Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzel Bites
I remember when I was in middle school, the coolest thing to do on the weekend was hang out at the mall. Every Saturday morning I’d sit in earnest waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for the magic words: “Do you want to go the mall?”
It was like passing an instant popularity contest, only it had nothing to do with the actual middle school popularity hierarchy. By the mere act of being at the mall, you were cool.
I have no idea why. It’s not as if we shopped, or even went in the stores. I guess we hung out at the food court, because the only thing I clearly remember was the smell of the notorious Auntie Anne’s soft pretzels. Sometimes it was Wetzel’s Pretzels, but regardless, the aroma of those soft pretzels was unmistakable. And whether you were hungry or not, you immediately had to have a pretzel or life wouldn’t be complete.
I always went for the soft pretzel drenched in a thick cinnamon sugar coating. Totally worth all my babysitting money. You know, all $1.52.
But now that I’m all growned-up, [and hanging out at the mall is no longer cool…or fun, since I have no babysitting money] I can take that $1.52 and make my own pretzels.*
And make my own pretzels I did. 🙂
I was originally brainstorming some new snacks for Sunday-funday-football munchies, but these homemade soft pretzels turned out way too good to be saved for football. I may or may not have eaten half the batch immediately out of the oven.
Soft Pretzel Making
Did you know pretzels and bagels are made almost the same way? I was thinking about trying bagels but thought pretzels might be an easier way to start. Especially pretzel bites– no dough-contorting needed!
It was easier than I thought: just flour, yeast, milk/water, and sugar! And baking soda for some magic baking tricks.
First do the yeast thing- mix the yeast in warm water with a pinch of the sugar and let it sit while you get the other ingredients together.
Mix the flour, milk, and remaining brown sugar, then add the yeast mixture. Stir or mix until combined. It might take a little longer than you’d like for it to come together. If you give it a good effort and it still doesn’t form dough, add a little bit of water at a time. (I only needed a tablespoon of extra water and it instantly transformed.)
Knead the dough a few times before putting it in a greased bowl. Set the dough aside in a warm place to let it rise. You probably only need an hour, but I got distracted and let it sit for 2, which worked out great.
Pull the dough out and knead a few more times to squish out extra air. Divide into four sections to make life easier.
Roll each section into a long strand.
Channel your inner child and pretend it’s Play-Dough. (Also pretend your mother didn’t tell you not to play with your food.) It might be harder than it looks. Mine kept bouncing back into inch worms instead of snakes.
Cut the strips into bite-sized pieces.
Let’s Get Cooking
Bring 6-8 cups of water to a boil, then stir in baking soda (That part’s fun- it bubbles!). Turn the heat down so you get something between a simmer and a rolling boil. A rolling simmer, perhaps?
Working a few pieces at a time, drop the dough bites into the water. Turn once or twice, boiling for about 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon or strainer, remove pretzel bites from water and onto greased or lined baking sheet.
Repeat for remaining dough bites. (Why baking soda? It helps give the pretzels their signature slightly crunchy outside and soft doughy inside.)
It’s completely optional, but if you want you can add an egg wash (or cornstarch + water or almond milk to keep it vegan) for a little bit of a shinier and crispier outside. I did half and half, and I think I liked the egg-washed ones better, but I could be completely delusional & making that up.
If you want to add salt, now would be the time to do it so it sticks.
Bake ‘Em Up
Bake at 425 for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
For cinnamon sugar pretzel bites:
While pretzels are still warm, dip pretzel bites in melted butter + milk, then roll in a cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Place on cooling rack to finish cooling. I won’t lie to you though- they taste really stinking good warm. Especially the cinnamon sugar ones.
The husband kept saying, “Wow, they taste like pretzels.” Thanks for the confidence husband. (But he was right- they did.)
We immediately instituted Pretzel Tiiiiime. (You have to say it like Jersey Shore T-shirt tiiiiime or it’s not as fun.)
Salted pretzels with mustard for him, cinnamon sugar for me.
The Recipe:
Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 packet yeast
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 T brown sugar
- 6-8 cups water + 4 T baking soda
For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 3 T granulated sugar
- 1/2 T cinnamon
- 1 T non-dairy (or regular) margarine, melted
- 1 T almond milk
Instructions
Mix the yeast in warm water with a pinch of the brown sugar. Set aside.
Combine the flour, milk, and remaining brown sugar.
Stir in the yeast mixture.
Mix until combined.
Knead dough gently, then place in greased bowl. Cover and set in warm place.Let dough rise for 1-2 hours.
After dough has risen, place on counter and punch down dough. Divide dough into 4 sections.
Roll each section into a long strand.
Cut the strips into bite sized pieces.
Bring 6-8 cups of water to a boil, then stir in baking soda. Turn heat down to a rolling boil.
Drop a few dough bites into the water at a time. Turn once or twice, boiling for 30 seconds. Remove pretzel bites with slotted spoon and place on greased baking sheet.
Bake pretzels at 425 degrees for 10 minutes or lightly browned.
Dip pretzel bites in melted butter & milk, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.
Do you have fond teenage mall memories like me or was it just a MD thing? Or me thing…. And what’s your favorite pretzel? I seem to remember a parmesan one…hmmm…
*I have no idea if they cost $1.52. I’m sure it’s cheap though, it barely takes anything. But that doesn’t make as good of a story now, does it?
