After a couple weeks of single digit and below zero temperatures, it seems like all you want at the end of the day is a hot meal that warms you from the inside out. I recently made a big batch of our favorite chicken corn chowder to do just that. I’d been eyeing different bread bowls and knew that it would be the perfect time to try and make them. But not just regular bread bowls, pretzel bread bowls!
We love soft pretzels, so why not make a bread bowl out of them?! These pretzel bread bowls have the same chewy outside and soft inside that you love about soft pretzels. The flavor is perfect for combining with your favorite hearty soup!
The best part is that they aren’t hard to make. Though they have yeast and require a period of time for rising, these bread bowls can easily be done in a morning or afternoon. Throw a batch of soup in the crock pot, make a batch of pretzel bread bowls, and enjoy a warm, hearty meal on a chilly evening!
- 5-6 C bread flour
- 2¼ tsp instant dry yeast (I used Red Star Yeast)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
- 1½ C water, warmed to 125 degrees F
- 8 C water
- ¼ C baking soda
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- coarse salt
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together 3 cups flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add in butter and warm water. Mix on low until just combined. Slowly add remaining flour until dough is no longer wet and mixture is thoroughly combined. (I used about 5¼ cups, but you may need a little more or a little less depending on how wet your dough is)
- Switch out the paddle attachment to the dough hook. Turn mixer speed to medium and knead for 5-7 minutes or until dough is smooth and pulls away from the edge of the bowl.
- Shape dough into a ball and place in a large bowl sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with a clean cloth and set in a warm place until dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or baking mat.
- Bring water to a low boil. Carefully stir in baking soda.
- Divide dough into 4 pieces and roll into balls. Carefully place balls of dough into boiling water one at a time for 1 minute, turning them over at 30 seconds.
- Place dough onto prepared baking sheet. Brush melted butter over the tops and sprinkle with coarse salt. Cut an "x" in the tops.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove to a wire rack to cool.
- Carefully cut out centers of bread bowls once cooled.
- Best eaten same day.
This recipe is slightly adapted from Bake Your Day and may be linked to these parties.
Fresh Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls
30 Minute Honey Wheat Dinner Rolls
Easy Garlic Knots
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oat Muffins {Whole Wheat}
Cinnamon Sugar Bagels {with Whipped Honey Cinnamon Cream Cheese}
Dying over these pretzel bread bowls! Such a unique and creative twist on the traditional sourdough bowl! I could eat these on their own without filling ’em up! Yum!
Now THIS is how you eat soup!
This is perfect comfort food! Love it.
Love these… I know they’re Heavenly with the corn chowder in the middle.
Oh my gosh love! We eat homemade soup all the time but I’ve never tried making bread bowls – which clearly needs to change! Especially for pretzel bread bowls…
i could get into these! love pretzel bread.
I can imagine they would be awesome with some soup right now. It’s warming up to a balmy 15 degrees here!
Definitely pinning for later!
I remember seeing Cassie’s pretzel bowls and now I have to try this out! I’m a sucker for bread but when it comes to pretzels they are ALL mine!
How perfect are these for soup.
These are AMAZING. I’ve always wanted to do this but never got around to it. Totally motivated to try this recipe!
I do believe this is the best ay to eat soup! Much more fun than an ordinary bowl.
These pretzel bread bowls look fantastic! I am definitely going to be making these as I love a good bowl of soup in the winter months! Thank you for the recipe!!
My husband would go crazy for these! They look so hearty and comforting for a cold night!
I need to try these ! My family loves pretzels and bread bowls!
Oh man, I could just eat these plain!
I am allll about the comfort food right now and these are SO perfect – I need to make them!
Well, these are just beautiful. And totally what I’m craving!
Well, these are a thing of beauty. And exactly what I’m craving.
Jessica….what a brilliant idea! I love pretzel bread and we buy pretzel rolls all the time. I never thought to use them as soup bowls before. I eat so much soup in the winter…..I cannot wait to try these! : )
You had me at pretzel…I love soft pretzel anything! So good and I have never thought to make bread bowls from them! Great idea!
I love anything soft pretzels!
Wow, I give you major props for these! I have not tried to make bread bowls before, let alone PRETZEL bread bowls! They look amazing!!
I just made soup and I wish I had one of these babies to serve it in. They look totally delicious! Next time for sure.
Jessica, these look FAB! Can’t wait to read many more delicious recipes from you in 2014!
Oh my! These sound amazing. I loooove soft pretzels, especially when they are super soft. Pretzel Bites? Oh gosh, yes. Pretzel Bread Bowls? Mind. Blown!
I still find it weird to think that bread can be a pretzel. Here in Western Australia, we mostly get those little dry pretzels in packets; we recently got a fresh pretzel shop in one of the shopping malls but they’re still shaped like pretzels. This recipe is messing with my brain, in a good way! Sounds delicious. Such a great idea!
Pretzels have to be my favorite carb in all the land. I can’t resist the buttery, gooey ones at the mall, and I can’t say no to a huge bread vessel like this! It looks amazing and sounds so comforting for those frigid temps!
Pretzel bowls… genius! Stay warm friend.
What a fantastic way to enjoy a big bowl of soup! YUM!
Wonderful twist on traditional bread bowls. Looks delicious!
Oh my gosh … this is absolutely genius! I love homemade pretzels. I bet they make fantastic soup bowls!
I’ve never seen this before, such a good idea!