So you know those Take Five candy bars? Yes? These are the cookie cup version of those. They’ve got pretzels, caramel, peanut butter, and milk chocolate. I always have to talk myself out of buying them when I’m standing in the check out line at the grocery store. My boys beg me to buy the kind of gum that unrolls to be six feet long, and I want a Take Five candy bar – no and no!
Now let’s just wait patiently while this lady in front of us ad matches the whole store!
So these cookie cups are inspired by that candy bar, and they are all that and so much more. You’ve gotta make these!
If you are a sweet and salty lover, these are knock-your-socks-clear-outta-the-park amazing. This recipe makes 12 LARGE cookie cups. These are made in a standard size muffin tin, not the mini one. In other words, they weigh about 10 pounds each and are the size of a small child. Well, almost.
So here’s how you make them. First, you make a basic cookie dough. It’s actually my favorite chocolate chip cookie dough without the chocolate chips.
Then you scoop (with an ice cream scoop) a ball of dough into the greased muffin tin. Bake them, and then while they are still warm, you press a whole peanut butter cup (not the little ones, the regular ones) into the warm cookie.
When the cookies have cooled down a bit, twist them out of the muffin tin and let them finish cooling in the fridge so that the chocolate can set again. It gets pretty melty from the warm cookie.
Then caramel is poured over the peanut butter cup, and a pretzel goes on top. I had to take a couple of pictures of these babies in my hand so you could have something to reference for size.
If you’re still not sure if you want to try these or not, I had 7 different people taste them for me, and they all loved them… Okay, those seven people were my husband, boys, my mom, my sister and myself! But we all loved them! Hope you enjoy too!
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Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Cookie Cups
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
The cookie cup version of the Take Five candy bars! You’ve GOTTA make these!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 12 snack size (not miniature) peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- 12 mini pretzel knots
- Sea Salt for sprinkling
For the caramel
- 20 caramel candies (I used Werther’s Original soft caramels)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons water
Instructions
For the Cookie Cups
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In the bowl of an electric or stand mixer, cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla and mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt and baking soda.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the batter on low speed until completely incorporated.
- Scoop dough into a greased standard size muffin tin, using an ice cream scoop, dividing the dough evenly between the 12 cups.
- Bake for 15-16 minutes. The edges of each cookie cup should be golden brown.
- Remove the muffin tin from the oven, and place one peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie cup, pressing down gently so that the peanut butter cup sits below the level of the top of the cookie. You want to leave room for caramel. The chocolate will melt from the warmth of the cookie.
- Refrigerate until the chocolate is set once again.
- Spoon the melted caramel over each cookie cup and then gently press a pretzel on top. Sprinkle sea salt on top of each cookie cup.
- The caramel will set as it comes back to room temperature.
For the caramel
- Unwrap candies and put them in a small microwave safe bowl. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of water. Microwave for 25 seconds and then stir. You want the consistency to be just thin enough to spoon over the peanut butter cup, so if it still sticks to the spoon without dripping off, add a tiny bit (1/2 teaspoon) more water and microwave 10 more seconds and stir.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie Cup
- Calories: 328
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 329mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7.4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.8g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 1.1g
- Protein: 4.2g
- Cholesterol: 37mg
sally @ sally's baking addiction says
I’m obsessed with Take 5 bars. 🙂 In fact, I just treated myself to one the other day. They’re my weakness! I would love these, Julie.
Julie says
You would totally love these, Sally. Thanks for stopping by!
Traci says
I can’t believe how delicious and fun these look.
Julie says
Thanks Traci!
Jess @ What Jessica Baked Next says
These PB cups look amazing and super delish! Love the idea- so yummy!
Ciara Attwell (@MyFussyEater) says
We don’t have Take 5 bars here in the UK so I’m not sure what they are, but regardless these look amazing!
Julie says
They are pretty amazing! Thanks Ciara!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Saw them on FG – they look AWESOME! pinned!
Julie says
Sweet of you to share!
Chloe @ foodlikecake says
These look so good!
Julie says
Thanks Chloe!
Min says
I’ve actually never had Take 5 (I think I just heard you gasp!). But I get the sense that it’s amazing stuff? Before I try the candy bar, I want to make these first! I’m obsessed with anything sweet + savory so as soon as I saw the sea salt on top, I was sold! Can’t wait to make these soon!
Julie says
I’m surprised that they are not more well known, but I have to admit, I like the cookie cup version better than the real thing. Hope you enjoy!
Alison Jackson says
I am a terrible cook/baker and even I could make these beauties!! Couldn’t find any mini pretzels so used crushed up Ritz crackers instead and my office loved them. Here’s to hoping I win the office bake off… Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Julie says
Hey Alison! Crushed up Ritz is such a great idea! Hope you win!
Nickie says
I just made these, they turned out amazing. I added a few chocolate chips on top of the peanut butter cups and put them back in the oven for a few minutes then added the caramel.. They are sooooo good, and pretty easy. Thank you for sharing.
Julie says
Great Nickie, so glad they turned out for you!
Katie says
Do you form the cup be for you put in oven or leave in pall and push out when baked and warm? About to make so excited!
Julie says
You put a ball of dough in each well of the muffin tin, bake, and then press a peanut butter cup into each cookie while it’s still warm. Then let them cool in the muffin tin and gently twist them out. Hope you enjoy them Katie! Wish I had some right now :0)
Jill says
Do you think these could be made in Pecan Tassie pans rather than regular muffin tins?
Chelsie says
Should these be refrigerated after? Or can they be stored in an air tight container at room temperature? Thanks!
Julie says
Hi Chelsie, they are fine at room temp. Enjoy!
Sarah says
Coarse salt, fine salt, or flake salt?
Sandi Malone says
Just made these but used mini muffin cups they look amazing!!