It’s that time of year again—Super Bowl Sunday is creeping up, and I’m already thinking about snacks. Because let’s be honest, the food is the best part. Especially since the Chiefs are in it AGAIN and since we live Broncos Country, the boys are unhappy and that means there’s a hard cap on how much enthusiasm we're all willing to muster for yet another Chiefs Super Bowl. Ivy? She doesn’t care at all. She’s only in it for the Puppy Bowl, and honestly, I respect that.

But one thing we do agree on? Sourdough pretzel bites. They’re the undisputed champs of game-day snacking. They’re chewy, salty, and made for dunking in an irresponsibly large bowl of cheese dip. Or mustard, if you’re into that. Personally, I’m going all in on the cheese because, well, life is short and snacks are sacred.  If you're going to snack, you've gotta SNACK!

Sourdough Pretzel Bites Recipe

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup sourdough starter (discard works great!)

• ¾ cup warm water

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1½ tsp salt

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

• ⅓ cup baking soda (for boiling)

• Coarse salt for sprinkling

What You’ll Do:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the sourdough starter, warm water, sugar, and salt. Slowly add the flour and knead until you have a smooth, elastic dough (about 5-7 minutes). Cover and let it rest for an hour.

2. Preheat your oven to 425°F and bring a large pot of water to a boil. Stir in the baking soda (fair warning: it foams up like crazy, so add it slowly).

3. Roll the dough into long ropes (about ½ inch thick) and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Drop them into the boiling water in batches, letting them float for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

4. Brush the bites with melted butter, sprinkle with coarse salt, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.