Description
Warm German-inspired pretzel bites bring comfort and deliciousness to snack time. Salty, golden-brown nuggets deliver bakery-style goodness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110F/45C)
- 4 cups water
Leavening and Sweetening:
- 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Finishing Ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup baking soda
- Coarse salt (pretzel salt or sea salt)
Instructions
- Awaken the yeast’s potential by whisking warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar in a spacious mixing vessel. Allow the mixture to rest and transform for 5 minutes until a frothy landscape emerges.
- Incorporate salt, luxurious melted butter, and flour gradually, blending with precision. Knead the developing dough vigorously for 5-7 minutes, coaxing it into a silky, elastic texture.
- Transfer the dough to a generously greased receptacle, envelop it tenderly, and permit rising in a tranquil environment for approximately one hour until it dramatically expands.
- Heat the culinary workspace to 425F (220C) and prepare a parchment-lined baking surface.
- Deflate the risen dough with a gentle punch, then partition into four distinctive segments. Elongate each section into slender ropes approximately one-inch in diameter.
- Slice the ropes into bite-sized morsels, creating uniform one-inch segments.
- Create a transformative baking soda bath by bringing water to a gentle simmer and dissolving baking soda. Immerse pretzel bites in successive batches, allowing them to bathe for 15-20 seconds.
- Extract the treated morsels using a perforated utensil and arrange methodically on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lavish the pretzel bites with a sprinkle of coarse salt, then dispatch into the heated oven.
- Bake until a radiant golden-brown complexion develops, approximately 12-15 minutes.
- Immediately anoint the freshly baked bites with a luxurious coating of melted butter, elevating their flavor profile.
- Present these delectable morsels alongside complementary companions like cheese sauce, robust mustard, or honeyed butter.
Notes
- Ensure water temperature is precisely between 100-110°F for perfect yeast activation, avoiding killing the yeast or preventing proper rising.
- Use bread flour for chewier texture, creating more authentic pretzel-like consistency compared to all-purpose flour.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend, adding xanthan gum for better binding and structure.
- Experiment with savory toppings like everything bagel seasoning, garlic powder, or parmesan cheese to elevate flavor profile and customize taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg