft in the middle). Let sit on the tray for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.