Soft Pretzel Recipe

Ingredients:
1-1/2 teas yeast
1/2 teas brown sugar
1 dash salt
1-1/2 Cup 110 degree water - (I always just guess on the actual temp, it needs to be warm for the yeast)

Combine the above ingredients and let rest for about 5 minutes until the yeast is ready. It will be foamy.

Add in:

4 Cups flour

Mix together and then knead approx. 5 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl, cover with damp towel and let rise 1 hour.

in flat dish ( I use an 8x8 glass casserole) mix the following:

1 TBLS Baking Soda
1/4 cup warm water

Pinching off a golf ball sized (or slightly bigger) piece of dough, roll in hands to make long snake-like shape and then shape into pretzel form. (I do both traditional pretzel shapes and also pretzel twists - with twists I use slightly less dough so it makes more) Dip shaped form in above soda/water mixture. Make sure both sides of dough have been dipped. Then place on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 450 degrees for about 8 minutes. (You want them slightly browned on top but not over-cooked)

This recipe makes about 8 to 9 pretzels

Once they are out of the oven brush them with melted butter and sprinkle course Kosher salt on top. (just a note, the first time I made them I over did the salt - a little goes a long way) You can also top them with cinnamon-sugar, Parmesan cheese or other toppings.

And just as an FYI, I personally only like these fresh. So for best results eat them right away.



Amy C. Williams