While strolling through the traffic at the busy mall you are tired, your baby has been crying the whole time and your toddler has been getting into EVERYTHING at every store you've been to. Unfortunately, you have yet to find the one item you came for after an hour and a half, yet you have managed to buy many other things you didn't plan on--also not good! You're walking along and suddenly a smell stops you in your tracks. Must…Find…Yummy…Smell! You look up to see this sign:

Oh yeah, you know what I'm talking about…pretzels!! Why yes, I will pay almost $4 to inhale a couple of these pretzel bites in two minutes, don't mind if I do! While this is not my experience every time I go to the mall, that has happened to me a couple times and I do give in and buy these pretzels. But why not make these at home? Wouldn't these make the perfect football watching snack? Or perhaps an appetizer for a party.

The key to making these taste so "pretzely" is for the dough to take a quick dunk in a boiling bath of water and baking soda before popping them in the oven. This is what gives them that hard outer crust, yet they are still soft in the middle like they are at the mall.

And once these babies are out of the oven, there are a variety of sauces you can use to dip them in. Here are four ideas for you to try:

• Cheese sauce, which is what is traditionally paired with pretzels, for good reason!
• A nice marinara sauce
• A delicious fancy mustard
• And dipping chocolate for that sweet and salty mix we all know and love

If you want sweet pretzel bites try dipping them in salted butter and then coat them in cinnamon sugar. It hits the spot perfectly! But fair warning, you pretty much have to eat these right away if you are going to dunk them in butter or they will start to get soggy pretty fast. This never seems to be a problem for me and my guests though! :) Here are some ideas for dipping sauces for the cinnamon sugar version:

• Chocolate sauce, nutella, caramel, honey butter, cinnamon butter, cream cheese frosting! The list goes on and on!!

I hope you enjoy this perfect sweet or savory snack that hits the spot every time!

Easy Homemade Pretzel Bites

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 packet active yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 11/2 tsp salt
• 1 TB sugar
• 4 cups of flour
• 3/4 cup baking soda
• 1 egg (whisked)
• Coarse salt (kosher or sea salt)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a small bowl add warm water and yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes. Add salt and sugar and stir.
3. In a large bowl add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with bread hook in your mixer or by hand for approximately 5 minutes.
4. Separate dough into 6-8 sections. Roll dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Cut with scissors into 11/2 - 2 inch pieces. Then cut a "t" or "x" on the top of the pretzel with scissors.
5. In a large pan bring 3 quarts of water + 3/4 cup baking soda to a boil. Once water is boiling place about 8 pieces of dough into the water for about 30 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon and place pretzel bites onto baking sheet. Brush dough lightly with egg and sprinkle salt on top.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. You can turn the oven to broil for the last minute to brown the tops. Remove pretzel bites to a cooling rack and brush tops with melted butter. Enjoy with your choice of dipping sauce(s).

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