Pretzels: The All-American Snack

I was in the baking sort of mood yesterday and ended up making these salty snacks. I found the recipe in Mary Janes Farm Magazine. My little sister and I had a great time together in the kitchen while making our yummy snack. They were super easy and turned out great!



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All-American Pretzel Recipe

PREP TIME: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes

COOK TIME: 25 Minutes

MAKES: 6-8 Pretzels

1 1/2 cups warm water (not too hot! You don't want to kill the poor yeast!)

2 1/2 t active dry yeast (or instant)

1 T sugar

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 T salt

1 T baking soda

1 egg

course sea salt

melted butter (the recipe said it's optional, but I say it's a MUST.)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine water with yeast, and sugar and let sit for about 5 minutes or until foamy.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Add to yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until dough forms. With your hands, continue to work in flour mixture until a ball forms.
3. Turn dough out onto a flour-dusted surface, and knead the make a smooth sticky dough.
4. Place dough in an oiled bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let sit in a warm spot (a sunny window sill works best) for about 45 minutes, until doubled in size.
5. Preheat oven to 400F. Bring a large pot of water to boil and add the baking soda to it. Stir well.
6. Turn dough onto a floured surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope. Twist each piece into a pretzel shape and place on a parchment lined, or greased, baking sheet.
7. With a slotted spatula, transfer pretzels into boiling water, 3 at a time, and parboil for 3 minutes, flipping once halfway through.  Drain on a cooling rack, then transfer back to the baking sheet. Repeat for the remaining pretzels.
8. Make an egg wash by beating 1 egg with 1 T water. Brush the egg wash generously over each pretzel and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
9. Bake for 25 minutes. Brush immediately with melted butter, if desired. (But, remember what I said. The butter is a must!)
10. Eat! Welcome to butter-coated, salt-sprinkled, soft-pretzel heaven.