The big game day is fast approaching and you’re probably having trouble deciding whether to make your old standbys or something new. Here’s an idea…Instead of throwing out a bowl of stale pretzel sticks for all those dips you’ll have, why not whip up some unbelievably simplesoft pretzel bitesfromBakedbyRachel? She adapted this recipe from another one of our favorite blogs, Two Peas and Their Pod and now we’re sharing it with you!

(Full disclosure: my dough for this recipe is currently rising on the stovetop.)

But seriously, who doesn’t LOVE a good soft pretzel. The dough takes eight minutes from start to finish because you just throw everything in the stand mixer. Then after an hour or so of rising time, you roll them out, cut them up and blanch them in some baking soda-spiked boiling water. A quick egg wash and some good, coarse salt and you’re just 15 minutes away from a mountain of some seriously delicious, soft nuggets of joy.

A couple bowls of spicy mustard, a cold beer and a comfy seat and you’ll have your friends feeling even closer to the stadium than if they were just sitting in front of your 143-inch, wide-screen HD TV…or whatever.

Visit Baked by Rachel today for more fun recipes and baking basics. Happy Football, everyone!