Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL BARS

Category: Bars

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups very coarsely chopped or broken up pretzels
1 cup Spanish peanuts
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup caramel sauce
1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons shortening (optional but recommended)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9-inch pan with foil; grease bottom and sides using preferred method.

In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together butter and sugar until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour, baking soda and salt, until combined. pread and press cookie dough evenly into bottom of pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown around edges.

Remove pan from oven, evenly press pretzels and peanuts into cookie dough, and bake for 12 minutes; remove from oven.

Warm peanut butter in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until pourable. Evenly drizzle peanut butter over pretzels, followed by caramel.

Melt the chocolate and shortening in the microwave, stirring often, for 30 seconds-1 minute, or until melted and smooth. Drizzle chocolate evenly over the top of peanut-butter caramel mixture and spread. Cool bars completely before lifting foil out of pan and slicing. (Freeze for easier slicing.)