Outrageous Pretzel Bars

We started talking about moving companies last night and for the first time I realized that my year is slowly coming to an end. Oh God. Why did this just hit me? Don't get me wrong, we are really excited to move and get on with life. Jason can't wait to finish up his fellowship, but I am clinging onto my last few weeks here.

Only a few weeks left of making nonsensical recipes to entertain myself. These "outrageous bars" are definitely one of those recipes that I absolutely did not need to make for any particular reason at all, but I saw them on http://www.foodandwine.com/ and they sounded too good to ignore. You know I can't resist a sweet and salty combo.

These bars are nothing fancy, but they really are outrageously good. They're a big chocolate chip cookie topped with fudge and pretzels. The rest of them will be going to work with Jason tomorrow so I do not sit on the couch and eat them all.

Outrageous Pretzel Bars
Recipe from http://www.foodandwine.com/

One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

4 cups semisweet chocolate chips (24 ounces)

1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened, plus 3 tablespoons melted butter

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 cups coarsely chopped large hard pretzels

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil, allowing 2 inches of overhang on the 2 long sides.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the condensed milk with 2 cups of the chocolate chips and stir over moderately low heat until the chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat. Whisk in 1 1/2 teaspoons of the vanilla and let cool completely.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, beat the 2 sticks of butter with the brown sugar and the 3/4 cup of granulated sugar at medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs and the remaining 2 teaspoons of vanilla. At low speed, beat in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Stir in the remaining 2 cups of chocolate chips. Press the cookie dough in the prepared pan in an even layer.
4. In a bowl, toss the pretzels with the melted butter and the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Spread the melted chocolate mixture over the cookie dough and sprinkle evenly with the pretzels. Bake for about 45 minutes, until set and the pretzel topping is golden brown. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the bars cool completely.
5. Run the tip of a knife around the side of the pan and lift the bar out using the parchment paper. Cut into 24 bars, discard the parchment paper and serve.

Make Ahead: The pretzel bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.