They boys devoured them. My big one even said, "Mom, thanks for the delicious meal!" My little one said, "Yeah Mom, they are really good send this for my lunch to school everyday."
Well, I don't think that's going to happen, but I'm glad they liked them anyway :)
Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites
1 cup warm milk (about 110 F)1 Tbsp brown sugar (honey, agave nectar, or granulated sugar)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp yeast
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, adjusted
2 cups finely chopped ham
2 cups shredded Mozzarella or favorite cheese
2 Tbsp water
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2-1 tsp baking soda
1 egg, beaten
kosher salt for sprinkling, optional
In a large bowl or in a Kitchen Aid mix together the milk, sugar, salt, and yeast. Stir until bubbles form and let ferment about 10-15 minutes. Gradually add in the flour a little at a time until you have a soft dough. Knead well. Depending on how soft you like your dough you may need to add a little more flour, I like my dough really soft.
Grease a large glass or plastic bowl and place the dough inside, turning once to coat. Cover and let rise for about 2 hours until bubbly and doubled.
Lightly flour your working surface and punch down the dough. Roll out to a 12x16" rectangle.
With a pizza cutter cut into 4 equal rectangles.
In each row place 1/2 cup of the ham and 1/2 cup of the cheese down the center.
Fold over 1/3 of the dough. Dip your finger or a pastry brush in water and brush along the other long end of the dough. Fold over and pinch to seal.
Roll the bundle over and shape into an even loaf. Cut into 1 inch pieces and place on a lightly greased sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper on a baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile preheat oven to 450 F. Boil 1/2 cup of water and add the baking soda stirring to dissolve. Use a pastry brush to coat each pretzel bite with the mixture. The original recipe calls to boil the pretzel bites before baking and if I were making regular pretzels I would have but I didn't want to loose all my filling in the water, this although not the authentic way to do it, worked great for me.
Then use the pastry brush to give each pretzel bite an egg wash with the beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with kosher or pretzel salt if desired. Bake for about 10-14 minutes until beautiful golden brown.
Enjoy! Oh, and be prepared for the mad dash to the kitchen and the disappearing food!
Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites
1 cup warm milk (about 110 F)1 Tbsp brown sugar (honey, agave nectar, or granulated sugar)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp yeast
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, adjusted
2 cups finely chopped ham
2 cups shredded Mozzarella or favorite cheese
2 Tbsp water
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2-1 tsp baking soda
1 egg, beaten
kosher salt for sprinkling, optional
In a large bowl or in a Kitchen Aid mix together the milk, sugar, salt, and yeast. Stir until bubbles form and let ferment about 10-15 minutes. Gradually add in the flour a little at a time until you have a soft dough. Knead well. Depending on how soft you like your dough you may need to add a little more flour, I like my dough really soft.
Grease a large glass or plastic bowl and place the dough inside, turning once to coat. Cover and let rise for about 2 hours until bubbly and doubled.
Lightly flour your working surface and punch down the dough. Roll out to a 12x16" rectangle. With a pizza cutter cut into 4 equal rectangles. In each row place 1/2 cup of the ham and 1/2 cup of the cheese down the center. Fold over 1/3 of the dough. Dip your finger or a pastry brush in water and brush along the other long end of the dough. Fold over and pinch to seal. Roll the bundle over and shape into an even loaf. Cut into 1 inch pieces and place on a lightly greased sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper on a baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile preheat oven to 450 F. Boil 1/2 cup of water and add the baking soda stirring to dissolve. Use a pastry brush to coat each pretzel bite with the mixture. Then use the pastry brush to give each pretzel bite an egg wash with the beaten egg. Bake for about 10-14 minutes until beautiful golden brown.
Pinterest Inspiration. Thank you for the wonderful idea:
http://www.pipandebby.com/pip-ebby/2012/2/27/ham-cheese-pretzel-bites.html
