I kind of hate hard pretzels. They are so boring.
The salt on them is the only saving grace. But that isn’t enough to win me over.
They have to be dunked in peanut butter, frosting, or covered in a yogurt candy
coating for me to eat them. Or honey wheat; they aren’t bad. Those along with
string cheese got me through the month leading into fashion week where I worked
an inhumane amount of hours. I digress……
Soft pretzels are another story. And this
brings me to my story about the time I visited Adrienne and made her make
pretzels with me. They came out awesome. They didn’t have that pretzel look
with a slightly browner shiny outside and white inside. They were more of a
wheat roll shaped like a pretzel. They came out a little more bread-like and
doughy than an authentic pretzel, but who can complain with a homemade bready
baked good? We had a lot of fun rolling them, shaping them, and eating them.
Jeff also made a cheesy dipping sauce, which was also amazing. We made half
savory with just sea salt on top and them half cinnamon sugar. Auntie Anne
would be proud. Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry
yeast
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 1/8 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110
degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup bread flour
- 2 cups warm water (110 degrees
F/45 degrees C)
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt
Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve
the yeast, brown sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups warm water.
2. Stir in flour, and knead dough on
a floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
3. Place in a greased bowl, and turn
to coat the surface. Cover, and let rise for one hour.
4. Combine 2 cups warm water and
baking soda in an 8 inch square pan. Line 6 baking sheets with parchment paper.
5. After dough has risen, cut into
12 pieces.
6. Roll each piece into a 3 foot
rope, pencil thin or thinner.
7. Twist into a pretzel shape, and
dip into the baking soda solution.
8. Place onto parchment covered
baking sheets, and let rise 15 to 20 minutes.
9. Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F
(230 degrees C).
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 8
to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle
with coarse salt or cinnamon sugar.
Recipe was borrowed from here.
