Peanut butter-filled pretzels are a classic and craveable snack that can be hard to put down once you've popped a few in your mouth.
To round out National Snack Food Month, "GMA" got a recipe for an upgraded homemade version that swaps the crunchy exterior for a warm, soft, freshly baked pretzel dough.
These pretzel bites are a perfect salty, sweet snack and can be made with a variety of other fillings.
MORE: Back to basics: 5 pans every home cook needs and how to use themPrep Time: 20 minutes Bake Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 2 hours Makes: 8 dozen bites
Ingredients 1 1/2 cups warm water
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups flour
Vegetable oil
1 cup Justin's Nut Butter, or your preferred type/flavor
3 quarts water
1/2 cup baking soda
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse salt
Directions
In a bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm water, butter, sugar and yeast. Mix with the dough hook until combined. Let rest 5 minutes.
Add salt and 4½ cups flour. Mix on low speed until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet and sticky, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Move dough to a flat surface and knead into a ball with hands.
Place dough in a large bowl coated with vegetable oil and turn to coat. Cover with a damp towel and place in a warm spot for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
Meanwhile, drop 1/2 teaspoon-sized balls of nut butter on wax paper and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Heat oven to 425°F. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat. Add baking soda.
Remove dough from bowl and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 2-foot long rope. Cut the dough into 2-inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Place frozen nut butter balls in each dough piece and roll the dough around nut butter. Freeze 5 minutes.
Boil 10 to 15 pretzel bites at a time in the water solution for about 30 seconds each. Remove with a large slotted spoon and place pretzel bites on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray 2 inches apart. Brush tops with egg wash. Season liberally with salt. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.
Recipe reprinted courtesy of Justin's and Hormel Foods Corp.