Recipe: Pretzel Rolls & Bread Bowls

During our snow day this week, I decided to make bread bowls for our homemade broccoli & cheese soup. These were so good, and really easy to make. They were time consuming, but super simple. 

The only problem? 

They're pretty small. They held about one ladle of soup. Soup is one of my favorite things, and I like a lot of it. However, they're too big for rolls. So I think next time I'll divide them into 10 balls and make pretzel rolls next time we have burgers. 

Size issues aside, these were so, SO good. They're absolutely amazing right out of the oven, and two days later, they're still delicious. 

I'm really happy with how my bread baking is coming along. I used to have to throw out the ingredients about 90% of the time because I could never get the yeast to rise. I've stopped buying the jars of yeast, and now just buy the packets when I need it. So, make sure your yeast is good & make these =) 

Homemade Pretzel Bowls (Rolls)

(Original recipe found here.)

Ingredients:

• 6 C. of all-purpose flour
• 1 packet (2 1/4 t.) of dry active yeast
• 1 T. of brown sugar
• 2 C. of hot water
• 3 T. of butter
• 2 t. of salt
• 8-10 C. of water
• 1/3 C. of baking soda
• 2 T. of melted butter
• 2 T. of coarse sea salt

Directions:

1. In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the 3 T. of butter, brown sugar and hot water. Stir to dissolve the sugar & melt the butter. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let proof (foam) for about 5 minutes.
2. Add 1/2 of the flour & 2 t. of salt to the wet ingredients, and combine using the dough hook attachment. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the rest of the flour. Mix until a dough ball forms and knead until the dough has become elastic, about 5 minutes. 
3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a ball. Move the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise for one hour. (If your kitchen is cool, heat your oven at a very low temperature while you prepare the dough. Turn the oven off, but don't open the door. Place the covered bowl in the warm oven.)
4. After an hour, punch the dough down and place on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 pieces & roll into evenly shaped balls. Place on a parchment/silpat lined baking sheet, cover & let rest for 20 minutes. 
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
6. In a large pot, heat the water until just boiling. Dissolve the baking soda in the water and boil each ball of dough for 45 seconds, turning each one halfway through. Place each dough ball back on the baking sheet. Cut a small "x" in the middle of each ball, and brush each one with melted butter & sprinkle on the sea salt. 
7. Bake for 15-18 minutes (I baked mine for the full 18) until browned all over.