Chocolate Chip & Pretzel Cookie Bars

MMM....so good. Chocolate chip cookie bars with pretzels and to top it off....melted chocolate and peanut butter on top. I found this recipe on one of the food blogs I frequently visit though I can't remember which one (whoops!) and took it to a party over the weekend.

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups pretzels - I used pretzel sticks, though will probably use mini pretzels next time

1/4 cup chocolate chips (for drizzling)

1/4 cup peanut butter (for drizzling)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Using a mixer, in a large bowl, beat the butter and both sugars at medium speed until light and fluffy for about 1 minute. Beat in eggs and vanilla. On low speed, beat in dry ingredients just until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips and pretzel pieces. Batter will be stiff.

Spread the batter evenly in the pan and press it down evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer pan to a rack and cool completely.

In separate sandwich baggies, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Cut off a small corner on each bag and drizzle the chocolate and peanut buter over the top of bars. Let set and cut into squares.