Take 5 Bars

I find it kind of humorous, if not ironic that I am posting this right above an Exercise/Weight Loss post - no less, here is an amazing dessert recipe that I just had to share with you guys :o)

My team at work, will use any excuse to have a party. One of our co-workers is leaving us, and so I volunteered to bake a treat for the group to celebrate his last day. I saw this recipe over on Heather Drive and just had to give it a try. Of course they are absolutely delicious, so thank goodness they are going to work tomorrow otherwise the humor and irony I spoke of earlier would not be so good lol

Don't they look simply delectable?!?! Let me tell you, they do taste as good as they look!!!

Mu husband's favorite candy bar is the Take 5, and he loves anything with pretzels in it especially desserts (he's a sweet and salty kinda guy). So, I suppose I will be spending the remainder of the evening trying to keep him from eating the entire batch ;o) Yes, they are that good!!!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 & 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
1 & 1/2 cups mini pretzel twists, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chocolate chips, for drizzling (optional)
1/4 cup peanut butter, for drizzling (optional)
1/4 cup pretzels, crumbled, for topping (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.

2. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt. Using a mixer, beat the butter and both sugars at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs and the vanilla extract. On low speed, beat in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips and pretzel pieces.

3. Spread the batter evenly in the pan and press it down evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool completely.

4. In separate sandwich size baggies, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Cut off a small corner on each bag and drizzle the chocolate and peanut butter over the top of the bars. Sprinkle the extra crushed pretzels on top. Let set and then cut into squares.