Pretzel-Shortbread Bars

Submitted by WiGal

"Bring on pretzel power by making this variation from Martha Stewart Oct. 2011. "Half cookie, half pretzel hybrid. Broken pretzels are worked into the dough. Finely ground crumbs go into the flour mixture, and bigger pieces stud the inside and top layer of the bars." Posting for safe keeping. Think it would be nice on appetizer assortment. Reviewers say dough is bit crumbly, so added vanilla and more butter. Easy to bake too long so need to be careful and if you use a 9 X 9 inch pan the reviews there say the bars are too THIN. They specify twisted salted miniature pretzels, but aren't all pretzels salted? And think the shape would not matter except for appearances. This shortbread can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 week. Time includes 1 hour cooling time. Another use for leftover pretzels."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 44mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• 3 1⁄4 cups miniature pretzels, DIVIDED
• 1⁄2 cup flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 9 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg yolk, large

directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line an 8 X 8 inch pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
3. Pulse 1 3/4 cups pretzels in a food processor until POWDERY, transfer 1/2 cup to a bowl, DISCARD any remaining pretzel powder.
4. Stir in flour and baking powder, set aside for Step 7.
5. Transfer REMAINING 1 1/2 cups of pretzels to food processor and pulse a few times until coarsely CHOPPED.
6. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
7. Reduce speed to low, and beat in egg yolk, then pretzel-flour mixture, until combined.
8. Using spoon mix in 1/2 cup of the coarsely chopped pretzels.
9. Press dough evenly into pan.
10. Top dough with 1/4 cup of the coarsely chopped pretzels, pressing slightly; discard any remaining pretzels.
11. Bake shortbread until pale brown and firm in the center -about 25 minutes, maybe 30.
12. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let shortbread cool for 1 hour.
13. Remove shortbread from pan, and cut into 1/2 inch rectangles using a serrated knife.

Reviews

[Chicagoland Chef du Jour]

These came together nicely. I did not have problem with the dough being too crumbly to work with. I used small pretzel sticks. I don't think he shape matters as long as you use 1/2 C of pretzel powder, as recommended. I sprinkled mini chocolate chips on top before baking. Light, tasty and sweet! I may try making as individual cookies next time. It's a keeper. Thanks for posting WiGal! UPDATE: Jan. 2018 - made these again and doubled the recipe adding 1/4 Cup of mini chocolate chips to the batter. I baked in a 1/4 sheet cookie sheet. They turned out fab! Thanks again for such a great recipe WiGal!

 

[Dienia B.]

these are great i had a bunch of pretze i needed to do somthing with andthisfit the bill , i did put 1/2 cup chocolate chips cause the one im tring to fool into eating the pretzels wont look twice if there is chocolate lol .mine had to bake a little longer but great cookie