The Best of 2011//Soft Pretzel Tots

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Hi Friends!

In the spirit of "Best of 2011," I give you this year's absolute *best* snack:  Soft Pretzel Tots.  I spotted this recipe over on Melanie's You Are My Fave blog and knew I needed to give it a try ASAP. (As an added bonus, she made cute bags to go with them.  Yummy snack + cute packaging = best treat ever!). 

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I have made this recipe several times, and it is, hands down, my family's favorite new snack.  Nothing lifts my status to "Super Mom" faster than when I whip up a batch of these tots.  Even John is crazy about them!  : )  It took me a good long while to find pretzel salt, but I finally scored some at The Wire Wisk.  (Do they have those all over, or are they just a Wisconsin thing?)

Soft Pretzel Tots

Recipe originally from: A Cozy Kitchen

1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for pan
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Pretzel salt or coarse Sea Salt

Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.
In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 4 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 22-inch rope. Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces; using your two hands, one-by-one, roll them into circles. Place the balls (or tots) onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

Place the pretzels tots into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel tot with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt (or coarse sea salt). Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Get ready to be "Super Mom," or "Super Wife," or just "Super!" 
XO,

Vicki