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Super simple, extra delicious, and perfectly sweet Slice n’ Bake Bourbon Caramel Pretzel Cookies…with a little drizzle of chocolate too. Made with brown sugar and warming bourbon, these cookies are soft, buttery, and swirled throughout with salted pretzels. They’re generously glazed with a sweet-salty caramel that truly makes these cookies roll your eyes back delicious. Each cookie is drizzled with sweet chocolate and finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Sooo much to love here! And perfect for entertaining. So be sure to include these cookies on your Thanksgiving table or in your upcoming Christmas cookie boxes.…your friends and family will be so glad you did!
Slowly, but surely I am really leaning into my “holiday mode”. I know it’s a little early, but with the way this past year has gone, I’m ready for it. I get the feeling some of you might feel the same way? So many of you have expressed to me that you’re even more excited for the holidays this year than in previous years. My goal is to make it our best (and most delicious) year yet.
Starting with Thanksgiving!! Last Friday I shared what’s probably my favorite pie of all time. I am not exaggerating. That molteny, crackly, pie is delicious. Everyone over here is loving it. It will definitely be on this year’s Thanksgiving dessert table. But also on the table? Cookies! And probably a couple of varieties…because I’m really loving baking right now. It’s bringing me so much comfort these days. Especially as our weather has become increasingly cooler (hello to fridgid below freezing temperatures).
These are the perfect cookies for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. They’re extra special, thanks to warming bourbon, salty pretzels, sweet caramel, and of course, some chocolate too. All our favorite things in one cookie.
Plus they’re petty easy to make!
I feel like I tell this story every November, but my mom loves a butter cookie on Thanksgiving. She grew up enjoying my aunt’s turkey cookies, which from what I’m told are a form of frosted butter cookies. She loved them!
So in an effort to try to make everyone happy, I usually bake up a cookie that’s similar(ish) to what I believe are turkey cookies. Most years I do something with pecans, but this year I’m switching it up, and sharing a sweet and salty take.
The verdict? Beyond good. It’s those salty pretzels, they get people hooked every single time.
Start with the cookie dough. As you can imagine, it’s pretty easy. Mix the wet, add the dry, stir in the pretzels. But two things. One, if you’re open to baking with bourbon, use it. It makes these cookies really stand out flavor-wise, and to me, adds a holiday touch. It’s hard to explain, but the bourbon just creates a better cookie.
Second, use dark brown sugar. Trust me. This just works with the bourbon and pretzels and makes a perfectly sweet, slightly mapley cookie.
Once the dough is made, roll it into a log and chill. Yes, chilling is a little annoying, but rolling the dough into a log is easy. Then just slice and bake. Again, EASY.
While the cookies are cooling, make a quick caramel. I made my homemade caramel, but wrote the recipe using a store-bought caramel for ease. I also gave you directions to make the homemade caramel as well, so just do what works best for you!
Once the cookies cool, spoon the caramel over each cookie. Let the caramel set, then dip or drizzle each cookie generously with melted chocolate. Finish with flaky sea salt.
Eat and ENJOY…maybe even with the chocolate still warm, because oh my gosh, that is so GOOD.
Make sure you give the pretzels a good chop so that the chunks are easy to cut through when slicing the dough log into rounds.
If the dough feels a little too wet, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until the dough is easy to work with. I don’t have issues with my dough being wet, but this can vary depending on the environment in which you live.
The trickiest part about this cookie recipe is slicing the dough, but don’t worry. The most important thing you need to do is use a sharp chef’s knife to slice through the dough. Be sure to cut quickly through the dough, don’t hesitate when cutting, just go for it.
If the dough does crack on you, DO NOT STRESS. Simply push the dough back together and place it on the baking sheet. All will be good again.
All in all, pretty easy…and of course, pretty darn delicious.
I know these take a smidge of time due to the chilling, but these are worth it. And the best part? Once the dough log is in the fridge, it can hang out in there for days and days (up to 5 to be specific, and up to a couple of months in the freezer). Meaning you can make the dough on say a Sunday. Then have warm baked caramel pretzel cookies for a snowy Thursday night dessert…in just minutes.
I would do this because it’s basically the holiday season, so cookies every day is the only way. Especially this year. I’m including these in this year’s cookie box for sure, but making them for Thanksgiving and sharing with everyone I can offer a cookie up to. These are the cookies that everyone loves.
They’re softy and buttery, but with a pretzel crunch in each bite. The bourbon and vanilla highlight the sweet caramel. And the chocolate? Well, it seals the deal. Every. Single. Time.
Hard to beat these. They are GOOD!
Looking for other Thanksgiving desserts? Here are my favorites:
Brown Sugar Maple Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
Glazed Brown Sugar Maple Cookies
Lastly, if you make these Slice n’ Bake Bourbon Caramel Pretzel Cookies., be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
So, the dough was so good in the fridge for a day that my father in law was slicing it and eating it raw!
I made the caramel glaze but I guess I didn’t heat it long enough??? It was hard as a rock after I put it on the cookies and
almost made them unedible. Also, the semi-sweet chips didn’t melt well and wouldn’t drizzle.
I ended up trying to heat each one up for ten seconds in the microwave – and guess what!? That worked, so I guess I didn’t heat the caramel and heavy cream enough in the first place? I’ll try again, but I’ll have to make more dough as father in law took my second roll with him home! Any suggestions would be great.
Hey Suzanne,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! If the caramel was hard that means it was heated for too long:) Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I made these for a christmas bake off contest at work (virtual). I loved the pretzels in the dough – would even add another cup if i was going to make these again. I am wondering if I didn’t bake the cookies long enough because their texture was chewy/sandy/light and with caramel and chocolate on top they looked great but tasted meh. There are so many 5 star reviews I am wondering what happened. Maybe My family and I just don’t like these cookies?
Hey Leslie,
I am so sorry you had issues with the recipe. Is there anything that you adjusted? Please let me know how I can help! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi! If you are running low on time, what is the shortest time you can leave the dough in the fridge for? Is 1 hour to 1.5 hours okay?
Hey Melissa,
Yes that should be totally fine! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I didn’t have time to let the dough chill, so i rolled the dough out and used a circle cookie cutter and placed right in the oven. They turned out perfect!
Hey Christine,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
So we made these and loved them!!! i am going to make them for my cookie exchange. But I struggled with the chocolate on top. it won’t get thin enough? I ended up adding oil? do you have any other suggestions?
Hey Cindy,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try. I would try a different brand of chocolate, I like Chocolove. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Good morning Tieghan,
I asked a question the other day about using jarred caramel sauce (and thank you for your answer) but am going to make these this morning and forgot to ask: when using the jarred sauce, do you still heat the jarred sauce with the cream, then add the bourbon or vanilla? I should’ve asked that in my initial question—sorry! I was hoping someone else’s reviews would’ve stated what they did, but didn’t find my answer.
Thank you—I appreciate it!
Susan
Hey Susan,
If you are using jarred caramel sauce, I would just use what you have in the jar, no need to add anything to it! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
These of course were delicious! Take the tip below to cook the Carmel a couple extra minutes so that it hardens on the cookies if you plan to stack. Well I had to add a teaspoon of coconut oil to my chocolate chips to help thin it out to drizzle correctly.
Hey Jessica,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Any suggestions for making these as cut out cookies vs slice and bake?
Hey Nicole,
I’ve never tried these as cut outs but you could certainly give it a try! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
this looks delicious! for the homemade caramel, i don’t see any indication of when the bourbon or vanilla should be added. can you please clarify? thank you!
Hey Christina,
The bourbon is added in step 5. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
These are fantastic! Your homemade caramel recipe worked perfectly for me, and it was something I have always wanted to learn to make.
Thank you so much Abby! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
I want to make these for Christmas but would like to know if I can use the jarred caramel sauce, like the kind you put on top of ice cream? I have a couple of jars that I’ve been wanting to use and thought I better check first.
Thank you for ALL your delicious recipes!!!
You are my cooking, baking, etc. guru!!!
Stay safe and well.
Thank you.
Susan
Hey Susan,
Yes, this would be totally fine to use! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I make a lot of your recipes and this is the only time I can’t give a 5 star rating. After reading that we should cook the caramel longer so that we can stack them, the caramel is way too hard and takes away from the cookie. I don’t think that I can give these away as gifts or people will be sending me a dentist bill! But I just saw your snickerdoodle with pretzel and chocolate recipe. Back to the kitchen I go….! Have a great week! I have a few of your recipes on my meal plan: butternut squash and sage lasagna tonight and HBH schnitzel Tuesday night! Yum!
Hi Caroline! I am sorry these did not turn out well for you! If there is anything I can help with, please let me know! I hope you love the snickerdoodle with pretzel and chocolate! Thank you! xTieghan
I can’t wait to try these! Can you freeze the finished cookies with the caramel and chocolate? I would love to bake these now for my Christmas cookie boxes. Thanks!
Hey Kristina,
Yes that would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
How to you keep the caramel from getting too hard? I used the premade caramel method (worthers chewy caramels). The caramel looked and spread great, but after allowing to set – it detracted from the cookie because it was too hard to bite into. Slightly “chewy” but came with the warning of “don’t break your tooth”. The cookie was FABULOUS!! So trying to figure out where I went wrong. Thanks!!
Hey Siera,
Unfortunately, if you allow the caramel to cook for too long it will turn hard, next time do not cook the caramel for as long. I hope this helps! xTieghan
I am definitely going to be making these for the holidays! Can you use dolche de leche for the caramel?
Hey Susan,
Sure that will work. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan