Healthy Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies

Embark on a sweet and salty flavor adventure with my irresistible, Healthy Vegan Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies. These delightful treats seamlessly marry the rich, buttery notes of vegan caramel with the satisfying crunch of pretzel pieces and dark chocolate chips, creating a delectable fusion guaranteed to be a hit this holiday season!

If you put all of my favorite things into one cookie, it would be these chocolate caramel pretzel cookies. In my opinion, it just doesn't get better than salty pretzels, gooey caramel, and rich dark chocolate! Not only are these delicious cookies a favorite of mine, but they're also a favorite among my non-vegan friends and family as well. 

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Jump to:

• Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies Ingredients:
• How To Make Vegan Caramel Pretzel Cookies:
• Substitutions:
• Vegan Pretzel Cookies Variations:
• What You Need To Make Healthy Caramel Cookies:
• How To Store Vegan Caramel Pretzel Cookies:
• Top Tip:
• Frequently Asked Questions:
• Related Vegan Cookie Recipes:
• Healthy Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies
• Related Christmas Recipes:

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies Ingredients:

The best thing about these cookies (aside from being absolutely delicious) is that they are made with healthy and simple ingredients you can find at any of your local grocery stores or order online. Here's what you will need to make this cookie recipe.

Dry Ingredients:

• Flour - A versatile base, the flour provides structure to the cookies. Opt for whole grain or gluten-free flour for added nutritional benefits. You can use all-purpose flour, gluten-free flour, or whole wheat flour; the measurements are all the same.
• Maple Crystals - A natural sweetener, maple crystals offer a lower glycemic index compared to refined sugar, providing sweetness with a gradual impact on blood sugar levels. Maple crystals work as a 1:1 substitute for cane sugar. I always get my maple crystals in bulk from Wilderness Poets because they are organic and much more affordable. 
• Cornstarch - Cornstarch contributes to the cookies' tenderness, creating a soft texture.
• Baking Soda - As a leavening agent, baking soda helps the cookies rise, resulting in a light and fluffy texture.
• Ground Flaxseed - As a vegan egg substitute, ground flaxseed adds moisture and binds the ingredients together. It also introduces omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.
• Sea Salt - Enhancing flavors and providing a subtle savory balance, sea salt complements the sweetness and adds depth to the overall taste of these pretzel cookies.
• Pretzels - Whole-grain or gluten-free pretzels contribute a delightful crunch and a hint of saltiness, creating a perfect sweet and salty combination.
• Dark Chocolate Chips - Rich in antioxidants, dark chocolate chips add a decadent and velvety texture to the cookies, contributing potential cardiovascular benefits.
• Smart Sweets Vegan Caramel - A healthier alternative to traditional caramel, Smart Sweets Vegan Caramel provides sweetness without added sugars, making the cookies both delicious and mindful of sugar content. I absolutely love these chewy caramel bites. They taste just like traditional caramels, except they are vegan and refined sugar-free. As always, you can use my code: "THEALLNATURALVEGAN10" for 10% off your purchase.

Wet Ingredients:

• Coconut Butter - As a dairy-free alternative to butter, coconut butter adds richness and moisture to the pretzel cookies. It contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) for a quick source of energy.
• Vanilla Extract - Enhancing the overall flavor profile, vanilla extract adds a sweet and aromatic dimension to the cookies. I always recommend using Mexican Vanilla. 
• Water - Essential for making the flax egg and combining the wet and dry ingredients, water helps achieve the right consistency in the cookie dough, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Vegan Caramel Pretzel Cookies:

This is the perfect cookie recipe for the holiday season or any time of year. These caramel pretzel cookies are easy to make and the perfect mix of sweet and salty.

1. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

1. Prepare Flax Eggs:

• In a small bowl, mix ground flaxseed with six tablespoons of water and let it sit to form flax eggs. This should take about 5 minutes.

1. Combine Dry Ingredients:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, maple crystals, cornstarch, baking soda, flax eggs, and sea salt.

1. Add Wet Ingredients:

• Pour in melted coconut butter, vanilla extract, and remaining water. Mix until all ingredients are well combined and the cookie dough has formed.

1. Mix-Ins:

• Break up the crunchy pretzels and add to the cookie dough as well as the dark chocolate chips. Mix until combined.

1. Form Cookie Dough:

• The dough should be firm enough to hold its shape. It will be a little on the sticky side. 

1. Chilling The Cookie Dough:

• Place the large bowl in the fridge to chill for about 30 minutes.

1. Shape Cookies:

• Use a cookie scoop to scoop two tablespoon-sized portions of dough and shape them into balls. Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each. They will spread while baking.

1. Bake:

• Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.

1. Add Caramel Topping:

• Once out of the oven, place half of a Smart Sweets Vegan Caramel candy on top of each cookie while they're still warm.

1. Cool and Enjoy:

• Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Once completely cooled, indulge in the delightful combination of chocolate, caramel, and pretzels.

Hint: If you want the pretzels and chocolate to be visible on the finished cookie, add little pieces of salty pretzels and dark chocolate chips on top of the cookies before baking. 

Substitutions:

A handful of easy substitutions can be made to these salted caramel pretzel chocolate chip cookies if needed. Here are some of the common ones. 

• Sugar - If you can't get your hands on maple crystals, you can use coconut sugar, sucanat sugar, or dark brown sugar as 1:1 substitutions for the maple crystals. I recommend sticking to unrefined sugars if you need to substitute.
• Chocolate - You can use semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate, depending on your preference. It's essential to ensure that whatever you use is vegan and refined sugar-free.
• Nut Butter - You can replace the coconut butter with nut butter like raw cashew butter or macadamia nut butter. If you use raw cashew butter, you will have a chewier cookie. 
• Pretzels - You can use any pretzels in these cookies. Mini pretzels, pretzel sticks, etc. They will all work perfectly.

If you have any questions about a particular substitution not listed, leave a comment, and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible!

Vegan Pretzel Cookies Variations:

These chocolate caramel pretzel cookies have quickly become my new favorite cookie because they are so delicious and so versatile. There are plenty of fun ways to mix up the recipe, and they are perfect for any time of year. Here are some of my favorite variations.

• Nutty - You can add pecans, almonds, or peanuts to these pretzel cookies for a delicious added nutty crunch.
• Brown Butter - You can replace the two tablespoons of water with two tablespoons of vegan brown butter for a deep and rich flavor.
• Ice Cream Sandwiches - Add a scoop of my vanilla bean ice cream between two cookies for the perfect blend of creamy ice cream, gooey caramel, and crunchy pretzels.

What You Need To Make Healthy Caramel Cookies:

Equipment can always affect how a recipe turns out. Here's what I recommend using for this caramel pretzel cookie recipe. 

• Mixing Bowls - You will need a large mixing bowl to make the cookie dough in.
• Whisk - A whisk is handy for mixing dry ingredients thoroughly.
• Rubber Spatula - A rubber spatula is the best tool you can use to mix the cookie dough together.
• Small Bowl or Cup - For creating the flax egg, you'll need a small bowl or cup to mix ground flaxseed with water.
• Baking Sheet - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and for easy cleanup.
• Cookie Scoop or Spoon - Use a small or medium cookie scoop or a spoon to portion out the cookie dough and create uniform-sized cookies.
• Wire Rack - After baking, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool. This helps them cool evenly and prevents them from becoming too soft on the bottom.

As always you can find all my go-to equipment on my Amazon storefront or my shop page.

How To Store Vegan Caramel Pretzel Cookies:

It's essential to properly store these vegan cookies to ensure that they will keep for the entire holiday season. I recommend storing these delicious cookies in an airtight container to ensure they stay fresh as long as possible. These pretzel cookies will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks if stored properly. 

Top Tip:

When these cookies are chilled, the caramel can become hard. Therefore, I recommend letting them sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before eating them so that the caramel pieces are easier to chew.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Related Vegan Cookie Recipes:

Looking for more delicious vegan cookie recipes? Make sure to check out some of the other recipes on my website!

If you try this Healthy Chocolate Caramel Cookie Recipe, I’d really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Make sure to share it on social media and tag @theallnaturalvegan to be featured! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!

Related Christmas Recipes:

Looking for more recipes to make this holiday season? Check out some of the other recipes on my website!