PRETZEL SHAPED COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, mix ground pretzels, flour and baking powder; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk. Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-1/2-in. tree-shaped cookie cutter. Using a floured 1-3/4-in. tree-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the centers of half of the cookies. Place solid and window cookies 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake until edges are light brown, 8-10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Spread melted chocolate onto bottoms of solid cookies; let stand until firm. Spread jam over cooled chocolate; top with window cookies. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar.
  Freeze option: Freeze undecorated cookies in freezer containers. To use, thaw in covered containers and decorate as directed.

Steps:

• Line an 8- or 9- inch square baking pan with foil.
• Melt 8 tablespoons of the butter and add to a large bowl. Add the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, vanilla and 1 cup of peanut butter and stir until well combined. Transfer the peanut butter mixture to the prepared baking pan and smooth with an offset spatula to create an even layer.
• Combine the chocolate chips, the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and the remaining tablespoon peanut butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted. Alternatively, this can be done over a double boiler. Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter and smooth with an offset spatula. Arrange the pretzel sticks on the surface of the chocolate, pressing them lightly to adhere. Refrigerate until hardened, about 1 1/2 hours. Cut into squares to serve.