Ham Cheese Pretzel Bites Recipes

HAM & CHEESE PRETZEL BITES

Steps:

• Combine milk and brown sugar in a bowl and stir til sugar is dissolved.
• Add flour and .25 oz instant dry yeast.
• Stir until a soft dough forms. Add more flour as needed (up to 1/2 cup).
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead a few times, forming a smooth ball.
• Brush the inside of a large clean bowl with olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Alow it to rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 2 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size and bubbles appear on the surface.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide it into 4 equal pieces. Lightly dust a rolling pin with flour and roll each piece of dough into roughly a 12x4-inch rectangle.
• With the long sides facing you, place the ham topped by the cheese onto the bottom third of each piece of dough.
• Starting with the long edge with ham and cheese, roll tightly into logs.
• Cut each roll into 12 pieces.
• Transfer to a silpat (parchment) lined sheet and let them rest for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add 4 teaspoons of baking soda to the boiling water and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
• Boil the pretzels in batches, cooking for about 20 seconds each and turning once. If you are having casualties, pinch the ends closed just a little.
• They should look slightly puffed when they are done. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them back to the baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until they are puffed and golden, about 15 minutes.
• Brush with 4 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons of coarse kosher salt.
• Best served warm. Or enjoy room temperature.
• Consider a mustardy dipping sauce.
• ONLY active time is estimated.

COUNTRY HAM AND CHEDDAR PRETZEL BITES WITH JALAPEñO MUSTARD

Steps:

• Stir together yeast, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and warm water in a large bowl and let stand until foamy, 5 to 8 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, start over with new yeast.) In a separate bowl, stir remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar into warm milk until dissolved.
• Add 2 1/2 cups flour and milk mixture to yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a soft dough forms, adding up to 1/2 cup additional flour, a little at a time, if necessary. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead a few times to form a smooth ball. Transfer to a clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled and bubbles appear on surface, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in upper and lower thirds. Line two 4-sided sheet pans with parchment paper.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 4 equal pieces. Lightly dust your hands with flour, then gently roll and stretch 1 piece of dough to form a 12-inch-long rope. Flatten dough and arrange so a long side is nearest you, then roll out to a roughly 12- by 4-inch rectangle with a lightly floured rolling pin. Gently press one fourth of ham and cheese into lower third of rectangle, leaving a 1/2-inch border along bottom edge. Stretch bottom edge of dough up over filling and press tightly to seal, then roll up as tightly as possible to form a rope. Cut rope into 12 pieces and transfer to a sheet pan. Make 3 more ropes with remaining dough, ham, and cheese and cut into pieces, transferring to sheet pans. Let rest at room temperature, uncovered, 30 minutes (dough will rise slightly).
• Bring water (6 cups) to a boil in a 4-to 5-quart saucepan. Reduce heat and stir in baking soda. Cook pretzel bites in batches in gently simmering water, turning once, until slightly puffed, about 20 seconds. Transfer with a slotted spoon to sheet pans.
• Bake until puffed and golden-brown, about 15 minutes (cheese may ooze slightly).
• Meanwhile, stir together mustard, jalapeños, and honey.
• Brush warm pretzel bites with butter and sprinkle with pretzel salt. Serve warm or at room temperature with jalapeño mustard for dipping.