Butterscotch Pretzel Cashew Cookies

Friday, June 22, 2012

Butterscotch Cashew Pretzel Cookies

Posted by Cassie / 62 comments » / Cookies, Dessert

Sweet and salty has been my thing lately. And cookies are always my thing. Butterscotch chips also happen to be my thing, especially when added to cookies. But then the oh-so-brilliant Jamie posted Cashew Cookies a few weeks ago, I fell in love with the idea of putting cashews in cookies. And have continued to think about cashews in my cookies ever since.

And while we are at it, pretzels might be one of the best salty snacks out there. In fact, as I am writing this, I am dipping them in cookie butter. Talk about a sweet and salty snack. Yes, please someone take this ~~deathly~~ heavenly combination away from me. I can’t stop.

Back to the cookies…in my boredom while Paul was out of town last week, I spotted some pretzels in the pantry, and then some cashews. And I always keep a stash of butterscotch chips in my baking cabinet, mostly just because I eat them as a snack. I immediately set out to cream some butter and sugar for these butterscotch cashew pretzel cookies.

I used a new cookie base this time. I decided to step away from my usual Cook’s Illustrated chocolate chip base and tried something a little bit new. They were a little more dense but still amazingly chewy. And this combo of add-ins definitely delivered to my hankering for sweet and salty. Yes, hankering. I sound more and more like my mom every day.

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Butterscotch Cashew Pretzel Cookies

Yield: 18 large cookies

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Cook Time: 14 minutes

Thick and chewy, sweet and salty cookie with butterscotch chips, cashew pieces and pretzels.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup cashew pieces
1 cup pretzels

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat liner.

Mix the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl until combined. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until very fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg and vanilla. Continue to mix for 3-4 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and homogenous.

Add in the flour mixture and mix on low speed just until incorporated and all streaks of flour are mixed in. Add the butterscotch chips, cashews and pretzels and continue to mix with the mixer until combined. This helps break up the pretzels a bit.

Scoop the cookie dough using a 2-3/4 ounce ice cream scooper (or a 1/3-cup measuring cup) onto the prepared sheets about 2 inches apart. Lightly pat down the tops of the scoops and bake in the prepared oven for 12-14 minutes, just until the edges begin to brown. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheets, and then the rest of the way on a wire cooling rack.

Cassie's Notes:
I think these would be amazing made with almonds and almond extract in place of the cashews and vanilla extract.

Make sure you watch the cookies in the last few minutes and bake them just until the edges begin to brown, don't over bake!

Adapted from Cookie Cravings By Maria Lichty of Two Peas and Their Pod

Posted by Cassie on June 22, 2012

62 Comments »

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62 Responses to “Butterscotch Cashew Pretzel Cookies”

1

Carolyn — June 22, 2012 @ 6:34 am

I just realized I haven’t been to your blog in a while. Your cookies look awesome!
2

Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) — June 22, 2012 @ 6:42 am

Sweet and salty is my favorite! I love the fact that these cookies have that balance as well as a healthy dose of cashews. Really, that can’t be wrong. Can’t wait to give these a whirl. I’ve been meaning to make cookies lately anyway!
3

Ashley - baker by nature — June 22, 2012 @ 6:44 am

I feel like I’m adapting more and more of my moms lingo every second (scary how that happens!). These cookies look awesome, Cassie!! I have a huge bag of cashews on top of my fridge too
4

Sally @ Spontaneous Hausfrau — June 22, 2012 @ 6:45 am

Cashews are my favorite. Combined with pretzels and butterscotch chips in a cookie? That’s a recipe for the most perfect disaster
5

Blog is the New Black — June 22, 2012 @ 6:46 am

LOVE this recipe!
6

Kathryn — June 22, 2012 @ 7:34 am

I love cashews in cookies, this sounds like a great salty-sweet cookie!
7

Maria — June 22, 2012 @ 7:37 am

I make a similar cookie…I will have to try your recipe next! Yum!
8

Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray — June 22, 2012 @ 7:45 am

Mmm, I’ve never had cashews in cookies before! Yum yum.

Also…I may or may not sit on my couch dipping pretzels in cookie butter on a semi-nightly basis. It’s SO dangerous. …and so good.
9

Kim | At Home WIth Kim — June 22, 2012 @ 7:53 am

Cassie, I’ve been on a big salty/sweet kick too and satisfying it with homemade trail mix. But these? Yum! They are getting bookmarked to try soon!
10

Ali @ Gimme Some Oven — June 22, 2012 @ 7:58 am

Oooh – this sweet + salty combination sounds fantastic. Will there be some at the party tonight?
11

Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen — June 22, 2012 @ 8:02 am

I am a sweet and salty lover. My mom adores cashews…will need to keep this one in mind for her!
12

Alessandra — June 22, 2012 @ 8:03 am

Great cookies, they look and sound yummy with a little of everything you could want in a cookie craving.
13

Jennifer | Mother Thyme — June 22, 2012 @ 8:05 am

Sweet, salty and delicious! I would love a warm batch of these cookies baking in my kitchen! Yum!
14

Joanne — June 22, 2012 @ 8:26 am

I’m all OVER the sweet and salty thing lately too! I think I need it in cookie form…specifically these.
15

sally @ sally's baking addiction — June 22, 2012 @ 8:28 am

a girl after my own heart!! you know I love sweet/salty and butterscotch is just the best. I like it better than chocolate… so true!
16

Shawn @ I Wash...You Dry — June 22, 2012 @ 8:44 am

These sound like my kind of cookie! I love all those flavors and I bet they taste amazing together! YuM!
17

Gina @ Running to the Kitchen — June 22, 2012 @ 8:53 am

I really like the idea of cashews in cookies! I don’t think I’ve ever had one with them in there. I buy cashews for the sole purpose of making cookie dough bites, maybe I should actually make legit cookies with them? Have a great weekend, Cassie!
18

luv what you do — June 22, 2012 @ 9:04 am

I love butterscotch cookies! And I have never thought to add cashews. My local grocery has not had butterscotch chips recently which really stresses me out! I will go looking again today. BTW, the oatmeal cookie recipe on the back of the Nestle butterscotch chips is unbelievably good!
19

Jill — June 22, 2012 @ 9:09 am

Oh, my. These look fabulous!!!!
20

Tracey — June 22, 2012 @ 9:25 am

What’s better than cookies on Friday?? Not much, especially with this flavor combo happening. YUM!
21

Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic — June 22, 2012 @ 9:55 am

I am loving butterscotch more and more these days. These cookies sound fabulous!
22

Jessica@AKitchenAddiction — June 22, 2012 @ 10:03 am

These are amazing, Cassie!! I love the sweet and salty combination, especially in cookies!
23

Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet — June 22, 2012 @ 10:32 am

These cookies are packed with goodness! PS: I would totally dip pretzels in cookie butter too
24

Anna — June 22, 2012 @ 10:38 am

Cookies are always my thing too Love these!
25

Laurie {Simply Scratch} — June 22, 2012 @ 10:43 am

Oh how I love cookies! These are a must make this weekend!
26

Averie @ Averie Cooks — June 22, 2012 @ 11:01 am

Interesting that you tried a new cookie dough base (Maria’s) and stepped away from the C.I. Would love to hear more details about how they differ. More dense but still amazingly chewy has me intrigued! And I love butterscotch chips!
- Cassie replied: — June 22nd, 2012 @ 3:35 pm
  
  It was a much thicker dough that the CI one. I think the melted butter is responsible for that. They didn’t have the gooey center that the CI cookies do but they are still really chewy in the center. They didn’t spread as much as I had imagined that they would either.
27

Julia — June 22, 2012 @ 11:38 am

Sweet and salty, I’m SOLD!
Um, and pretzels dipped in cookie butter, pretty much my favorite movie snack. I have a little bowl of chocolate chips to dip them in TOO!
28

Laura (Tutti Dolci) — June 22, 2012 @ 11:43 am

Love salty, love sweet – these sound like amazing cookies with all the delicious mix-ins!
29

Sarah — June 22, 2012 @ 11:52 am

I have been CRAVING butterscotch chips lately. My mom made oatmeal scotchies growing up that I totally loved. I’ve never made them for the girls. That’s all about to change. Happy weekend!
- Cassie replied: — June 22nd, 2012 @ 3:36 pm
  
  Same to you, Sarah! My mom always made oatmeal scotchies too, I think that’s where my love for the butterscotch chips came from too!
30

Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts — June 22, 2012 @ 12:58 pm

Ha ha, cookies are always my thing as well! Yours look delicious.
31

Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain — June 22, 2012 @ 1:19 pm

I could eat cashews all day every day. Putting them in a cookie with butterscotch, have mercy. I think you’ve hit jackpot!
32

Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. — June 22, 2012 @ 1:38 pm

I’m a sucker for anything sweet and salty! And I love butterscotch! These cookies look fabulous, Cassie!
33

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel — June 22, 2012 @ 2:41 pm

They look thick and loaded! Love that.
34

amanda @ fake ginger — June 22, 2012 @ 2:52 pm

I’m really not much of a cookie person but I would eat my weight in these! I loooooove the sweet & salty thing so much!
35

Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers — June 22, 2012 @ 3:08 pm

Gorgeous cookies, they just look so wonderful!! Yum!
36

Erin @ Texanerin Baking — June 22, 2012 @ 3:52 pm

Oh my. Chewy butterscotch cookies. What’s better than butterscotch? Nothing! Love love love butterscotch and these cookies sound amazing with the addition of pretzels! Happy weekend to you.
37

Ramona — June 22, 2012 @ 4:01 pm

Love all the ingredients here. My kids and I just finished baking cookies too. Have a great weekend!!
38

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts — June 22, 2012 @ 4:20 pm

I have a thing for cashews and butterscotch chips too. These cookies look incredible!
39

Jocelyn — June 22, 2012 @ 6:11 pm

I love that you eat butterscotch chips as a snack…I always have a hidden bag in my cupboard for the same thing:-) Sweet and salty treats get me every single time….love these cookies!!!
40

Julie @ Table for Two — June 22, 2012 @ 6:23 pm

I have all these ingredients on hand in my pantry right now! Looks like I might make this soon I love that the consistency is still chewy and soft!
41

Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious — June 22, 2012 @ 10:22 pm

Oh man, how did you know that I was craving pretzels?!!! Looks like I’ll be doing some late-night baking tonight!
42

Sommer@ASpicyPerspective — June 23, 2012 @ 12:40 am

Cookies, cookies, cookies!!! What a salty sweet wonder!
43

myfudo — June 23, 2012 @ 3:03 am

I used these butterscotch chips for my homemade vanilla ice cream and they really made a big difference. I bet they’d really taste awesome in cookies too!
44

Angie@Angie's Recipes — June 23, 2012 @ 7:22 am

These cookies look heavenly. I love the combo of butterscotch and cashew! Yummy!
45

Jen @ Savory Simple — June 23, 2012 @ 8:36 am

I really love your photography! These look beautiful.
46

Liz — June 23, 2012 @ 7:40 pm

Oooh, these look fantastic! I need to shake up my cookie add ins ana pretzels with butterscotch chips sound perfect
47

Cinnamon @ eatpraytri — June 24, 2012 @ 12:32 am

My tummy just did a little happy dance. I love all of these things!!
48

Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake — June 24, 2012 @ 8:01 am

Cashews are one of my favourite nuts, your recipe looks fantastic! I can imagine it would taste great.
49

Mercedes — June 24, 2012 @ 8:39 am

Love this combination! Great idea Cassie! Anything sweet & salty is right up my alley.
50

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar — June 24, 2012 @ 4:22 pm

Mmm these sound fabulous! Love it!
51

Jessie — June 24, 2012 @ 11:05 pm

Sweet and salty is my weakness, and those cookies look great!
52

JulieD — June 25, 2012 @ 12:10 am

I love this…am obsessed with butterscotch. Yours look so good!!!
53

Megan {Country Cleaver} — June 25, 2012 @ 8:46 am

These cookies just slay me – I eat butterscotch out of the bag!!
54

natalie@thesweetslife — June 25, 2012 @ 12:53 pm

LOVE pretzel in baked goods! if you liked these you need to try these amazing bars–http://www.thesweetslife.com/2012/01/butterscotch-blondie-bars-with-peanut.html
55

Meghan @ After the Ivy League — June 26, 2012 @ 11:58 am

Sweet and salty, one of my favorite combinations! I’ve never baked with cashews but they’re one of my favorite nuts, I need to get on that!
56

cat moore — June 26, 2012 @ 9:24 pm

i just want to hang out with you all day and stage your food photographs! how much fun that looks! this looks amazing….the photography….oh, and the gronola too.
- Cassie replied: — June 28th, 2012 @ 9:49 am
  
  That would be amazingly fun!!
57

cat moore — June 26, 2012 @ 9:25 pm

by the way, maybe i should go back and actually read this post and make sure it’s not another give away. if it is, i just entered myself twice.
58

Sweet Pea Feta Parmesan Dip — July 18, 2012 @ 12:04 am

[...] she makes it all! Mexican Quinoa Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing, Spicy Peanut Noodle Stir-Fry, Butterscotch Cashew Pretzel Cookies, White Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Avocado and Tomato, Vegan Banana Nut Breakfast Cake, and I could [...]
59

CookiesMommy — December 17, 2012 @ 6:45 am

These are indeed yummy. I was thrilled to see a new butterscotch chip recipe-I will definitely add this to my holiday faves baking list.