Box Mac & Cheese Stuffed Pretzels
Introduction: Box Mac & Cheese Stuffed Pretzels
As a kid, I loved mac & cheese, but as I've gotten older, it has gotten decreasingly exciting. So I decided to fix that. What could make mac & cheese an exciting food again? Eating it in a pretzel! Putting boring boxed mac & cheese in a pretzel with cheese and benevolent bacon is the perfect solution to make mac & cheese fun and exciting. In this recipe, I'll show you how to make pretzels that are filled with mac & cheese, shredded cheese, and any meat of your choosing.
Total Time: ~2 hours
Makes: 6-8 stuffed pretzels (enough for about 4 people)
Supplies
Ingredients:
For the Filling and Topping:
* 1 box of mac & cheese
* 1½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
* ~8 slices of bacon or any other meat filling(optional)*
* Pretzel Salt for sprinkling
* Melted Butter for brushing
For the Pretzel Dough:
* 2 ½ cups bread flour (365g)
* 1 packet active dry yeast (7g)
* 3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon sugar divided (45g+8g)
* ½ tablespoon vegetable oil (8g)
* 1 teaspoon salt (7g)
* ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons lukewarm water (210g)
**For the Lye Solution:
* 2 cups water (472 g)
* 3 teaspoons lye(sodium hydroxide) (19g)
**For the Baking Soda Solution(Alternative to lye solution):
* 9 cups water
* ½ cup baking soda
*I used Sweet Earth Benevolent Bacon to make this recipe vegetarian, this is optional but I highly recommend trying it.
**When making this recipe you can choose between a lye solution or a baking soda solution to give the pretzels their sheen. When you get to the lye and baking soda steps(steps 7 and 8), only do one or the other, not both. Although I recommend the lye method more, it is more dangerous so it is ok to go the alternative route. If you choose to use lye, you will not need baking soda and if you chose to use baking soda, you will not need lye.
Tools and Equipment:
* Stand Mixer (you may also knead by hand)
* Plastic or Stainless steel Mixing Bowls
* Sheet Tray
* Parchment Paper
* Plastic Wrap
* Medium Sauce Pan
* Skillet or Non-Stick Pan
* Cutting Board
* Rolling Pin
* Measuring and Mixing Utensils
* Oven
* Gloves
* Safety goggles or face shield
* Face Mask
Step 1: Making the Pretzel Dough
In a small bowl, mix together the ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons of lukewarm water, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and the packet of yeast. Allow the mixture to sit for about 5 minutes, while it rests mix the dry ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the 2 ½ cups bread flour, the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, and the teaspoon of salt until combined. Once the yeast mixture is ready, add it to the dry ingredients as well as the ½ tablespoon vegetable oil. Mix on low until all the ingredients come together, you may need to assist your mixer with a rubber spatula if the ingredients are not coming together at first. 305
Once the ingredients form into a single mass, turn the mixer speed to medium-low and mix for 4-6 minutes until it is smooth. At this point, I like to turn the dough onto a clean countertop and knead for a minute by hand, and then I shape the dough into a smooth ball. Place the dough into an airtight container, such as a bowl covered with plastic wrap, and place in a warm area for 1 hour.
Step 2: Dividing the Dough
After an hour has passed, prepare a pot of water for the mac and cheese as instructed on the box. While it heats up, shape the dough: Turn the dough out onto a clean surface. Using a bench scraper or a knife, separate the dough into 6 roughly equal pieces. If you would like smaller stuffed pretzels, you may divide the dough into 8 pieces. Once the dough is divided, shape each piece into a ball. To shape the dough, cup your hand around the dough piece and with your hand perpendicular to the counter, pull the dough back towards you. Do this several times, rotating the ball a little bit after each pull, stop once the surface of the dough starts to appear tight. You shouldn't have to use flour here if possible, the stickiness of the dough is what allows it to form tension as you pull. Repeat the balling process with all of the doughs pieces. 195