This pumpkin spice pretzel recipe is a blast to make with the kids on a cool fall day!  They have just the right amount of pumpkin spice sweetness….you know you want to make this pumpkin spice pretzel recipe today!

Pumpkin Spice Pretzel Recipe

A Delicious Fall Treat

So, as you know I LOVE getting in the kitchen with the kids!  Little Man and I have tons of fun baking delicious treats while Miss Jellybean sits in the highchair cooing and laughing at us.  Not only is cooking with kids fun it’s educational as well.  You can easily work in life lessons when cooking with your kids and they don’t even realize they’re learning….they’re just having a blast bonding with you.

The key to adding learning into cooking with kids is to talk about measurements, where the flavors come from, using our 5 senses, etc.  There’s so much to learn…plus the bonding experience is fantastic!  When you take the time to get in the kitchen with your kids (or grandkids or nieces/nephews, etc) you’re giving them a high sense of self worth.

Pumpkin Spice Pretzel Recipe

Ingredients:

Pretzels:

• 1 ¼ cups warm water
• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 3 ¾ cups all purpose flour
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• ¼ cup butter, melted

Bath

• 4 cups warm water
• ½ cup baking soda

Pumpkin Spice Mix:

• ½ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 4 oz unsalted butter – softened
• 1 TBS Wildtree Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Blend (more recipes that use Wildtree Products)
• 2 cups softened cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.  In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water.  Set aside for a few minutes until it starts to get foamy.  
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt.  Add in the yeast water and vegetable oil.  
3. Mix into a dough.
4. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until it is nice and smooth.  
5. Lightly oil a bowl and place dough inside.  Cover and let rise in a warm space for 45 minutes or until it doubles in size.  
6. Preheat your oven to 425.
7. You will want an area that will allow you to spread out a bit.  You will need to create a water bath by mixing warm water and the baking soda.  Stir until the baking soda mostly dissolves.  
8. Place a few paper towels on a plate and set next to your water bath.  You will also need a lightly greased baking sheet.  
9. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.  
10. Roll each portion into a 3 foot long rope.  (Remember making snakes with Play-Doh when you were younger?  It’s time to put those skills to action again!)
11. Pick up both ends of the dough and give it a little spin so the middle of the dough spins around.  
12. Then flip the twisted ends down toward you to create the traditional pretzel look.  Pinch the ends in place.  
13. Dip the pretzel in the water bath and let drip on the paper towel for any excess water to drain off.  
14. Then place on your baking sheet.
15. Cook for 4 minutes.  Then turn the baking sheet and cook for 5 more minutes.
16. Melt the butter.
17. In a shallow dish, mix the cinnamon sugar.  
18. Coat the pretzels in butter and then heavily coat them in the cinnamon sugar mix.  
19. If you are making frosting from scratch: In a large bowl beat the butter, pumpkin spice cheesecake blend, and cream cheese with an electric mixer.  On low, add powdered sugar one cup at a time until it is creamy.  Then mix in your vanilla extract.   
20. Add frosting to a plastic baggie and cut a very small hole in the corner of the bag.  
21. Frost your pretzels.  Enjoy!