Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
On Fridays, I teach cooking classes to two kids in our neighborhood. They are pretty knowledgeable-so my job is easy:) I think it is fantastic that they want to learn how to cook at such a young age-they are in the 3rd and 4th grade. Since we don’t have any kiddos yet, I am glad I get to work with these kids. We have a great time in the kitchen.
On Friday we made homemade soft pretzels,the traditional salty ones and cinnamon and sugar pretzels. We made a cheddar cheese sauce to go with the savory pretzels and a vanilla cream cheese frosting for the cinnamon sugar pretzels. The kids were pros! They did a great job rolling out the dough, twisting, boiling, and baking the pretzels.
For fun, we also made pretzel bites. everyone loved these. They are perfect for dipping and snacking. I think I will make these again on Sunday for our big Super Bowl party…and you should make them too!
Is everyone ready for the big game? I will be sharing more Super Bowl friendly recipes this week, so come on back. Here are a few favorites to start out the week:
Buffalo Hot Wings-these are Josh’s all time favorite. They are always a hit and perfect for the big game.
Chicken Smothered Nachos-we made these last year and everyone loved them. They are loaded with goodness!
Pizza Stromboli with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Cheese-the great taste of pizza in one big roll!
Black Bean Soup with Spicy Corn Muffins-perfect for serving up a crowd!
My good friend Gaby, from What’s Gaby Cooking, made Pulled Pork Sliders for the big game. Go check out the recipe-it’s a good one!
Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
Yield: A lot! Around 5-6 dozen
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Pretzel bites are fun to make and fun to eat!
Ingredients:
Soft Pretzels:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse sea saltFor the cheese sauce:
½ Tablespoon unsalted butter
½ Tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ cup milk
8 ounces Cheddar cheese, gratedDirections:
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.
To make 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.*
Recipe makes a lot of bites-perfect for sharing!
Adapted from Bobby Flay
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YUM! The pretzels look great. I’ve never made bread (with yeast) from scratch. Who doesn’t love pretzels and cheese??!
Just bookmarked the recipe! These little bites look so perfect. I actually made soft pretzels for the Superbowl last year. I have a feeling pretzel bites are a little less time-conusiming. Great idea!
I am totally going to try these!
I was searching for Super Bowl food ideas. This looks like the perfect choice on Sunday. Thanks for sharing, Maria.
Oooh wow they look great!
Thankfully super bowl we have all decided to meet at a local bar for wings. I am a huge Colts fan and I really did not want to spend the entire super bowl in Jeff being nice and a good host.
Awesome job! I love soft pretzels especially if the dough was made with jalapenos. drooll……..
Yum! I would have never thought it possible to make pretzels at home, just seems like an impossible task in my mind. They look so good and I love anything in a small bite! Can’t wait to try this recipe. Looks great Maria!
Dipping little bites of goodness in cheese is one of my favorite past times. Wow, these pretzel bites are calling my name.
I was just looking in our cabinets for pretzels last night! Love the Pretzel bits…you can dip more! LOL!
Oh these look too dangerous for me to make at home. Yum! I would eat them all in one sitting.
Yummy – I am totally making these this weekend! Our fmaily loves pretzels, and I am excited to make some homemade!
Yum! Question: how did you store them to retain the first day’s freshness? I made some pretzels recently that were delicious day 1, but they lost some of their perfect consistency after a night or two in a tupperware container… Thanks!
I’ve never made pretzels but those pretzel bites make me want to!
Gosh, these look amazing!
Leslie-the hubs got me new lights for Christmas so I can shoot at night:)
Jami-the kids ate them the day we made them. I would reheat them in the oven if you want to enjoy them the next day. Reheat and stir the sauce too.
Thanks everyone! These are fun to make and eat:)
ohhhhh….delicious….I have made pretzels before (were a favorite breakfast dish for my kids)…but bagel bites I have not made…yet…and just in time for superbowl sunday, too. Thanks for sharing.
Those look really yummy. I bet my girls would love them. I’m really tempted to make some this afternoon.
These look fabulous… I must try them soon…. I’m drooling!
Yummy
-Natasha
Those look great! The bites I might even get my five year olds to help me make, thanks!
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I want to snack on some of these! Looks great Maria!!
I just tried these and they were pretty good, but they tasted a lot like baking soda? Did I do something wrong or is it possible to cut out the baking soda?
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I just made these to take to a potluck lunch and I’m afraid there aren’t going to be any left for me to take in a moment! They are addicting! I brushed them with butter and skipped the cheese sauce, but I’m sure it’s yummy too!
Hi, I just tried the soft pretzel bites and they tasted like baking soda. Do you know what I did wrong? I thought I followed the recipe.
Thanks!
Ronda
twopeas replied: — July 12th, 2010 @ 2:07 pm
Hmm. Our pretzels have never tasted like baking soda. after you add the baking soda maybe wait a minute or two before adding in the pretzels. Sorry you had struggles.
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Oh these look yummy!!! Question though…do you think i could sub some whole wheat flour for some or all or the apf in this recipe?
Yummy! And what a great size to dip in chocolate, eh?
I made these cuties today and they taste AWESOME! I searched for recipes all day and came across this simple recipe. Thank you!
The first time i made these they tasted too much like baking soda, so the next batch i made, i just put a little bit of baking soda in the water and they tasted great and still soft!
Hi – was wondering if these freeze well? I wanted to make & then freeze to put in gift baskets for Thanksgiving.
Thanks – good recipe
twopeas replied: — November 7th, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
I have never froze the pretzels before. I am guessing they would be fine though. Let me know if you try it! Thanks!
YUM! And thanks for the recipe! Such a great idea to teach cooking classes to kids…that may be something I could do in my neighborhood! Do you charge?
This is a fantastic recipe. I tried it over the weekend and it turned out perfectly – with any recipe like this though, I am always careful to make sure not to overcook. My oven is a bit on the older side and that can lead me to problems if I don’t keep an eye on things!
wow, looks absolutely yum. I must try those pretzels gluten free. My kids would love them.
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Are you sure it shouldn’t be 3/4 TSP of baking soda, not cup?
twopeas replied: — December 30th, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
I am sure, you need a lot of baking soda to boil the pretzels. You don’t taste it, I promise:)
twopeas replied: — January 1st, 2011 @ 10:53 am
The baking soda goes in the boiling water, to boil the pretzels. I hope that is clear. Enjoy!
Leila Carmel replied: — February 5th, 2011 @ 3:28 pm
I definitely would agree…I used this recipe and the entire batch tastes (strongly) like baking soda!! They look great, but I can’t eat a single one. I was so bummed! Next time I will add much less and I’m sure they’ll turn out awesome
These look great!
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I just made these and having grown up eating Philly pretzels, I say, “yum”! For the people wondering about too much baking soda, I hope I don’t offend you when I ask if you are using the baking soda in the boiling water bath? Baking soda does not go in the water that the yeast is being dissolved in, only in the water that the pretzel dough will be dipped in for 30 seconds or so before baking. Mine did not taste at all like baking soda. I just hope my family doesn’t eat them all before our guests arrive!
twopeas replied: — January 1st, 2011 @ 10:50 am
Glad you liked the pretzels. The baking soda goes in the boiling water to boil pretzels!!! You are right!