Bacon Pretzel Bites + Honey Mustard Sauce

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DoingThe99 #99YourSummer #CollectiveBias 

So this month I have a few road trips planned, right in time to kick off summer! This week I’m off to the rugged Utah desert, and not long after I’m zipping off to Vegas and SoCal. So excited! I tend to be a terrible eater on the road (who can relate?!) because I just stuff whatever into my mouth, either out of boredom or to keep myself awake. So today I’m sharing a recipe for a munch-able snack that will hopefully inspire you for your future summer road trips. Perhaps it’s because I’m eating so much junk on the road, but I pretty much never crave sweets when traveling. So this is a savory, appetizing homemade treat that won’t break the bank, and is so much better than gulping down a convenience store soda with a side of overpriced gummy bears. Check it out:

Besides a couple of things I already had like yeast, absolutely everything here is from 99 Cents Only. The plastic containers, the eggs, bacon bits, sea salt, honey, etc. are all at the 99. And you know what else you can find there? Cinnamon Roll Captain Crunch, Haribo Sour Spaghetti, and Meiji Chocolate Mushrooms among other things. In my mind that translates to: novelty items you can’t find anywhere else, favorite German candies I can’t even find at specialty stores, and Japanese snacks that my Japanese in-laws send me from the motherland itself. And all for a beautiful price. I love the 99 so much. You’ll find all your favorite brands there, as well as new and exciting things you can’t get anywhere else, even among the fresh produce. You just never know what you’ll find while 99-ing.

So what are your summer travel plans? And what are your favorite snacks when on the road? Because I bet you the 99 has it, and for a better price. Find a treasure trove of summer vacation inspo HERE. Recipe below.

Bacon Pretzel Bites
Makes about 100 bites

• 1-1/2 cups warm water (110-115F)
• 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tsp coarse salt + extra for sprinkling
• 1 pkg active dry yeast
• 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 oz unsalted butter, melted
• 10 cups water
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 egg yolk + 1 Tbsp water
• 1 bottle bacon bits (4 oz)

Directions:

Combine the warm water, 2 tsp salt, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough attachment. Sprinkle the yeast on top. Let rest for about 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy.

Add the flour and butter and mix on low until well combined. The turn the speed to medium and knead until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 4-5 minutes.

Take a clean bowl and spray lightly with oil. Place the dough into the bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest in a warm place for 50-55 minutes until doubled in size.

Take pieces of dough and roll them gently in your hands to make balls about 3/4 inch each.

Combine your 10 cups of water and baking soda in a large pot and bring to a rolling boil. Prep two large pans with parchment paper.

Once the water is boiling, drop your dough pieces in, about 5 pieces at a time, and boil for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon or mesh strainer, dab the bottom of your strainer with paper towels to soak up excess water, and place on your pans. Continue until done. Rearrange your pretzel bites on the pans so that they’re evenly spaced.

Preheat oven to 450F.

Combine your egg yolk and water in a small bowl, and brush over each pretzel bite. Sprinkle with coarse salt and bacon bits. Bake for about 10 minutes until browned. Let cool slightly before eating.

Honey Mustard Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3 Tbsp mustard
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Pretzel recipe adapted from Alton. Sauce recipe adapted from HERE.