Sometimes, unexpected pairings can work together beautifully.
Peanut butter and apple mint jelly (don’t hate).
Navy and hot pink.
Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling (FOREVER. AND EVER).
And sometimes, unexpected pairings fail miserably.
Me and my hot-tempered, work-out-a-holic ex-boyfriend (an ex for a reason).
Crocs and… well, anything.
Orange juice and toothpaste.
Just… no, you know?
Today’s treat is one of those unexpected pairings that works. It’s like dessert magic or something. Call me the Dessert Magician.
Baaaasically I was shopping at Walmart and (yet again) was struck by the intense need to impulse-buy random things in the seasonal aisle, including Pumpkin Spice cookie mix. I had no real intentions to do anything with the mix except to hoard it like a cookie-mix-hoarding-freak would, but then I found some Rolos.. and then some pretzels.. and some wheels started turning.
Okay, my cart wheels turned to the candy aisle to stockpile more gum (forever obsessed) and Tic Tacs (new obsession–I go through a pack in like, 3 minutes), but my mental wheels turned, too.
And thus, this beautiful, unexpected pairing was born.
Pumpkin + pretzel + chocolate + caramel + the perfect sprinkling of sea salt. Doesn’t get much better than that, kids.
Now if we could just get Rachel and Ryan back together, life would be tremendous.
Rolo Pretzel Pumpkin Bites
1 pkg Pumpkin Spice cookie mix, plus ingredients on back of package
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
About 24 Rolos, unwrapped
About 24 pretzels
Sea salt
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, prepare the cooking mix according to package directions, stirring in the pumpkin pie spice and additional flour. Portion heaping Tablespoonfuls of dough among each muffin cavity. Press to fill. Bake up for approx. 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly in the pan.
3. Take a wooden spoon handle and gently make wells in each cookie cup. Press a Rolo into the center of each well. Allow the Rolos to partially soften, then gently press a pretzel on top. Sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Allow the bites to set before serving. Store leftovers airtight, at room temperature, up to 3 days.
**Note: You may want to run a knife along the edge of each cookie cup to carefully loosen them from the tin. Do this after allowing the cups to cool slightly.
**I used regular-sized Rolos for this.**
Sweet, salty and spicy–these bites are the perfect treat! The gooey caramel oozes from the inside of a soft and spicy pumpkin cookie, and the smooth chocolate coating paired with the crunch of the pretzel and saltiness of the sea salt really brings it all together. It’s the perfect bite, people. Dessert Genie over hereeee.
Enjoy!!
xo, Hayley
Tagged: bites, candy, caramel, sweet and salty, treats
First… PB and Apple Mint Jelly??? No way is that good?!?!? But these rolo pretzel pumpkin bites look freaking awesome!!
Yes, yes it is! That’s my ultimate PBJ!
Hayley this is one of my fave things you’ve made in awhile! The pumpkin/spice cake, the gooey Rolos (one of my fave candies) and then the pretzels for salty ‘n sweet…mmmm good stuff~ GREAT pics, too!
It is amazing how many mornings I forget the o.j. and toothpaste don’t mix!!! Who knew pretzels and spice cookie mix we meant to be??? Love these little salty/sweet bites! Who could ask for anything more?
I really like these! That sprinkling of salt on top looks so inviting.
I like how your mind works…..i could spend hours in Wegman’s! I need to try this pretzel in a cookie thing….
Your photos are so gorgeous and mouthwatering!!! What yummy little treats!
Hello, I am a new member, and for some reason, when I bring up your post in my email, I am not able to see the text. Any suggestions?
That is a beautiful pairing INDEED! I just absolutely love pumpkin, and Rolos…and you put them together so beautifully. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Dude these look dangerous! I’d eat a dozen of these instantaneously!
SO fun! I am all about the sweet and salty!
I love these! They look awesome!
These are Fantastic!
Genius!! those rolos all melty – look amazing
First of all, these photos are beautiful! Nice work, girl!
I want to reach through my screen and grab about 42 of these salty/sweet cookies. Yum!!
Never would have thought to put all this together but looks like it works – so delicious looking!
What a fantastic combination! In my opinion, Rolos go with everything. They are one of my favorite candies for that very reason.
Hayley! You put three of my very favorite things together, and rolled ‘em up all in a neat little cookie bite. You are a genius! Gorg pics, too!
Holy crap I love these!!!!! You’re amazeballs.
I love this combo of sweet, salty + spiced. NOM! I could go for a zillion of these right this very second.
Pumpkin cookies, rolos, sea salt? What’s not to love in that cookie? I seriously wish these were in my kitchen!!! I love all that oozing caramel!!!
Crocs were my savior when I was pregnant! And my husband who LOVES OJ, apparently has never experienced the horrible combination of toothpaste and OJ before. So I made him do it.
These look superly yummy. Can’t wait to try them and I’m glad I’m not the only one who just goes out and buys sweets to hoard them for no apparent reason.
LOVE THESE, Hayley!! Wish I had a few right now
That looks soooooooooooooo good. My favorite flavors! Way to go!
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