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Pretzel Bites

Reggie Dwork <reggie@jeff-and-reggie.com>
Sun, 06 May 2018 22:40:14 -0700
v118.n016.9
* Exported from MasterCook *

                               Pretzel Bites

Recipe By     :Yekaterina Boytsova
Serving Size  : 8     Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Low Fat                         Posted
                 Snacks

   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2        tablespoons  unsalted butter -- cut into pieces, room 
temp, plus more for greasing
      1/4         ounce  active dry yeast -- (2 1/4 teaspoons)
   1         tablespoon  dark brown sugar
   3 1/4           cups  unbleached bread flour -- or more
      1/2           cup  cold pilsner-style beer
   2          teaspoons  kosher salt
      1/4           cup  baking soda
                         Vegetable oil -- (for greasing)
   1              large  egg
                         Coarse kosher salt -- pretzel salt, 
everything seasoning, paprika, caraway seeds, and/or poppy seeds (for topping)

These pretzel nubbins are crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy 
on the inside. Instead of using lye, which can be hard to find and 
work with, we achieved the deep mahogany color by boiling them in a 
baking soda bath.

Grease a very large bowl with butter. Pour 1/2 cup warm water 
(100-115F) into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle yeast over. Add 
brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Let sit until foamy, 5-7 minutes.

Stir in bread flour, beer, kosher salt, and remaining 2 Tbsp. butter 
with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Mix with 
dough hook on medium-low speed until dough forms into a smooth ball, 
about 2 minutes. (You might need to help dough form into a ball by 
scraping up some flour from bottom of bowl with your hands.) Dough 
should be firm and might be a little tacky, but not sticky. If dough 
is still sticky, add flour 1 Tbsp. at a time, mixing until smooth. If 
dough is too dry, add warm water 1 tsp. at a time. Continue to mix on 
medium-low speed until dough is smooth and elastic, 5-7 minutes. 
(Alternatively, mix dough ingredients in a large bowl, then turn out 
onto a clean work surface and knead by hand, about 10 minutes.)

Transfer dough to prepared bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. 
Let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.

Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 500F. Turn 
out dough onto a clean work surface and punch down to deflate. Divide 
into 8 equal pieces (if you have a kitchen scale, weigh the dough 
before cutting, then divide by weight; otherwise, eyeball it). 
Working with 1 piece at a time and keeping remaining dough covered 
with a damp kitchen towel, shape dough into a rope about 12" long and 
3/4" in diameter, applying light pressure with your palms and working 
from center of dough out to the ends. If you need more friction, 
lightly spray work surface with water.

Cut rope into 8 pieces about 1 1/2" long. Arrange on 2 rimmed baking 
sheets, spacing 1/2" apart. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough. 
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until 
increased in size by about half, 20-30 minutes.

While dough pieces are going through second rise, bring 8 cups water 
to a boil in a large pot. Carefully add baking soda, which will 
bubble violently.

Using a large spider and working in 2 batches, gently dip dough 
pieces into boiling solution. Cook, turning, until pieces are fully 
coated, about 20 seconds. Using spider, remove from liquid and drain 
on paper towels. Divide between 2 lightly oiled rimmed baking sheets, 
spacing at least 1" apart.

Beat egg with 1 Tbsp. water in a small bowl, then brush dough pieces 
with egg wash. Sprinkle with toppings. Bake pretzels, rotating sheets 
from front to back and top to bottom halfway through, until deep 
brown in color, 8-12 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Serve pretzel bites with cheese dip and/or mustard alongside.

Do Ahead: Pretzel dough before rises can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in 
plastic and chill. Let come to room temperature, then let rise in a 
warm place until doubled in volume, 3-4 hours.

S(Internet address):
   "<https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pretzel-bites>"
Yield:
   "64 "
                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 251 Calories; 4g Fat (16.5% 
calories from fat); 8g Protein; 43g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary 
Fiber; 34mg Cholesterol; 2370mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 2 1/2 
Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES : 2018 - 0307