Auntie Anne’s copycat 🤫

If you're a fan of Auntie Anne's famous pretzel bites, you'll love this easy copycat recipe that allows you to recreate those delicious bites in your own kitchen. Made with simple ingredients like warm water, sugar, active dry yeast, unsalted butter, and all-purpose flour, these pretzel bites are both fun to make and delicious to eat. To start, combine 1 1/2 cups of warm water with 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar and one packet of active dry yeast in a mixing bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes to activate the yeast. Once bubbly, mix in 3 ounces of melted butter and 2 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt. Gradually add 5 cups of all-purpose flour until a smooth dough forms. Knead it on a flat surface, then place it in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rest for about an hour. While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare a large pot of boiling water with 1/3 cup of baking soda added for that signature pretzel flavor and texture. After the dough has doubled in size, divide it into pieces, roll them into ropes, and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Boil the pretzel bites for 30 seconds in the water, then transfer them to a baking sheet. Brush each piece with an egg wash made of a beaten egg and one tablespoon of cold water for that beautiful golden finish, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt before baking. Bake your pretzel bites for about 12-15 minutes, until they're golden brown and irresistible! Enjoy these warm pretzel bites with cheese sauce or your favorite dips, perfect for any occasion.