ABC Pretzels
Big soft pretzels are such a yummy snack! They immediately take me back to when I was a little kid and I would always eat one while watching the Astros play at the Astrodome. Salty and doughy, they really hit the spot! This recipe tastes way better than the concession stand version and you can dress them up with any topping you like.
Ingredients:
🔲1 1/2 cups warm water
🔲1 T sugar
🔲2 tsp salt
🔲1 packet yeast
🔲4.5 cups all purpose flour
🔲2 oz melted butter
🔲10 cups water
🔲2/3 cup baking soda
🔲cooking oil or spray
Optional:
1 egg yolk beaten with 1 T water
coarse salt
To Make:
Combine the water, sugar and salt in a bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes while the yeast begins to foam.
Add the flour and melted butter and mix on low speed (we used a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment) until well combined. Increase speed to medium and continue kneading the dough with the mixer until it begins to pull away from the sides and chase itself around the bowl.
Take the dough out and knead with your hands a little bit to form a large ball.
Rub cooking oil on the sides of the bowl or spray with cooking spray.
Then place the dough back inside the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow it to rise for about an hour.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Brush oil on a cookie sheet or use parchment paper to line. Bring 10 cups of water with 2/3 cup baking soda to a boil on the stove.
While the water is heating up, turn out your dough onto a lightly oiled surface.
Divide into 8 pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a long, skinny rope. This takes some time and doesn't seem like it will actually happen, but it will. Just be persistent. Once your rope is formed, you can shape the pretzel. Make letters if you want or traditional pretzel shapes. You can even make twisty pretzels. Have fun with it!
Place the shaped pretzels into the pot of boiling water and allow them to cook for 30 seconds. Then remove them from the pan and place them on the cookie sheet. **Optional: Brush the tops with the beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with coarse salt.
Bake for about 12-14 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve your pretzels with your favorite toppings--ours is melted butter with a sprinkle of sea salt!
Did you love your pretzel snack? Tell us about it @little.sunshine.mom!☀️