I love soft pretzels especially from Disney. We had a Disney themed party so I decided to pair up some Currywurst with some pretzel bites. At first I thought this recipe would be tricky and challenging but it turned out to be very easy to make. My kid also enjoyed helping me and loved rolling out the balls for the face and ears.

Mix 1 1/2 cup warm water with 1 tbsp sugar and 2 1/4 tsp yeast. Let this sit for about 5 minutes. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl (3 3/4 cup flour and 1 teaspoon salt). Add 1 tbsp melted butter. Mix the yeast, water and dry ingredients together to make a dough. Knead dough for 10 minutes. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.

The dough is ready when you poke your finger and the dough bounces back. Cover dough with a damp cloth and let it rise for 10-30 minutes. While the dough is resting prepare the baking soda water. Add 1/2 cup baking soda with 9 cups water.

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line baking trays with parchment paper. After the dough has rested, cut the dough using a knife. Pinch 1 inch sized balls from the dough. These will be the faces. Continue to make 1 inch sized balls and cut those in half. These will be the ears.

Carefully pinch the ears and face together. When the dough is ready to be boiled, carefully place it into the baking soda bath. Let it boil for 10 min. Don’t over boil or the pretzels become too bitter. Place the boiled dough onto the parchment paper and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake pretzels for about 15 minutes. Remove and place on a cooling rack.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 tsp yeast (or one package)
• 1 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 3 3/4 cup flour, additional for kneading
• Course salt for topping pretzels

Baking soda bath

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 9 cups water

Directions

1. Mix 1 1/2 cup warm water with 1 tbsp sugar and 2 1/4 tsp yeast. Let this sit for about 5 minutes.
2. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl (3 3/4 cup flour and 1 teaspoon salt). Add 1 tbsp melted butter.
3. Mix the yeast, water and dry ingredients together to make a dough. Knead dough for 10 minutes. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
4. The dough is ready when you poke your finger and the dough bounces back. Cover dough with a damp cloth and let it rise for 10-30 minutes.
5. While the dough is resting prepare the baking soda water. Add 1/2 cup baking soda with 9 cups water.
6. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line baking trays with parchment paper.
7. After the dough has rested, cut the dough using a knife. Pinch 1 inch sized balls from the dough. These will be the faces. Continue to make 1 inch sized balls and cut those in half. These will be the ears.
8. Carefully pinch the ears and face together. When the dough is ready to be boiled, carefully place it into the baking soda bath. Let it boil for 10 min. Don’t over boil or the pretzels become too bitter. Place the boiled dough onto the parchment paper and sprinkle with coarse salt.
9. Bake pretzels for about 15 minutes. Remove and place on a cooling rack.

Enjoy warm! These bites can be stored in airtight containers for 2-3 days.