Pretzel Spiders

These soft pretzels are shaped into spiders and dusted in poppy seeds for a deliciously spooky Halloween treat.

Equipment

• Deep, wide cooking pan (filled ⅔ with water)
• Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
• Electric mixer (stand mixer with dough hook recommended)

Ingredients

For the Pretzel Dough:

• ¼ oz packet dry active yeast (about 2 ¼ tsp)
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 cup warm water (105-115°F / 40-46°C)
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting surface)
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold and chopped

For Boiling and Topping:

• 3 Tbsp baking soda (for the boiling water)
• About ¼ cup poppy seeds
• Coarse salt, to taste
• 8 slices black olives (for spider eyes, 2 slices per pretzel spider)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, combine the dry active yeast and sugar. Pour in the warm water and whisk gently until the sugar dissolves completely. Let this mixture sit for about 10 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy and activated. This indicates your yeast is ready to work its magic!
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer (fitted with a dough hook if you have one), combine the all-purpose flour and salt. Add the cold, chopped unsalted butter to the flour mixture. Mix on low speed until the butter is fully incorporated and the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Slowly add the bloomed yeast mixture to the flour and butter mixture while the mixer is still on low speed. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined and a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for a couple of minutes until it is no longer sticky and feels smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a lightly oiled medium bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm, dry place for about an hour, or until it has roughly doubled in size.
4. While the dough is rising, prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
5. Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down and roll it into a long, even log. Divide this log into 4 equal pieces. These will be the bodies for your four pretzel spiders.
6. Take each of the 4 pieces and divide it further into two smaller portions: one slightly larger and one slightly smaller. The larger piece will form the spider’s body, and the smaller piece will be used for the legs.
7. From the smaller piece of dough, roll it into a thin log and then divide it into 8 equal, thin pieces. These will be your spider’s legs. Take the slightly larger piece of dough, roll it into an oval shape, and then gently twist one end of the oval once to create a distinct head and body for your spider.

8. 

9. Repeat this shaping process with the remaining 3 main dough pieces until you have four complete sets of spider bodies and legs. Allow all the shaped dough pieces to rest briefly on the parchment-lined baking sheet while you prepare the boiling water and preheat the oven.
10. Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
11. Fill a large, deep cooking pan with water (about ⅔ full) and bring it to a rolling boil. Carefully add the baking soda to the boiling water and stir well until it dissolves. Reduce the heat to medium-high to maintain a steady simmer.
12. Working in batches, carefully drop the pretzel spider bodies and legs into the simmering baking soda water. Boil each piece for approximately 30-45 seconds, or until they puff up slightly. This step is crucial for achieving that classic pretzel chew and golden crust.
13. Using a slotted spatula, carefully remove the boiled pretzel pieces from the water and place them back onto the prepared baking sheet.
14. Once all pieces are boiled, it’s time to assemble your spiders! Gently press the 8 leg pieces onto the sides of each spider body, ensuring they are touching at the base. Be very gentle to avoid deforming the shapes.
15. Generously sprinkle each spider pretzel with poppy seeds, covering the body and legs. Add a light sprinkle of coarse salt over the top for extra flavor and texture.
16. Carefully press two sliced black olives onto the ‘head’ of each spider to create spooky eyes.
17. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until the pretzel spiders are beautifully golden brown and look perfectly spooky! Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 3052mg | Potassium: 164mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 5mg