Averie Cooks

-1 To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the butter, sugars (highly recommend using some dark brown sugar), egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until creamed and well combined, about 4 minutes.
-1 Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.
-1 Add the pretzels (I add them whole and let the mixer crush them, or you can crush them in your fist over the mixing bowl before adding if you prefer tinier pieces), chocolate chips, and beat on low speed until just combined or pretzels are as small as desired, about 1 minute.
-1 Using a large cookie scoop, 1/4-cup measure, or your hands, form 10 equal-sized mounds of dough (they look fairly large because the pretzels are bulky), roll into balls, and flatten slightly. * (see tip below)
-1 Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 3 days. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
-1 Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray.
-1 Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet) and bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don’t overbake. Cookies firm up as they cool.
-1 Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don’t use a rack.