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Pretzel Desserts Have Perfected The Salty-Sweet Combination

YAASSS.
By 

Taste Senior Editor, HuffPost

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Pretzels make a great snack, but that is not where their strength lies. Sure, they go great with a beer, but where they really shine is as an ingredient in the kitchen. Restaurants have been using them in place of bread crumbs for years, but we really like it when pretzels make their way into our desserts. Brownies, cookies, cupcakes, pretzels add great flavor and texture to all of them.

We'll always be fans of soft pretzels -- and all the things you can stuff in them -- but when it comes to desserts it's really about the hard, crunchy kind. Because it's not just the salt that contrasts with sweet desserts that make pretzels such a dream ingredient for baking, but the satisfying crunch too.

Give it a try -- your desserts will thank you.

1
Salted Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Snickers Bars
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Salted Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Snickers Bars recipe from Half Baked Harvest
2
Salted Caramel Pretzel-Topped Fudgy Brownies
Averie Cooks
Get the Salted Caramel Pretzel-Topped Fudgy Brownies recipe from Averie Cooks
3
The Munchies Sweet Corn Ice Cream Sandwiches With Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Munchies Sweet Corn Ice Cream Sandwiches w/Peanut Butter Chip Cookies recipe from Half Baked Harvest
4
Butterscotch Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sally's Baking Addiction
Get the Butterscotch Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction
5
Pretzel Bottomed Banana Bread Cupcakes
How Sweet It Is
Get the Pretzel Bottomed Banana Bread Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is
6
Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Covered Pretzel Cookies ‘N’ Cream
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Covered Pretzel Cookies ‘N’ Cream recipe from Half Baked Harvest
7
Pretzel Frozen Hot Chocolate
Minimalist Baker
Get the Pretzel Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe from Minimalist Baker
8
Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Cheesecake Bar
Sally's Baking Addiction
Get the Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Cheesecake Bar recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction
9
Brownie Pretzel Pie
Sean Litchfield Photography
Get the Brownie Pretzel Pie recipe from Becca Bakes
10
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Peanut Butter Cupcakes With Butterscotch Frosting
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Chocolate Covered Pretzel Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Butterscotch Frosting recipe from Half Baked Harvest
11
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Fudge
Zac Wolf Photography
Get the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Fudge recipe from Becca Bakes
12
Frozen Hot Fudge And Peanut Butter Swirled Pretzel Macarons
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Frozen Hot Fudge and Peanut Butter Swirled Pretzel Macarons recipe from Half Baked Harvest
13
Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars
How Sweet It Is
Get the Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars recipe from How Sweet It Is
14
Salted Chocolate Covered Pretzel Nutella Turtle Cookies
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Salted Chocolate Covered Pretzel Nutella Turtle Cookies recipe from Half Baked Harvest
15
Rolo Pretzel Pumpkin Bites
Domestic Rebel
Get the Rolo Pretzel Pumpkin Bites recipe from Domestic Rebel
16
Peanut Butter Pretzel M&M Truffle Brownies
Buttercream Blondie
Get the Peanut Butter Pretzel M&M Truffle Brownies recipe from Buttercream Blondie
17
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cupcakes
Eric Isaac/Food52
Get the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cupcakes recipe from AllisonRobicelli via Food52
18
Ridiculously Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Ridiculously Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies recipe from Half Baked Harvest
19
Brown Butter Pretzel M&M Cookies
Sally's Baking Addiction
Get the Brown Butter Pretzel M&M Cookies recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction
20
Nutella Pretzel Brownies
Bakingdom
Get the Nutella Pretzel Brownies recipe from Bakingdom
21
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
The Novice Chef
Get the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites recipe from The Novice Chef
22
Popcorn-Toasted Cereal Cake
Kitchen Butterfly/Food52
Get the Popcorn-Toasted Cereal Cake recipe from Kitchen Butterfly via Food52

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Before You Go

Dark Chocolate Recipes
Dark Chocolate Frosted Yellow Cake(01 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Frosted Yellow Cake Recipe by Tidy Mom (credit:Tidy Mom)
Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups with Smoked Sea Salt (02 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups with Smoked Sea Salt Recipe by Slim Palate (credit:Slim Palate)
Salted Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies(03 of53)
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Get the Salted Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies Recipe by How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Mexican Spiced Dark Chocolate Tarts(04 of53)
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Get the Mexican Spiced Dark Chocolate Tarts Recipe by Gimme Some Oven (credit:Gimme Some Oven)
Dark Chocolate Sugar Cookies(05 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Sugar Cookies Recipe by Sweetapolita (credit:Sweetapolita)
Dark Chocolate Orange Pudding(06 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Orange Pudding Recipe by Good Life Eats (credit:Good Life Eats)
Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake With Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Glaze(07 of53)
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Get the Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake with Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Glaze Recipe by Sweetapolita (credit:Sweetapolita)
Dark Chocolate Muffin Top Pan Cookies(08 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Muffin Top Pan Cookies Recipe by Have Cake Will Travel (credit:Have Cake Will Travel)
Dark Chocolate Chip and Sea Salt Cookies(09 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Chip and Sea Salt Cookies Recipe by A Beautiful Mess, adapted from Martha Stewart (credit:A Beautiful Mess)
Double Dark Chocolate Cookies(10 of53)
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Get the Double Dark Chocolate Cookies Recipe by The Healthy Foodie (credit:The Healthy Foodie)
Velvety Dark Chocolate Pudding With Candied Orange Peel(11 of53)
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Get the Velvety Dark Chocolate Pudding with Candied Orange Peel Recipe from Flourishing Foodie (credit:Flourishing Foodie)
Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread(12 of53)
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Get the Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread Recipe by Passionate About Baking (credit:Passionate About Baking)
Dark Chocolate Crepes(13 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Crepes Recipe by A Beautiful Mess (credit:A Beautiful Mess)
Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes(14 of53)
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Get the Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes Recipe by Jessie Boo (credit:Jessie Boo)
Molten Chocolate Cakes(15 of53)
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Get the Molten Chocolate Cakes Recipe by The Year In Food (credit:The Year In Food)
Dark Chocolate Macarons(16 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Macarons Recipe by @Kokken (credit:@Kokken)
Chocolate, Almond, Olive Oil And Whole Wheat Biscotti(17 of53)
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Get the Chocolate, Almond, Olive Oil and Whole Wheat Biscotti Recipe by Passionate About Baking (credit:Passionate About Baking)
Dark Chocolate Chip And Hazelnut Cookies With Sea Salt(18 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Chip and Hazelnut Cookies with Sea Salt Recipe by Life Tastes Like Food (credit:Life Tastes Like Food)
Three-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse(19 of53)
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Get the Three-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe by Drizzle & Dip (credit:Drizzle & Dip)
Chocolate Bundt Cake With Snicker Chocolate Glaze(20 of53)
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Get the Chocolate Bundt Cake with Snicker Chocolate Glaze Recipe by Simply Reem (credit:Simply Reem)
Dark Chocolate Souffles(21 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Souffles Recipe by Palachinka (credit:Palachinka)
Dark Chocolate Ice Cream(22 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe by The Faux Martha (credit:The Faux Martha)
Dark Chocolate & Coconut Bites(23 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate & Coconut Bites Recipe by we eat.happy/Food52 (credit:James Ransom/Food52)
Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies(24 of53)
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Get the Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe by Jelly Toast (credit:Jelly Toast)
Lavender-Honey-Cardamom-Lemon Dark Chocolate Tart(25 of53)
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Get the Lavender-Honey-Cardamom-Lemon Dark Chocolate Tart Recipe by Dessert for Breakfast (credit:Dessert for Breakfast)
Nuts and Nibs Salted Dark Chocolate Bark(26 of53)
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Get the Nuts and Nibs Salted Dark Chocolate Bark Recipe by Slim Palate (credit:Slim Palate)
Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart(27 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart Recipe by The Cilantropist (credit:The Cilantropist)
Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes(28 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes Recipe by How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Dark Chocolate Truffles (29 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Truffles Recipe by Brown Eyed Baker (credit:Brown Eyed Baker)
Dark Chocolate Brownies(30 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Brownies Recipe by Foodie Crush (credit:Foodie Crush)
Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt(31 of53)
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Get the Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Recipe by EmilyC/Food52 (credit:James Ransom/Food52)
Dark Chocolate Truffles(32 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Truffles Recipe by Flourishing Foodie (credit:Flourishing Foodie)
Dark Chocolate Bread Parfaits(33 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Bread Parfaits Recipe (credit:Antonis Achilleos/Food & Wine)
Dark Chocolate Egg Cream(34 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Egg Cream Recipe (credit:Aran Goyoaga )
Double Dark Chocolate Cake(35 of53)
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Get the Double Dark Chocolate Cake Recipe by Wee Eats (credit:Wee Eats)
Espresso Cake(36 of53)
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Get the Espresso Cake Recipe by An Edible Mosiac (credit:An Edible Mosiac)
Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart(37 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart Recipe by Sweetapolita (credit:Sweetapolita)
Sticky Dark Chocolate Cake(38 of53)
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Get the Sticky Dark Chocolate Cake Recipe by Cook Republic (credit:Cook Republic)
Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Blackberry Filling(39 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Blackberry Filling Recipe by I Am Baker, adapted from McCormick.com (credit:I Am Baker)
Dark Chocolate Cookies with Champagne Buttercream(40 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Cookies with Champagne Buttercream Recipe by I Am Baker (credit:I Am Baker)
Dark Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie(41 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe by Lemon Sugar (credit:Lemon Sugar)
Strawberry Dark Chocolate Hand Pies(42 of53)
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Get the Strawberry Dark Chocolate Hand Pies Recipe by Two Peas & Their Pod (credit:Two Peas & Their Pod)
Dark Chocolate Red Wine Brownies(43 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Red Wine Brownies Recipe by The Domestic Rebel (credit:The Domestic Rebel)
Dark Chocolate-Covered Clementines with Chili Salt(44 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate-Covered Clementines with Chili Salt Recipe by Verses from my Kitchen (credit:Verses from my Kitchen)
Dark Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Cups(45 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Cups Recipe by Verses from my Kitchen (credit:Verses from my Kitchen)
Dark Chocolate and Mint Chip Clouds(46 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate and Mint Chip Clouds Recipe by Skinny Taste (credit:Skinny Taste)
Dark Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding(47 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding Recipe by Skinny Taste (credit:Skinny Taste)
Cranberry Pistachio Dark Chocolate Bark(48 of53)
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Get the Cranberry Pistachio Dark Chocolate Bark Recipe by Skinny Taste (credit:Skinny Taste)
Salted Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies(49 of53)
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Get the Salted Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies Recipe by How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Layer Cake(50 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Layer Cake Recipe by Annie's Eats (credit:Annie's Eats)
Yogurt Cake with Pear and Dark Chocolate(51 of53)
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Get the Yogurt Cake with Pear and Dark Chocolate Recipe by fiveandspice/Food52 (credit:William Brinson/Food52)
Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Treats with Dark Chocolate(52 of53)
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Get the Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Treats with Dark Chocolate Recipe by Brown Eyed Baker (credit:Brown Eyed Baker)
Dark Chocolate Mousse(53 of53)
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Get the Dark Chocolate Mousse Recipe by Brown Eyed Baker (credit:Brown Eyed Baker)

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