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The BEST Salted Caramel Pretzel Snickerdoodles for your holiday cookie baking. Homemade snickerdoodle cookies, made with browned butter, plenty of chocolate-covered caramel chunks, pretzels pieces, and a small pinch of flaky sea salt. Each cookie dough ball is rolled through cinnamon sugar for that classic snickerdoodle finish before baking to perfection. There’s nothing not to love about these sweet Christmas cookies. Each bite is slightly crisp on the edges but soft and gooey in the center…with just a little pretzelly crunch.
The minute Thanksgiving was over, I received message after message about holiday dinner menus, entertaining ideas, and most of all…Christmas cookies! I couldn’t believe the number of messages from those of you inquiring about holiday cookies. Questions like, “when will you be sharing your 2019 Christmas Cookie Box?” “What’s your favorite Christmas cookie?” “What’s the best cookie to gift?” “What are the best boxes to use?” …and so many more.
I have to say, I’m pretty happy you all are so excited to bake this season because I am too! So much so that I’m stressing about the fact that I really do not have enough days leading up to Christmas to share everything. It’s a good problem to have, but I have SO much I want to share with you. Fingers crossed I can get you all everything you need by the 24th.
So, I’m officially kicking the holiday baking season off with these snickerdoodles. These are decadent in all the best ways. And yes, you do need to make them this December, preferably several times!
I didn’t grow up eating snickerdoodles, but instead grew up eating mom’s chocolate chip cookies. Even at Christmas time, she’d opt for chocolate chip cookies over anything holiday-themed. I didn’t know other cookies existed. But then I grew up, and I made snickerdoodles, and wow, they are so GOOD.
But here’s the thing. I love a crisp on the edges, doughy in the center, chocolate chip cookie more. So much more.
Which brings me to this cookie. It’s a snickerdoodle on the outside, but a chocolate chip cookie on the inside. And it’s all done up with extra special touches like pretzel crumbs and chocolate-covered caramels.
Delicious!
One, brown half of your butter, but leave the other half at room temp. This gives you the flavor of browned butter but leaves you with a cookie that has great texture too. Shocker, I know, I added brown butter. But the browned butter really does add so much to cookies. It’s worth the extra step.
Two, tap that baking sheet on your counter midway through baking, then finish cooking. When the cookies have completely finished baking, remove them from the oven, and tap the baking sheet once more. You guys, this step is KEY. It will ensure you have the least cakey snickerdoodle cookie. Instead you’ll get a cookie with crisp edges and a gooey center. Tapping the baking pan on the counter deflates the center of the cookie, pushing the edges out. I used this same method for my pumpkin cookies and I now do it whenever I bake any cookies…because it works.
It’s a method I learned from the New York Times and you need to do it too.
…chocolate-covered caramel chunks, you can use regular chunk chunks of course, but these are better. I use Dove milk chocolate caramels.
…cinnamon sugar, roll the dough balls through the mix to your liking.
…smashed pretzels on the outside, only just a few for the slightest salty, crunch with every sweet bite.
…a little pinch of flaky sea salt, simply because it makes everything better.
What I love about these cookies is that they’re easy to make, require no chilling, and take less than an hour…simple.
But my favorite part? These are just perfectly crisp on the edges, but soft and gooey in the center. The best kind of cookie. I’m not normally such a decadent cookie person, but as I always say, I like to really do it up for the holidays. They only come once a year, so let’s just have fun and enjoy every minute of the season. It’s cheesy, but they do only come once a year!
Let’s bake cookies on a Tuesday night and enjoy them while watching your favorite holiday movie. Then take the leftovers to work and make everyone’s day. You should do this.
‘Tis the season for giving after all!
PS. if you’re looking for a snowman version try these cute little eggnog frosted chai snickerdoodle snowmen!
If you make these salted caramel pretzel snickerdoodles, 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.
My wife and I agreed that these were some of the best cookies I’ve made. I almost went with just semi-sweet chocolates but I’m glad I splurged for the dove caramels. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Josh,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
disappointed the cookies were so thin and greasy. And I made two recipes and spent a lot on these ingredients. I would recommend putting in the recipe directions that the butter should NOT be a liquid. 10-15 mins in the freezer wasn’t long enough, and my butter was cooked but not a solid.
Hey Michelle,
So sorry you had issues with the recipe, it is important for the butter to be fully chilled. I hope this helps for next time! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
How do you chop the dove caramel without the caramel spilling out? Do you freeze it?
Hey Tina,
You can pop them in the fridge:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Small problem! Eating them all!
Hey Leree,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, my cookies came out very flat. I followed recipe to a tee and on last few batches even had dough refrigerated for a bit. Any tips to prevent this from happening?
Thanks!
Hey Deborah,
So sorry about this. Was the brown butter cooled completely? This is key to prevent super flat cookies. I hope this helps! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
The best cookies I’ve ever had. Do yourself a favor and make them!
Thanks so much Sydney!!
Not to be dramatic, but my fiancé and I decided these were the best cookies we’ve ever had!!! The pretzel added an amazing crunch and saltiness. They were so chewy and delicious!
Hey Noelle,
I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies, thanks for giving them a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Do you have any modification for the recipe if we don’t live in an area of high altitude?
Hey Samantha,
You can follow the recipe as is! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi! Mine came out OK but like other people commenting here, they didn’t spread despite tapping them. Could this be from over-beating the batter?
Hey Brookes,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, so sorry these did not spread for you. Was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? Let me know how I can help! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Did not turn out good at all.
Hey Ana,
I am so sorry these did not workout for you. Can I help in anyway? Let me know! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Just made these cookies and they are delicious! It was difficult not to just eat the dough itself. Although they are delicious, mine did not spread to quite the extent as in the picture. I chilled overnight, but brought them fully to room temp before cooking. I pulled them and hit them on the counter halfway through and again after baking, like in the recipe. But they still stand a bit taller without as many of the lovely crinkles around the edges. Any ideas as to why this would be? Excellent, low effort-high reward recipe for the holiday cookie box!!
Hey Katlyn,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! For a flatter cookie, pull them out of the oven while baking and “slam” the baking sheet on the counter. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi just curious if you use a scale to measure or measuring cups? Sometimes my cookies don’t spread out when I cook them, wondering if I should you a scale instead? Or what would be the main culprit ? Any suggestions?
Hey Ashlee,
I use measuring cups. I am wondering if you are adjusting the recipes at all? To flatten cookies I like to pull them while baking and “slam” the baking sheet on the counter. I hope this helps! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Made these a couple days ago and froze the dough as I’m making the rest this weekend. I did a couple testers last night and flavor was good but a bit on the cakey side and didn’t go near as flat. Do you think it’s because I’m baking them straight from being frozen?
Hey Heather,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! Yes, next time I would let the dough thaw before baking. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Trying this recipe tonight! ? Yummm! Did you freeze your caramels before cuttinng? Mine are all sticking together in one heaping bunch. Thanks!! ☺
Hey Katherine,
I did not freeze my caramels:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I got referred to this recipe as I was making snickerdoodles for a cookie exchange. Heard they were amazing. My question is this…snickerdoodles have cream of tartar – these don’t! That’s what gives snickerdoodles their snickerdoodle taste. Have you made any with cream of tartar and if so how much did you add? Did it change the cookies in any way? Thanks!
Hey Deborah,
Sorry, I have not tried this recipe with cream of tartar. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan