These soft & chewy kitchen sink cookies can be made in one bowl and are loaded with chocolate chips, pretzels, and caramel! Inspired by Panera, these are the sweet & salty cookie of your dreams!
1 ¼cupsall-purpose flour(not packed, just scooped and leveled with a knife)
1cupchocolate chipsI did half semi-sweet and half-milk chocolate
½cuppretzels, chopped
½cupcaramels, choppedI used ~10 Kraft caramels (you can use the Kraft caramel bits but they don't melt as well)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Chop half of the chocolate chips (½ cup) into small shards and slivers. Cut caramels(½ cup) into small chunks (about the size of the chocolate chips) and break up the pretzels(½ cup). Set aside.
In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, add unsalted butter(½ cup, i.e. 1 stick) and cover with a paper towel (will help for splattering). Melt the butter in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until all is melted (no chunks left). You want it hot; if you hear it "pop" then it's most likely done.
Add in light brown sugar (½ cup) and granulated sugar (¼ cup) and use a spatula to stir until combined (* do not use a mixer for this recipe). The sugars should cool off the butter but if it's still piping hot, let cool for a minute or two.
Stir in egg(1 large) and vanilla extract(2 teaspoons). Next, mix in baking soda(½ teaspoon) and salt(¼ teaspoon).
Add all-purpose flour(1 ¼ cups) and mix until all the flour disappears into the dough. Note: the dough will be wet and sticky, this is normal and it will firm up as it sits.
Mix the chopped chocolate chips(½ cup), whole chocolate chips (½ cup), chopped pretzels(½ cup), and chopped caramel (½ cup) into the dough. Allow dough to sit for 1-2 minutes to slightly set so it's not as sticky, then stir (if needed, you can add 1-2 tablespoons flour to help it firm up).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop dough into ¼ cup sized scoops (i.e. 4 tablespoons) then gently roll into your hands to create a ball. Flatten the tops so that they're a thick disc vs. a round ball. See image in post above for reference. Without flattening, your cookies will be thicker and more cakey.If desired, press extra pretzel pieces into the top.
Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes. You want them to be slightly brown on the edges & top and look slightly underbaked in the center (my oven was perfect at 13 minutes). Tip: If your cookies are wonky-shaped, immediately after taking out of the oven, use a bowl that is slightly larger than the cookie to “wiggle” it back into a circle shape.
Remove from oven and place entire pan on a cooling rack. Allow the cookies to cool on the hot pan for 10-15 minutes before removing them. This will allow them to finish baking on the hot pan. Once cooled, use a spatula to transfer them to a wire cooling rack.
Enjoy slightly warm for gooey caramel or allow to fully cool...both ways are amazing!