Easy pretzel hot dog buns will become a family favorite

By Jim Bailey
theyankeechef.blogspot.com

Now that I have started making these hot dog buns for my children, they will not eat any other hot dog roll. I didn’t add the extra coarse salt on top (purely for health reasons) but by all means sprinkle some pretzel or coarse-grained salt over the top of the beaten egg if desired. These are dense yet manageable, crispy yet soft, perfect for your grilling season.

Homemade pretzel hot dog buns.

1 cup warm milk
1 package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup baking soda
1 egg, beaten well

Line two baking sheet pans with either parchment or waxed paper; set aside. Combine milk and yeast in a bowl and let sit until the yeast foams a little, about 10 minutes.

Add the sugars, garlic and onion powder, flour and salt. Mix well with a sturdy wooden spoon or use a stand mixer with a hook attachment. Keep mixing until the dough has come together and is leaving the sides of the bowl. Pinch off  8 to 10 uniform balls of dough and roll each into logs measuring 7 to 8 inches in length. Place on prepared baking sheets, spray with nonstick cooking spray and cover loosely with film wrap. Let rise for 30 minutes in a warm place.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425-degrees F. Bring a large pot of water to  boil over medium-high heat. Whisk in the baking soda. Place the logs of dough, 3 at a time, into the boiling water and cook for 30 seconds. Flip over and boil an additional 30 seconds, removing each and letting them drip excess water before placing back onto the prepared sheet pans. Repeat with remainder of logs, brush each with the beaten egg and make shallow slits on top of each roll with a sharp knife. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Remove from oven to cool.

Makes 8-10 buns
Schiffer Books of Pennsylvania has released Jim Bailey’s new book The Yankee Chef: Feel Good Food for Every Kitchen. It contains more than 550 traditional New England comfort-food recipes tweaked for today’s palates with hundreds of kitchen tips and food facts. The hardback book is 312 pages and contains 200 color images. Its ISBN is 978-0-7643-4191-5 and the cost is $34.99. The book can be ordered through Misty Valley Books, 802-875-3400.