Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

…fluffy, chewy and sweet

Need a fairly quick snack to use up your sourdough discard? This recipe is for YOU!

Equipment

• Mixing bowl

• Dough hook

• Measuring cups

• Metal slotted spoon or frying skimmer

For the dough

• 200 grams of Sourdough discard (cold, or straight out of the jar)

• 1 cup of hot water (around 100F)

• 1 packet instant dry yeast

• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar

• 4 cups of all purpose flour

For the cinnamon sugar topping

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1.5 tbsp ground cinnamon

• 3 tbsp butter

Other ingredients

• 8 cups of water (to boil the pretzels in)

• 1/2 cup of baking soda - mix with the 8 cups of water

• 1 egg for brushing

• Cinnamon sugar (for dusting)

• Melted butter

How to create the perfect doughy pretzel bites with just a few ingredients

• First, mix in your 200 grams of sourdough discard with 1 cup of hot water. If your discard is room temperature, you can use 1 cup of warm water. I just find the hot water activates the sourdough discard faster if kept in the fridge.

• Next, add in your one packet of dry instant yeast and brown sugar, let the mixture sit for about five minutes. You can stir or leave as is.

• The brown sugar really helps activate the yeast and discard

• Start your mixer on the lowest setting and start to add in your flour one cup at a time.

• The dough will get very tough after all the flour and that is okay! Mix until completely combined and no longer sticky to the touch.

• Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp warm towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size - about 1 to 2 hours

• After your dough has risen, punch a hole in the middle to let the air escape and place dough on a floured surface

• Next, grab a large pot and place 8 cups of water along with 1/2 cup of baking soda and mix together

• Place pot on stove and let it get to a rolling boil

• As your water is heating up, roll your dough out into 24 inch ropes and cut each rope about 1 inch wide or whatever desired size you prefer.

• Once your water has reached a rolling boil, place about 10 pretzel bites in the pot so to not overcrowd them - they should float to the top

• Let them boil for 30 seconds and flip them to the other side

• Boil for another 30 seconds and then lay out on a lined cookie sheet while making the rest of the batch

• Once you’ve finished placing all the pretzels in the baking soda bath, brush each one with egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbsp of water)

• Place tray in oven at 450F for 20 minutes until golden brown

• While the pretzel bites are baking, start on your cinnamon sugar mixture.

• I really like a very cinnamon-y flavor so I use quite a bit of cinnamon, but you can add or reduce as needed.

• Mix together white sugar with cinnamon and set aside

• Melt 3 tablespoons of butter until fully melted

• Pull out pretzel bites and toss together in a large bowl with cinnamon sugar and butter

• Enjoy!