Soft Pretzel Bites

I am obsessed with snacks.  Sweet snacks, savory snacks, other people's snacks.  I can't keep my hands off snacks.  It is a compulsion that leads to early morning baking.  Behold: soft pretzel bites.

These babies are quick and easy.  Mix the dough at 6 am, take a shower, get dressed, roll them and bake them by 7:15, and you have pretzels for breakfast snack at 7:30 am.  Not too bad.  I like them plain with mustard or hummus.  Feeling indulgent?  Roll them in butter and cinnamon sugar.

I made a batch big enough to save some for later.  I freeze these in single serving bags for a quick fix for my snacking habit.

All you need is yeast, flour, a little vegetable oil, water, salt, baking soda, sugar, and a hungry belly.

I had this little pile for my first snack of the day.  All buttery and rolled in cinnamon and sugar.

You could roll them in garlic butter, dip them in your favorite party dip, or whip up some queso.

On the sweet side: scoop up some nutella, peanut butter, or honey.  

Want the recipe?  Of course you do.

INGREDIENTS:

yield: makes about 10 servings 

4 tsp. active dry yeast

1 tsp. white sugar

1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)

5 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1/2 cup baking soda

4 cups hot water

butter for brushing on top

1. In a small bowl, combine yeast, 1 tsp. sugar, and warm water and allow to bloom about 10 minutes while you measure the other ingredients.

2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt.  Make a well in the center, and the oil and yeast mixture.  Mix and form into a dough.  If the mixture is dry, add a tsp or two of water, if it is too wet, add a little flour.  Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 or 8 minutes.  Lightly oil or spray bowl, place dough in it, and cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  In a large bowl dissolve baking soda in hot water.  

4. When risen, take dough and divide into about 10 pieces.  Keep the pieces you aren't working with covered.  Roll each ball into a log and cut into bite sized pieces.  Dip them into the bowl of water and baking soda and line up on a sheet pan.

5.  Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.  

6. Brush with melted butter when they come out and top with salt or cinnamon sugar.  (or leave them plain, freeze them, and top them later.)  

These pretzel bites microwave well after being frozen and are the perfect snack for any time of day.