Homemade Pretzels & Pizza Pretzel Bites
Author: 
Recipe type: Bread
Prep: 
Cook: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8-30
 
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 package active dry yeast (2¼ tsp)
  • 3 ounces butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 4½ to 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • Pepperoni slices, cut into small pieces
  • Shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese
  • ¾ cup baking soda
  • 1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water, for egg wash
  • Coarse sea salt for sprinkling
  • Pizza sauce (optional: for serving with pizza pretzel bites)
Instructions
  1. Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on low with the dough hook. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Add the salt and 4½ cups flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading for 3-4 minutes, until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl. If the dough seems to sticky, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead into a smooth ball with your hands.
  3. Oil the mixing bowl or coat lightly with cooking spray, put the dough back in, and turn dough once to coat all sides with oil. Cover with a damp towel or piece of plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
  4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bring about 5 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot over high heat and carefully add the baking soda to the boiling water. (It will bubble up at first).
  5. While water and oven heat, remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape into a pretzel (makes 8 pretzels).
  6. Alternatively, roll the dough into 10" ropes and cut it into one inch pieces to make pretzel bites (makes about 6 dozen pretzel bites). Leave as is for plain pretzel bites, or, for pizza pretzel bites, roll each 1" piece into a flat square with a rolling pin. Stuff each bite with pepperoni and cheese. Fold over the dough from all 4 sides and pinch the ends to seal.
  7. Boil the pretzels or pretzel bites in the water and baking soda solution in batches (about 4 pretzels or 15 pretzel bites at a time). Boil for about 30 seconds, then remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Make sure they are not touching. Brush the tops lightly with the egg wash and season liberally with salt. If making pizza pretzel bites, a sprinkle of Italian seasoning on top is a nice touch.
  8. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for five minutes. Serve warm with cheese sauce or pizza sauce.
  10. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, reheating to serve. Store pizza pretzel bites in the refrigerator.
Recipe by Hidden Ponies at https://hiddenponies.com/2012/05/first-on-the-first-homemade-pretzels/