HOMEMADE PRETZEL DOGS

Steps:

• Add warm water to sugar, yeast and 1/2 Tbsp. butter in small bowl; stir. Let stand 5 min. or until foamy.
• Use pulsing action of food processor to process flour and 1/4 tsp. salt just until blended. Add yeast mixture; process 1 min. or until mixture is well blended and forms ball that pulls away from side of container.
• Transfer dough to medium bowl sprayed with cooking spray; turn dough over. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place 30 min. or until doubled in size.
• Punch down dough. Divide dough into 30 small balls, using about 1 Tbsp. dough for each ball. Roll each ball into 6-inch-long rope. Wrap 1 rope around each wiener piece; pinch together ends and seams together to seal. Place on 2 baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray.
• Heat oven to 425ºF. Place racks on lowest and highest positions in oven. Fill Dutch oven with 2-1/2 qt. (10 cups) water. Add baking soda; stir until dissolved. Bring water just to simmer. Carefully add 6 wrapped wieners, 1 at a time, to hot water; cook 45 sec. or until dough start to puff. Remove from water with slotted spoon; return to baking sheets. Sprinkle with remaining salt. Place 1 pan on each oven rack.
• Bake 13 to 14 min. or until lightly browned, switching pans on oven racks after 7 min. Transfer pretzel dogs to wire racks. Melt remaining butter; brush onto pretzel dogs.