Homemade Pretzel Bites

If you find yourself at home for a day looking for a delicious project, these homemade Pretzel Bites are just what you need.

Convenience is really not a factor in this recipe. Sure, you can easily buy a sack of frozen pretzel bites and zap them in the microwave or toaster oven for a few minutes. But if your taste buds want an elevated pretzel taste and experience like mine do, then make this recipe.

Soft pretzel production is interesting. You do the whole yeast thing - just like making bread. But then you boil the pretzels in a baking soda-water mixture before baking them off in the oven.

I found the whole process to be fascinating, as did my son aka the sous chef of this operation.

This recipe comes from an awesome site called platingsandpairings.com. Be sure to check it out! The site lists a bunch of yummy homemade sauces for the bites, but I just kept it simple with some storebought mustard.

I will note here as well as at the end of the recipe, that my baking time took longer than the recommended baking time  of 12-15 minutes. Mine took more like 20 minutes. If they do not have that amber pretzel color that you know and love, they aren't ready yet! Just keep an eye on your oven.

Homemade Pretzel Bites
From Platings and Pairings

PRETZEL BITES

1 1/2 cups water lukewarm

2 1/4 teaspoons instant rise yeast (1/4 ounce packet) 

2 Tablespoons butter melted

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups flour

1/2 cup baking soda

1 egg beaten

Coarse salt for sprinkling

PRETZEL BITES

Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water. Whisk well until combined, about 1 minute.

To a mixing bowl, add the butter, brown sugar, salt and yeast mixture. Stir until combined. Slowly add in 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix by hand or use mixer fitted with dough hook, until dough is thick. Add 3/4 cup more flour and stir. If dough is still sticky, add flour, an additional 1/4 cup at a time, until no longer sticky and dough bounces back when poked with your finger.

  

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 2 minutes and shape into a ball. Place in a large mixing bowl that has been lightly coated with nonstick spray. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil with the baking soda, preheat oven to 425 degrees, and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. 

Section dough into six equal parts and roll each section into long ropes. Then, cut into 1-1/2 inch bites.

Once water is boiling, drop 10 pretzel bites into water and boil 20 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place onto prepared baking sheets, making sure that pretzel bites do not touch. Repeat with remaining pretzel bites.

Brush beaten egg over each pretzel bite and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown, rotating the sheet pans once halfway through cooking. 

Please note: The Jersey Girl baked her pretzel bites closer to 20 minutes.