Pumpkin Shaped Soft Pretzel Bites
Pumpkin Shaped Soft Pretzel Bites
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
Toppings
pretzel salt
caraway seeds(optional)
Tools
pastry brush
board for rolling
parchment paper
kitchen scissors
slotted spoon
- 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
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.
bowl.Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for a
hour.
Preheat oven to 450F
- Forming the Pretzel Rolls/Balls
Roll the dough into a rectangle and using a knife or pizza cutter cut the dough into squares.
Using both hands, pull the dough together, form a ball from each square.
- Dipping dough in Baking Soda Solution
I didn’t take picture of this step but you can view a picture tutorial of how this is done here.
Simply bring 5 cups of water to boil, add 1/3 cup baking soda. Stir well until baking soda is dissolved.”Blanch” the pretzel rolls in the baking soda bath for 30 seconds. Remove from the solution onto a tray or bare baking sheet and continue with remaining rolls.
- Form a Pumpkin like Shape
Transfer pretzels onto a sheet lined with parchment paper, using Kitchen Shears, hold pretzel roll in your hand and using shears cut total of 8 cuts through the dough, all around, keeping the center of the roll intact.
Then using the wooden spoon handle press deeply into the center of the roll, leaving a small dimple.
- Brush and Sprinkle with Pretzel Salt
Whisk together egg yolk and water, strain. Brush sparingly tops of the pretzel pumpkins, sprinkle with pretzel salt.
- Bake Pretzles
Bake pretzels at 450F,for about 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.
- Add a Stem
Push a piece of a nut into the center, into the dimple, you can use pecans, peanuts or even store bought pretzel sticks would work for this.
