Sisters & Food: Pretzel Bites

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110 F)
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast (I used instant)
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled just slightly
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
coarse sea salt

Directions:
For the Pretzels: Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.

Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Bring the water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat and add the baking soda.

Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 ounces each. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape. Cut the dough into one inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Boil the pretzel bites in the water solution in batches. We did about 15 bites at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching. Brush the tops with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt. Place into the oven and bake for 13 to 18 minutes until golden brown.

The ingredients needs for the dough

Mix together the water, sugar, yeast and butter.

Use a wooden spoon to blended together all ingredients.

Let stand for about 5 minutes when the yeast starts to foam.

Add your salt and flour to the yeast mixture.

Stir with a wooden spoon until it starts to look like this. Notice I added a little more flour because when I went to pick it up and knead it with my hands it was still pretty sticky. Make sure you add no more than a tablespoon or flour at a time.

Now you want to knead the dough into a ball shape.

With vegetable oil lightly grease a bowl.

Toss the dough ball in the bowl so that it is evenly coated. Now cover the dough place in the fridge for about 2 hours when the dough ball doubles in size.

Our dough ball has doubled and is ready to be made into pretzels.

Flour, baking soda, egg with tablespoon of water, salt and 3 quarts of water. Bring the 3 quarts of water to a boil while you are making your pretzel bites. And preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Rip your dough ball into eight equal parts.

Roll you dough out to about 20 to 22 inches.

Cut into one inch pieces you should get anywhere from 15 to 20 pieces.

Now that your water is too a boil you want to add 3/4 cup of baking soda.

Now add about 15 dough bites at a time and let boil for about 30 seconds.

Take them out with a slotted spoon and place them on a greased baking sheet.

Now take your egg mixture with water and LIGHTLY brush your dough with the egg because if you use too much they will brown too fast in the oven. Now sprinkle with salt. Bake them for 13-18 minutes. Just keep a close eye on them when you hit the 13 minute mark because every oven is different.