Buffalo Chicken Bites

Buffalo Chicken Bites

Original recipe found here

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup shredded chicken 
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup hot sauce 
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

To make the buffalo chicken mixture: 

• Combine the chicken, cheese, hot sauce and butter in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. The mixture may seem too wet, but the chicken will absorb some of the sauce.

To make the dough: 

1. Combine the warm milk and brown sugar in a measuring cup, and stir until the sugar dissolves. 
2. Add the flour, yeast and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Beat on low briefly just to combine.  With the mixer on low, gradually pour the milk/sugar mixture into the mixer and beat until a rough dough forms. 
3. Switch from the paddle attachment to the dough hook.  Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.  You want the dough to clear the sides of the bowl as it kneads-- if it's not, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it does.  The dough should be tacky, but not sticky.  
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and shape into a ball.  Spray a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray and add the ball of dough, turning to coat.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled in size, at least 2 hours or overnight.

To make the bites:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and cut it into 4 equal pieces.  
4. Working with one piece at a time, roll the dough into a 12-inch rope.  Use your fingers to flatten the dough into a rectangular shape, then use a rolling pin to roll to a roughly 12x4-inch rectangle.  
5. Add 1/4 of the buffalo chicken mixture to the lower third of the rectangle, leaving 1/2 inch at the bottom.
6. Stretch the bottom edge of the dough up and over the filling, pressing to seal.  Starting at the bottom, roll up the dough as tightly as possible.  
7. Cut the log into 10 even pieces and transfer them to the prepared sheet pan.  Repeat with remaining pieces of dough and chicken mixture.  Let the bites rise at room temperature (uncovered) for about 20-30 minutes-- the dough will rise slightly.
8. Bake the bites for about 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.  If desired, brush the tops with melted butter before serving.  Serve bites with a side of blue cheese dressing.
9. *Note: You can make the bites a few hours ahead of time.  Just reheat them in a 350 F oven for about 5 minutes when you're ready to serve.

-Alyssa