Homemade Pretzel Bites
Craving warm, chewy pretzel goodness? Skip the mall and bake up a batch of these irresistible homemade pretzel bites! This easy recipe yields perfectly golden-brown bites, ideal for snacking, dipping, or sharing (if you're feeling generous!).
Ingredients
1 ½ cups lukewarm water
2 ¼ tsp instant or active dry yeast
1 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs melted butter slightly cooled
3 ¾ cup-4 cups all purpose flour
Coarse salt for topping
Cinnamon sugar combination for topping
Baking Soda Bath
½ cup baking soda
9 cups water
Directions
Pour lukewarm water into the stand of a mixing bowl. Add in yeast and brown sugar and whisk in the mixing bowl and with the paddle attachment and mix until combined. Cover the bowl and allow 5 minutes for yeast to activate. Once there is a film on top, you are ready to continue.
Add in melted butter and 3 cups of flour and combine with the paddle attachment for about 2 minutes. Mix until the dough begins to seperate from the bowl. You can add flour in ¼ cup increments if needed. Once it starts to pull away, change to the dough hook and continue to mix for an additional 5 minutes on low. Cover bowl and allow to rise for 20-30 minutes in a warm dry place.
While dough is rising, start on your baking soda bath by combining 9 cups of hot water and the baking soda and allow to come to a boil.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly flour the working space and form dough into a disk. You don't want to over flour because it makes it harder to work with. With a sharp cutting knife, cut the dough into 6 equal pieces.
Work each section of dough into 6 20 inch straps. Using your knife, cut into pieces about 2 inch pieces and roll into a ball. A little stickiness will actually help this process.
Dip our dough balls into the boiling and allow to float for 10-15 seconds and then remove, lining them on the baking sheets. Sprinkle with coarse salt and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
You can also opt for cinnamon and sugar. For these, you just put the balls into the oven (no salt) and then brush with melted butter once baked and rolled in cinnamon and sugar.
Serve the salted ones with your favorite cheese dip and enjoy!
