Cheeseburger Pretzel Bombs recipe
### Cheeseburger Pretzel Bombs
#### Ingredients:
– **1 lb (455 g) pizza dough** (left out at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to soften)
– **7 slices American cheese** (each slice cut in half to make 14 pieces)
– **14 frozen mini meatballs** (thawed)
– **¼ cup (45 g) baking soda**
– **5 cups (1.2 L) water**
– **1 egg** (beaten)
– **Coarse sea salt** (for sprinkling)
– **Yellow mustard** (optional, for serving)
#### Preparation:
1. **Preheat the Oven:**
– Preheat your oven to 425˚F (220˚C).
– Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and set it aside.
2. **Prepare the Dough:**
– Cut the softened pizza dough into 14 evenly sized pieces.
– Take one piece of dough at a time and stretch it into a long strip, about 8 inches (20 cm) in length.
3. **Assemble the Bombs:**
– Place one piece of the halved American cheese at the top of the dough strip.
– Place a thawed mini meatball on top of the cheese.
– Carefully roll the dough around the cheese and meatball, ensuring they are fully encased. Rotate the dough as you roll to ensure even coverage.
– Seal any gaps or holes by pressing the dough together tightly.
– Place the prepared dough ball on the lined baking sheet.
– Repeat with the remaining dough, cheese, and meatballs.
4. **Boil the Pretzel Bombs:**
– In a medium saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil over high heat.
– Once boiling, add the baking soda and stir until fully dissolved. The baking soda helps give the dough that classic pretzel texture.
– Reduce the heat slightly to maintain a gentle boil.
– Working in batches of 3-5 dough balls at a time, carefully drop the prepared dough balls into the boiling water.
– Boil for 20-30 seconds, gently stirring to ensure even cooking. This brief boil will help create a chewy pretzel crust.
– Use a slotted spoon to remove the dough balls from the water and dab off any excess moisture with paper towels.
– Return the boiled dough balls to the lined baking sheet.
5. **Bake the Pretzel Bombs:**
– Brush each dough ball with the beaten egg. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown color as they bake.
– Sprinkle coarse sea salt generously over the top of each pretzel bomb.
– Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the pretzel bombs are a deep golden-brown color and have a firm, crisp crust.
6. **Serve:**
– Serve the Cheeseburger Pretzel Bombs warm, with yellow mustard on the side for dipping, if desired.
### Enjoy!
These Cheeseburger Pretzel Bombs are perfect for parties, game days, or any time you’re craving a savory snack. The combination of melty cheese, savory meatballs, and soft pretzel dough makes them a crowd-pleaser!