You will not be able to resist these billowy soft, homemade pretzel bites paired perfectly with a warm cheese dip! They make a great after school snack or appetizer and are always a huge hit in our house and disappear in minutes! 

Before kids, I loved walking through the mall with my shopping bags in one hand and a big container of Auntie Anne’s pretzel bites in the other hand. 😉 And you can’t forget the cheese dip! But those days are behind us because 1. I rarely ever go to a mall, maybe once a year. 2. If I buy said pretzel bites, my boys devour them too quickly for me to enjoy. 3. Our closest Auntie Anne’s is a mere 4 hr drive so I had to get creative and make my own.

It’s surprisingly easy and the end result is phenomenal!! They do involve a bit of work but they are definitely worth it. They are so, so good and my boys constantly request them for an after school snack. This recipe makes an abundance of these lil bites which makes them perfect to serve for game days, holidays, or parties where you’re serving a crowd. So don’t be intimidated by this recipe! It’s a lot easier than it sounds.

Your self control won’t stand a chance with these pretzel bites! 😉 Don’t say I didn’t warn yah! Serve them with your favorite cheese sauce, queso, whole grain mustard or honey mustard.

Enjoy, friends! Bon appetit!

Yield: 10-12 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cup warm milk (110F-115F)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 4 tablespoons melted butter, unsalted 
• 2 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
•  4 1/2 – 5 cups all purpose flour 
• 10 cups water 
• 1/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg – beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• Kosher salt; for sprinkling

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start yeast: add warm milk, sugar, yeast and melted butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with a fork until combined. Let sit for 5-10 minutes for the yeast to activate. (It should look all foamy on top after being activated.)
2. Make the dough: Add the salt and flour to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until it’s combined. Increase speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough and smooth, about 4 minutes. Add a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead it into a ball, and place it in a lightly-oiled bowl. 
3. Let the dough rest: Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rest in a warm place until it’s doubled in size, 30-60 minutes.
4. Heat the oven: Preheat the oven to 425F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside. 
5. Baking soda solution: Add 10 cups water and ⅓ cup baking soda to a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 
6. Making the pretzel bites: Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat, lightly oiled, surface. Knead the dough 3-4 times, then divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll out each piece into ¾ inch wide logs. Using a knife, cut the logs into 1 inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. 
7. Baking soda bath: Boil the pretzel bites in the water bath in batches. Very carefully, use a large slotted spoon to transfer the bites into the boiling water and boil for 30 seconds. I do about 12-15 bites at a time. Remove the bites with the slotted spoon and place them on the parchment lined/silpat pans, and repeat with the remaining pretzel bites. Make sure none of them are touching.
8. Egg wash: Using a pastry brush, very lightly brush the tops of the pretzel bites with the egg wash and liberally sprinkle with kosher salt over top.
9. Bake: Bake the pretzel bites to your preferred level of golden brown color, 12-14 minutes. 
10. Serve warm: These bites are best served warm right out of the oven! So serve em’ up warm and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.

RECIPE NOTES

• There is a 1/3 cup baking soda needed for this recipe but the baking soda doesn’t go in the pretzels. It’s just for boiling the pretzels in water. Make sure you add the baking soda VERY slowly because it will bubble up rather quickly! 
• For a sweeter version, bake the homemade pretzels without salt. As soon as they come out of the oven, roll them in melted butter and then roll the tops and sides in cinnamon sugar (1/2 cup granulated sugar combined with 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon). Serve warm. 
• If you prefer your pretzel bites to taste a little buttery, brush them with melted butter right before serving.