Ingredients

The following ingredients have 35 Servings
  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons or 1 package active dry yeast
  • 3 ounces or 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 4 ½ to 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • Grapeseed oil or other light tasting high temperature oil
  • 3 quarts water
  • ¾ cup baking soda
  • 1 whole egg beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
  • Coarse pretzel salt or sea salt

Instruction

  • The dough can be made in a bread machine set on the dough setting, just add all of the dough ingredients to the machine, and allow the dough cycle to run. Pick up with kneading the dough, if made in the bread machine.
  • If making by hand:
  • Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or a food processor, and mix 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.
  • Once dough is made:
  • Remove the dough from the bowl or the bread machine, place on a lightly floured surface, and knead into a ball with your hands.
  • Lightly oil a bowl, and place the dough in the bowl. Turn the dough to coat the dough with the oil. Cover the bowl 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 ° F.
  • Bring the 3 quarts of 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 lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 ¼ to 4 ½ ounces each. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring about 22 inches.
  • Cut the dough into approximately one-inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Boil the pretzel bites in the baking soda-water solution, in batches, about 15 at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds.
  • Remove the boiled pretzel bites from the water with a large slotted spoon, and place pretzel bites on a Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheet, making sure the pretzels aren't touching.
  • Brush the tops with egg wash and season with pretzel salt. Place into oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove to a baking rack and let cool. Devour!