Pretzel Nuggets for #SundaySupper Tailgating

Sunday, September 8, 2013
Forget Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, College Football Season is my favorite time of year. I have been a Florida Gator from the day I was brought into this world. My parents used to joke that my first word was Gator. I was brainwashed at a very early age that Seminoles were evil and Gators were the best. All through life, I refused to date someone from the "other side". It would only cause fights and headaches during college football season. Then this happened:
Four years ago, I gave into my "no dating Seminoles" rule and accepted a date with Gabe, which lead to me accepting a ring from him many years later. This Gator Girl is marrying a Seminole. The fourth Saturday in November is never pleasant day in our house and actually caused one of the only real arguments we have been in during our relationship (he didn't handle last years loss to the Gators very well).

Gabe and I have both been season ticket holders for each of the teams. I consider myself a professional tailgater. For many years, my entire week revolved around what I was wearing to the game and bringing to the game. I perfected the art of orange and blue jello shots and even started themed menus around the opposing teams.

When I saw this weeks #SundaySupper theme, "Tailgating", I realized this weekend is my one year anniversary of being party of the #SundaySupper family. My very first post was the tailgating event last year!
To honor my one year anniversary w/ the group, I wanted to make something that I never thought I could make at home. Something on my culinary bucket that went perfect with the theme - Auntie Anne's famous pretzel nuggets. They go perfect with beer and are portable. Oh, and they turned out PERFECT. I am not a baker and was so impressed with the result. Gabe thought I bought them at the mall and tried to claim that I made them from scratch......
Antie Anne's Copy Cat Pretzel Nuggets 
Recipe from Foodnetwork

Ingredients
1 cup milk
1 package active dry yeast
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
1 teaspoon fine salt
1/3 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons coarse salt

Directions
Warm the milk in a saucepan until it's about 110 degrees; pour into a medium bowl and sprinkle in the yeast. Let the yeast soften, about 2 minutes; stir in the brown sugar and 1 cup flour with a wooden spoon. Dice 2 tablespoons butter and soften; stir into the mix. Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour and the fine salt to make a sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour if needed, until smooth but still slightly tacky, about 5 minutes. Shape into a ball, place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour. 

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and grease a large baking sheet. Punch the dough to deflate it, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface. (If the dough seems tight, cover and let rest until it relaxes.) Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Roll and stretch each piece with the palms of your hands into a 30-inch rope, holding the ends and slapping the middle of the rope on the counter as you stretch. Using a pizza cutter, cut each rope into 1" pieces to form the nuggets.

Dissolve the baking soda in 3 cups warm water in a shallow baking dish. Gently dip each pretzel in the soda solution, then arrange on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Bake until golden, 10 minutes, turning the pan 180 degrees halfway through.

Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a shallow dish. Using a pastry brush, coat the hot pretzels in the butter; place on a wire rack to let excess butter drip off. Serve the pretzels warm with a mustard sauce.

Check out what the rest of the #SundaySupper group is making for Tailgating. GO GATORS (don't bring yesterday up to me)!!!
Sunday Supper Movement
  Warm Ups (Appetizers):
Game Time (Main Dishes and Sides):
Overtime (Drinks and Desserts):
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34 comments

  1. So glad you have been apart of the group for 1 year. I can't wait to make these pretzels.

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  2. Ohhh, now your calling my name! Love pretzels and in nugget form! Yes please!!

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  3. A fellow Gator...loving the pretzel bites and so easily portable too!

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  4. I can imagine how hard it must have been to give a Seminole a chance... But I think Gabe was worth it! So happy for the two of you.

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  5. These look so good...I'm not an avid baker either, but might give these a try. They seem to make a lot...and only a few ingredients. Saved for an upcoming game day!! In Texas, our equivalent to your rivalry is UT and A&M. It's a fierce rivalry...

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  6. Mmm..these are so perfect for tailgating. I love the big pretzels and I love the idea of the bites.
    So perfect, you did a great job!

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  7. I'm not much of a baker either, but these sound totally doable! How funny he thought you bought them--what a compliment!

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  8. These pretzel bites are the perfect tailgate food! I've always wanted to make homemade pretzels.

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  9. I am totally adding these to my menu of "snacks I must eat when watching tv!". They look perfect!

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  10. Pretzels are THE perfect tailgating food in our family...every single person loves them. And yes, your nuggets DO look perfect!

    I love having a little football rivalry in-house...we have it, too. We always look forward to that one game a year (dukes up)! :)

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  11. Oh yes, jello shots and pretzel nuggets. These are so beautiful - WOW!

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  12. I just need these and that mustard and I'm good. YUM!

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  13. When I was pregnant, I could have lived on Annie's Pretzels. I love these little bite-sized nuggets!

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  14. I love pretzels, these nuggets look fantastic.

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  15. This little nuggets look fantastic.

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  16. Pretzel nuggets are addicting, especially right out of oven. It's totally worth all the work that you put into it.

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  17. Your nuggets did turn out perfectly, Megan. I want to give your recipe a try =)
    P.s. You and your beloved may be on opposite sides of the football stand but you sure do look like you are match made in Heaven =)

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  18. I am a soft pretzel ADDICT. I'll eat this whole batch, please. With some mustard, thanks

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  19. My husband will love these...he loves pretzels!

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  20. Love soft pretzels and these little nuggets make them perfect for snacking!

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  21. *Love* pretzels... especially soft ones

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  22. Oh man, I LOVE Auntie Anne's. These sound dangerously addictive. And I'm totally with you--this is my favorite time of year too! I'm a Buckeye fan and married someone from Michigan. Luckily, I've converted him, but I still get tortured by the in-laws!

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  23. Love this! And I can relate - I'm a Dallas Cowboys fan who somehow ended up married to a Philly Eagles fan. Yikes!
    These looks awesome, I'll have to try them, thanks!

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  24. There is nothing better than a pretzel bite nugget. Great choice for a tailgating party! Pass the mustard, please :)
    Renee - Kudos Kitchen

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  25. Oh yes, sports can get us all planning around them. How awesome are these pretzel nuggets?! I want them all Megan!

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  26. Happy #SS anniversary! I can think of no better way to celebrate than with these babies. Wow!

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  27. Soft Pretzels sound like a great addition for tailgating!

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  28. Happy #SundaySupper Anniversary! :) I love these little nuggets, I've always wanted to attempt pretzels but I'm always worried about the "shape" This I can handle!

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  29. Oh man, these sound (and look) awesome! It's been a while since I've had a warm pretzel nugget...I think these need to make their way into my life, STAT!

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  30. So funny you wound up with someone who cheers for the other team. At least you both can eat good during the game. What great pretzel nuggets!
    And how time flies. One year since you first joined in Sunday Supper. I hope the next will continue with you being a part of it because I so enjoy your recipes and posts.

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  31. I have been wanting to try and make my own pretzels for a while. They actually look pretty easy to make.

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  32. I love this! The reason why I love this is because my husband is a huge Florida fan...and I am a huge Georgia fan. We don't even watch the game at the same house together. :)

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