Prep time: 40 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups lukewarm water
  • 2¼ tsp. instant yeast
  •  1 Tb. brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tb. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 3¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • Coarse salt or sea salt
  • ½ cup baking soda
  • 9 cups water

Directions:

  • 1

    Mix warm water, yeast and sugar together in a large mixing bowl, or in your mixer bowl. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add salt, melted butter and 3 cups of flour. Beat slowly for 1 minute. Add ¾ cup of flour, and keep beating slowly until the dough comes together, pulling away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough is still sticking to the sides of the bowl after a while, add more flour and continue to beat. You can repeat this process until the dough comes together.

  • 2

    Knead the dough in your mixer or by hand on a floured surface for 2 minutes. Cover the dough with a towel and let it rest for 10 to 30 minutes.

  • 3

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Prep two baking sheets with parchment paper or your preferred non-stick method.

  • 4

    Use a knife or other kitchen blade to cut dough into 6 pieces. Sprinkle flour over a countertop you can work on. You want the flour to be very light, if you have too much it is harder to roll the dough. Roll each piece of dough into a 20-inch rope. Cut each rope into 1½ to 2-inch bite-size pieces.

  • 5

    Mix 9 cups of water and ½ cup of baking soda in a large pot, and bring to a boil. Place 8 to 10 pretzel bites in water for a brief 10 to 15 seconds. If you leave them in too long they may taste metallic. Take out pretzel bites and let them drip dry, then place them on prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with coarse salt or your preferred topping. (Cinnamon and sugar are both good choices too!)

  • 6

    Bake pretzel bites for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm! These go great with mustard or cheese sauce!