Salty-Sweet Fall Cookies

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups salted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate-covered pretzels
• Milk chocolate candy melts
• 1 1/2-inch square cookie cutter

Directions

1. Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a medium bowl.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth or about 2 1/2 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fluffy, about 1 minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
3. Turn the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture approximately a quarter at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Reserve 1/4 cup of the chocolate-covered pretzels. Mix the remaining pretzels into the cookie dough until fully incorporated. The dough will form a ball around the paddle attachment and feel soft but not sticky.
4. Wrap the dough ball in a piece of plastic wrap and press down to form a 1-inch thick disk. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes, or store for up to 7 days tightly wrapped.
5. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured flat work surface to about 1/4-inch thickness, using additional flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Use cookie cutters to create the shapes you want, and carefully transfer with a metal spatula to a nonstick baking sheet, placing the cookies about 3/4 inch apart.
7. Bake one sheet at a time on the middle rack about 7 to 8 minutes, until puffy. Let the cookies rest for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
8. Melt the candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl on 30 percent power for 30-second increments until melted.
9. Using a honey dipper, drizzle the chocolate over the cookies and sprinkle with the reserved chocolate-covered pretzels.