superbowl ~ hot, buttered, Soft pretzel bites

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

     Oh!! do THESE remind me of my skating days!  Those that know me and skated at Centennial are shaking their heads in agreement that the soft pretzels were a great treat!  I was able to recreate these at home and can eat plain or dip in melted cheese and the best way - serve them with my Spicy Mustard Relish!! The perfect pair for a Superbowl party too!!   Kick off your weekend right and make some of these Hot, Soft, Buttery Pretzel Bites!! Enjoy! ~Diane 

 Hot, Buttered, Soft Pretzel Bites

• 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 7/8 to 1 cup warm water*
• *Use the greater amount in the winter, the lesser amount in the summer, and somewhere in between in the spring and fall. Your goal is a soft dough.

Topping

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• coarse, kosher or pretzel salt, optional
• 6 tablespoons  butter, melted

Directions:
   To make dough by hand, or with a mixer: Place all of the dough ingredients into a bowl, and beat until well-combined. Knead the dough, by hand or machine, for about 5 minutes, until it's soft, smooth, and quite slack. Flour the dough and place it in a plastic bag, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
    While the dough is resting, prepare the topping: Combine the boiling water and baking soda, stirring until the soda is totally (or almost totally) dissolved. Set the mixture aside to cool to lukewarm (or cooler). 
    Preheat your oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet by spraying it with vegetable oil spray, or lining it with parchment paper.
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface, and divide it into six equal pieces. Allow the pieces to rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Pour the baking soda/water into a 9" square pan.

• To make savory pretzel bites: Roll the six pieces of dough into 10" ropes. Cut each rope crosswise into 6 to 10 equal pieces. Dip the pieces into the baking soda solution, place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, and top with pretzel salt or sea salt. Bake in a 400°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven, and roll the bites in melted butter; about 6 tablespoons should do it.
• To make sweet pretzel bites: Roll the six pieces of dough into 10" ropes. Cut each rope crosswise into 6 to 10 equal pieces. Dip the pieces into the baking soda solution, place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, and top with pearl sugar, if desired. Bake in a 400°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove them from the oven; if they haven't been topped with pearl sugar, roll the bites in melted butter (about 6 tablespoons should do it). Then shake in a paper bag with 6 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar.

Recipe by: King Arthur Flour
Photos by: Diane Baker for Canning and Cooking at Home