Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites Two Ways Food

SOFT PRETZEL BITES

Steps:

• Place 1 1/2 cups water, butter, brown sugar, yeast, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment. Mix until well combined. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
• Turn mixer on low speed and add 4 cups flour, 1 cup at a time. Add additional 1/2 cup flour if dough appears sticky. Increase speed to medium and knead until dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 4 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle in more flour if dough still seems a little tacky.
• Oil a large mixing bowl. Add the ball of dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a sheet pan with cooking spray.
• Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Slowly add baking soda and return to a boil.
• Meanwhile, remove dough from the bowl, flatten into a disc shape, and cut into 8 wedges. Roll each wedge into a 24-inch rope. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces.
• Drop batches of dough pieces into the boiling water for about 35 seconds. Remove to the prepared sheet pan. Beat egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush over the tops of each boiled dough piece. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 14 to 16 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS

Steps:

• Put the flour, yeast, sugar and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl and mix together to combine. In a large jug, mix together 300ml lukewarm water and the butter. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the water, mixing together to form a rough dough.
• Tip out onto a floured work surface and knead for 10-15 mins or until smooth and elastic. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film and set aside until doubled in size, about 1hr.
• Once risen, knock out the air bubbles in the dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Using your hands, roll each piece into a long rope about 60cm long.
• To form into pretzels, lay the rope in a U-shape with the curve pointing towards you. Take the two ends and cross them over.
• Take the ends, lift them backwards and press them into the curve of the U-shape. Repeat with the remaining dough. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Carefully place the pretzels on a baking tray lined with parchment and lightly greased with oil. Cover lightly with oiled cling film. Set aside for about 20 mins until puffy (not fully risen like bread dough).
• Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water, bring to the boil, add the baked bicarbonate of soda, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. One at a time, carefully lift the pretzels into the pan and cook for 20 secs per side. The pretzels will rise to the surface; flip with a slotted spoon.
• Use the spoon to gently lift the pretzels from the pan and return them to the baking tray. Once they have all been cooked in the water, lightly brush with the egg and sprinkle with flaked sea salt.
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins or until a rich, dark brown. Allow to cool on the baking tray for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Best served on the day made but can be frozen for up to 1 month.

SOFT PRETZEL BITES

Steps:

• Put warm water, yeast, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Let stand for 4 to 5 minutes for the yeast to start to foam. If water is too hot, it will kill the yeast, and too cold it will delay activation of the yeast. The wait time allows the yeast to get activated and foam. If it does not foam after the time, this could mean your yeast might not be active and could impact the final product.
• Add flour and salt. Mix using a dough hook for 3 to 4 minutes or add to a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and mix. The dough will be slightly sticky.
• Cover the dough bowl with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let it rest for 45 minutes in a draft-free place. My kitchen is very drafty, so I put my bowl in the microwave.
• While the dough is resting, bring the 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat off and add the baking soda. Stir to combine. Let the water cool until the dough is ready.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or oil the baking sheet. Set aside.
• After the dough rests for 45 minutes, pour 1 teaspoon olive oil on a clean surface.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and place on prepared surface.
• Cut the dough into 4 pieces and roll each piece into a rope, roughly a foot long.
• Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces. You should have approximately 48 pieces.
• Place a few of the cut bites into the water for 30 to 60 seconds.
• Scoop them out and place them on the prepared cookie sheet.
• Repeat steps 12 and 13 for all the bites.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until the bites are nice and golden brown.
• Remove the pan from the oven.
• Brush the bites with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse salt if desired.
• Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
• Enjoy!

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZEL BITES (TWO WAYS) RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, line one baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat, set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add warm water. Sprinkle yeast and allow to dissolve for 2-3 minutes. Add brown sugar, butter and salt. With mixing speed on low add the flour a half cup at a time. When all of the flour is gone sprinkle in the cornstarch, switch to the dough hook attachment (or place dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 minutes), mix on low for 4 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow dough to rest for 5 minutes.
• Divide dough into 6 equal size pieces. Roll each ball into a long rope, about about ½" wide. I like to wet my hands a bit for this if my dough isn't tacky. It helps! Cut 1½" pieces.
• Place 10 bites into a pot with boiling water and baking soda. Allow the bites to cook for about 30 seconds, then remove and place on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and salt immediately (if doing salted). Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the bites are golden brown, just watch them so they don't burn! If doing the cinnamon sugar version, immediately dip the tops of the bites into the melted butter and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture.

SOFT PRETZELS TWO WAYS

Steps:

• For the baking soda bath: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Spread out the baking soda on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 1 hour. Set aside to cool. This can be prepped ahead and stored in an airtight container for several weeks. (Even though the baked baking soda isn't as strong as lye, what is traditionally used for making pretzels, it could still potentially irritate your skin, so avoid touching it with bare hands once it's out of the oven.)
• To make the baking soda bath: Place the baked baking soda in an 8-inch square baking dish and add 2 cups of water. Gently whisk it to dissolve the baking soda. (It likely won't all dissolve; a few baking soda chunks are totally okay as long as you remove any that stick to the dough.) Set aside.
• For the pretzels: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Unroll the dough with a long edge facing you. Cut twelve 1-inch vertical strips.
• One at a time, twist 6 of the strips a few turns, then form into circles and press the ends together. Transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets, leaving room between each circle. These will be the savory pretzels.
• Cut the remaining 6 strips into 1-by-2-inch rectangles and transfer to the other prepared baking sheet, leaving room between each rectangle. These will be the sweet pretzels.
• Working in batches using gloved hands, tongs or a slotted spoon, immerse the pretzel dough pieces in the baking soda bath for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate or pan lined with a paper towel and pat them dry; place them back on the baking sheet.
• Brush the dough with the egg wash. Sprinkle the circles with flaky salt and the rectangles with cinnamon sugar. Bake until deep golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes for the rectangles and about 15 minutes for the circles.
• Serve the savory pretzels with the Obatzda (Beer Cheese) and the sweet pretzels with the Glaze for dipping.
• Combine the cheese, butter, beer, cream, chives, paprika, caraway if using, onion and some salt and pepper in a food processor and blend to combine until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Top with additional paprika and chives.
• Add the sugar, milk and vanilla to a bowl and whisk until smooth. If too thick, add more milk as needed. If too thin, add more powdered sugar. Serve with sweet pretzel bites!

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZEL BITES

Steps:

• 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 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
• Remove to a baking rack and let rest 5 minutes before eating. Serve with cheese sauce, recipe below.
• For the cheese sauce:.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the Cheddar cheese until smooth and all of the cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• If you want to make cinnamon and sugar pretzel bites-instead of adding salt, sprinkle the bites with cinnamon and sugar. For the frosting mix-soft cream cheese-about 3 T, powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a little bit of milk. Whisk together. Add more milk if it is too thick, if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. I don't measure. I just guess until the consistency is right.*.