Yeast Dough
1 1/2 cup warm water
1tsp honey
1package dry yeast
2 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 cup bread flour
1tbl kosher salt
6tbl melted butter
Baking Soda Solution
5cups water
1/3cup baking soda
Egg Wash for brushing
egg yolk
1tbl water
olive oil to coat the bowl
Make the Dough
Pour warm water into the bowl of your mixer, add honey and stir in
yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes, until foamy. Make sure you use warm
water, not hot. Hot water will kill the yeast
Add 2 cups of all purpose flour, 2 cups of bread flour, melted butter
and salt into the bowl with yeast and knead , using a dough hook
attachment. If dough is too sticky add additional 1/2 cup of bread
flour. This dough when kneaded is somewhat on a dense side. Knead for 5
minutes, or until the dough comes into a smooth ball.
Lightly coat a large bowl with the oil and put the dough into the
bowl.Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for a
hour.
Preheat oven to 450F
Forming the Pretzel Bites
Invert the dough onto a clean work surface(DO NOT USE ADDITIONAL FLOUR),
cut dough into 6-8 sections and using palms of your hands roll the
dough and form long ropes.
Using a pizza cutter or a knife cut the ropes into small pieces.
Dipping in Baking Soda Solution
(don't skip this step, I've tried it without and pretzels were not as good. Baking soda is the agent that will make your Pretzels turn into that nicely brown/golden color)
(don't skip this step, I've tried it without and pretzels were not as good. Baking soda is the agent that will make your Pretzels turn into that nicely brown/golden color)
Make the egg wash : mix together water and egg yolk, set aside
Have pastry brush, slotted spoon, pretzel salt, kitchen scissors, and baking sheet ready
Bring 5 cups of water to boil, add 1/3 cup baking soda.
Put about 5 pieces of pretzel dough into the simmering solution and let
cook for 30 seconds. Remove pieces with slotted spoon and place them on
baking sheet, continue with remaining dough.
Once done, brush each piece with egg wash, sprinkle with salt and using
scissor cut + into the each pretzel piece. Gently transfer pieces onto a
clean baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 9-10 minutes or
until golden brown on the outside.
Once you take them out of the oven, transfer baked Pretzel Bites onto a
cooling rack, though I can guarantee you will be very much tempted to
eat one straight from the oven, I recommend letting them cool for just a
few minutes.
