While the dough rests and rises, prepare a baking soda bath to boil the pretzel bites in before they are baked.
Measure water and baking soda into a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
8 cups water, ¼ cup baking soda
Prep a baking tray by covering it with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
Have your coarse salt for topping the pretzel bites.
Once the dough rises, divide it into 6 even sections then divide these sections into 4 (creating 24 pretzel bites). Or just grab small pieces of dough and form pretzel bites as you go!
Roll each pretzel bite in your hands, forming a ball.
When the baking soda water is boiling, place a pretzel bite into a slotted spoon and carefully lower into the bath. Allow to boil for about 30 seconds then use the slotted spoon to remove the pretzel bite, allowing excess water to drip off, and transfer to your baking tray.
Top pretzel bite with a small sprinkle of coarse salt while still wet.
½ tablespoon coarse salt
Repeat (working in batches) until all pretzel bites are boiled, transferred to baking tray and topped with salt.