Pretzel Bites with Cheese Dip

The Super Bowl is next weekend, which means it's time to sit on our butts for 6 hours straight and eat delicious food that will make us feel like shit the next day. Super Bowl Sunday is kind of like Thanksgiving for me. There's no holding back with what I consume. To be completely honest with everyone, I go to Super Bowl parties mainly for the food. I'll even show up early to claim my spot on the couch in front of all the food. We usually go to my mom's house because she's the most amazing cook ever and the food literally comes out in courses. There's a new thing on the table every quarter. Oh, I cant forget about the commercials. That's the second reason I watch the Super Bowl. 

My family always requests these pretzel bites with homemade cheese dip, which makes me feel like i'm doing my part in contributing to the awesome spread my mom makes. They are surprisingly very easy to make and are best served hot right out of the oven. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups warm water, 110 degrees F
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 1/4 (1 package) active dry yeast
• 4-4 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

FOR BOILING AND BAKING

• 10 cups water
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp water
• Sea Salt for sprinkling

CHEESE DIP

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 1 can (4.5 oz) diced green chile
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast in your stand mixer bowl and let sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam

2. Add in your melted butter, salt, and 4 cups flour. With your hook attachment, mix on low until the dough forms into a ball. Mix for another 5 minutes on medium speed

3. Place your dough in a large greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm part of your kitchen until the dough has doubled in size. This takes about 1 hour.

4. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line 2 half sheet pans with parchment paper and brush with vegetable oil. Put aside.

5. Bring the 10 cups of water to a boil and then pour your baking soda in the boiling water

6. Meanwhile, divide your dough into 8 equal pieces and using your fingers, form the dough piece into a long rectangle. Cut the dough into a rope and roll the dough into 12 inches long

7. Cut each rope into 8 equal pieces and lay onto your oiled parchment paper. Once you have cut up all your dough, slip 10 pretzel bites at a time into the boiling water and cook for 20 seconds. 

8. Remove from the water using a large flat spatula and return the pretzel bites onto your parchment paper. Repeat with all the dough.

9. Brush the top of each pretzel bite with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 10 minutes or until they are a dark golden brown. Let the pretzel bites cool for 5 minutes before serving

10. While the pretzels are cooling, make the cheese dip

11. In a small sauce pan, melt your butter and then add in your flour. Let the flour cook off on low heat for about 1 minute.

12. Slowly add in the milk with one hand while you continue whisking with the other. Increase the heat to medium and keep whisking until your milk thickens.

13. Add in your cheese, green chile, and cayenne pepper. Mix until all the cheese melts. 

14. Dip your pretzel bites into the sauce and enjoy!