Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until everything is fully incorporated.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt until well mixed. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently with a spatula or wooden spoon just until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips and coarsely crushed pretzel pieces, ensuring an even distribution of flavors and textures throughout the dough.
Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop rounded balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, placing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
Before placing the cookies in the oven, sprinkle a small pinch of coarse sea salt evenly over the top of each cookie dough ball to enhance the flavors.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown while the centers remain slightly soft and chewy.
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely and firm up.
Notes
Arrange the cookies on a vibrant platter and drizzle with melted chocolate for an extra touch.