Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

Directions

• In the bowl of your stand mixer add warm water and sprinkle yeast on top. Gently stir together and let yeast dissolve and start to foam for 10 minutes.
• Once dissolved, add in softened butter, brown sugar, salt, and 2 cups of flour. Using a dough hook, mix on medium low until dough starts coming together.
• Add in remaining flour and mix until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is no longer sticky.
• Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp towel and let rise for 20 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Punch the dough down a couple of times to remove any air pockets. Divide dough into 8 equal parts.
• Using the palm and the heel of your hand, roll each piece of dough into a 12″ long rope. DO NOT FLOUR YOUR SURFACE! This will prevent the stretch of your dough.
• Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut 1″ pieces out of your ropes.
• Grease baking sheets with oil or line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Preheat oven to 400F
• Par boil pretzel bites. Bring a large pot of water to boil and add baking soda. The baking soda bath gives pretzels their signature chewy crust. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
• Drop pretzel bites into baking soda bath in batches and leave for 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, remove pretzel bites and place on greased baking sheets.
• Bake pretzel bites in the oven until golden brown. Remove bites and let cool for 10 minutes, and brush with melted butter.
• Immediately place buttered pretzel bites into cinnamon sugar mixture and coat well.
• Serve pretzel bites with cream cheese dipping sauce.
• Cream Cheese Dipping Sauce
• Combine softened cream cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl and mix together with a hand mixer until smooth.