Salted Pretzel Brownies Recipes

Steps:

• For the brownies: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, pressing the parchment into the corners and up the sides of the pan and leaving an overhang on 2 sides. Butter the parchment and dust lightly with flour.
• Melt the 1 stick butter in a small saucepan or high-sided skillet over medium-low heat. Add the chopped chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until mostly melted. Remove from the heat and continue stirring until the chocolate is completely melted. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl, let cool for 10 minutes and then whisk in the eggs, water and vanilla.
• In another large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt; whisk to combine. Transfer the dry ingredients to the melted chocolate then fold with a rubber spatula to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Set aside.
• For the topping: Stir together the peanut butter, confectioners' sugar and melted butter in a medium bowl until smooth.
• Spoon dollops of the peanut butter mixture on top of the brownie batter. Holding a butter knife vertically, swirl up and down and horizontally and vertically until the batter and topping are nicely swirled together. Sprinkle the chopped pretzels over the top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs, about 35 minutes.
• Let the brownies cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Using the parchment "handles," lift the brownies out of the baking dish and transfer to a cutting board to cool completely before slicing into 12 bars.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). In medium bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 8 minutes; cool 10 minutes.
• In medium bowl, stir brownie ingredients until blended. Carefully spread batter over cooled crust. Bake 24 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour.
• In medium bowl, beat powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, melted chocolate and the vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until combined. Beat in 1 tablespoon milk until blended. Beat in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until frosting is desired spreading consistency. Frost cooled brownies; sprinkle with crushed pretzels. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 8-inch square metal baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches of excess on each side to help you lift the cooked brownies out of the pan.
• Make the crust: In a food processor, combine butter, graham cracker crumbs, crushed pretzels and egg white. Process until mixture is well blended. Transfer to prepared pan and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom. Bake until deeply browned at the edges, about 14 to 17 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool.
• Make the brownies: Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees. Put butter and chocolate into a medium pot and place it over low heat. Melt the mixture, taking care not to let the chocolate burn and stirring constantly with a rubber spatula until smooth. Scrape chocolate mixture into a large bowl and mix in the sugar. Let mixture cool until it's just warm to the touch, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk eggs into cooled chocolate mixture. Whisk in flour, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt. Mix in chocolate chips, if using.
• Scrape batter into an even layer on top of the crust. Top with pretzels and bake until the top is set and firm to touch, especially in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into 16 squares.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• In a medium-large saucepan, melt the butter with the bittersweet chocolate over low heat, whisking occasionally until smooth and melted. Sprinkle in the cocoa powder and whisk to combine. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
• Stir the sugar and vanilla into the chocolate mixture until just combined. One at a time, stir in the eggs. Gently stir in the flour until halfway incorporated. Add the chocolate chips and stir just until combined.
• Sprinkle half of the pretzels in the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Pour the batter (it will be very thick!) in the pan over the pretzels. Spread to even out the top and arrange the remaining pretzels all over the top.
• Bake for 40 minutes, then check the brownies with a toothpick. If overly gooey/messy, return the pan to the oven for 5 to 10 more minutes, being careful not to burn the edges. Allow to cool completely (important!), then cut into small squares.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 8- or 9-inch square pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. Make and bake brownies as directed on box for 8- or 9-inch square pan. Cool 1 hour.
• In medium microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and water uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave 30 to 45 seconds longer, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Spread over cooled brownies. Immediately sprinkle crushed pretzels over caramel; sprinkle with salt. Let stand about 30 minutes to set. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.