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Homemade Soft Pretzels

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Fresh hot Soft Pretzels in your own kitchen!

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My daughter Allie and I love soft pretzels.  Not just any “old mall pretzel.”  We love the ones you can buy from the yellow food truck behind the Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C.  Every time we head into DC we make a point of getting our pretzel fix.  If you’ve come to visit and did the tourist thing, you know I made you get one!  And I know you liked it 😉
Since I don’t want to fight the horrendous traffic and drive 50 miles (one way) for a pretzel, Allie and I decided to try making our own!

 

Gather together the flour, Kosher salt, one egg, active dry yeast, butter, baking soda, vegetable oil, 10 cups of water, 1 1/2 cups warm water, and a little bit of sugar.

 

Combine 1 1/2 cups warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar and 2 teaspoons Kosher salt in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer.  Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved.

Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow it to sit for 5 minutes until it begins to bloom.

Blooming yeast!
Next add 4 tablespoons melted, unsalted butter.
Add 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour.

 

Using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined.  Turn the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl.  This will take about 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove the dough and add enough vegetable oil to the mixing bowl to coat.  Return the dough to the bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  Place the bowl in a warm location free from drafts, for about an hour, or until the dough doubles in size.

 

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.  Lightly brush each with vegetable oil and set aside.  Now I put my daughter to work.  Once the dough has risen, turn it out on a slightly oiled work surface.  Divide the dough into 8 equal parts.
Allie cut the dough like pizza slices which worked really well.

Roll each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope.

 

To form a pretzel make a U-shape with the rope.  While holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U.  Place the pretzels onto the parchment-lined baking sheets.
Bring 10 cups of water to a boil and add the baking soda.  Gently place a pretzel in the boiling water and cook for 30 seconds.  Remove the pretzel with a large slotted spatula.  Repeat until all 8 pretzels have been boiled.
Brush the top of each pretzel with a beaten egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon water.

 

Sprinkle with Kosher or pretzel salt and bake for 12 to 14 minutes until golden brown.

 

Allow the pretzels to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

 

They didn’t come from a big yellow food truck but they sure were tasty!

 

Traveling husband had a little yellow mustard on his pretzel.

 

Side view of homemade soft pretzels

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Yield: 8
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Author: Tricia
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Rate our recipe!
Fresh hot Soft Pretzels in your own kitchen!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups warm water 110°F to 115°F
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
  • vegetable oil for pan
  • 10 cups water
  • ⅔ cup baking soda
  • 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
  • Additional kosher salt for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Combine 1 ½ cups warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar and 2 teaspoons kosher salt in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved.  Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow it to sit until it begins to bloom, about 5 minutes.  Stir in melted butter and flour.  Using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined.  Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl.  Remove the dough from the bowl and set aside.  Coat the bowl with vegetable oil then return the dough to the mixing bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for about an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly brush with vegetable oil.  Set aside.
  • Boil 10 cups of water mixed with baking soda.  While the water is heating, turn out the dough onto a slightly oiled work surface.  Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.  Roll each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope.  Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the end of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel.  Place on the parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Place the pretzels, one at a time, in the boiling water.  Cook for 30 seconds and remove with a large slotted spatula.  Place the boiled pretzels back on the baking sheet and brush each with the egg/water mixture.  Sprinkle with kosher salt and bake until golden brown, about 12 to 14 minutes.  Cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

(adapted from a recipe by Alton Brown, 2007 on www.foodnetwork.com)
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 3338mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 207IU | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 3mg

~~~~~~~

I’m starting to think I have a problem with dough.  I just love to roll it, and bake it, and eat it!  I was thinking about changing the name of the blog to “Dough-licious.”  My daughter Allie said no but did say I could name it “My life as a dough-ho!” Do you think I should be offended?  She’s such a sweetie.  I enjoyed teaching her something about dough and loved eating fresh hot pretzels in my own kitchen.

Please check back Friday because I’m going to have my very first give-away!  Friday is also my Blog-a-versary so I will feature some of my favorite recipes and posts from the past year.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tricia

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5 Comments

  1. Beth Green

    I have to admit that "My Life As A Dough-Ho" is pretty funny!!! The pretzels look yummy! If we ever make it to DC, I'm looking for that yellow truck…as long as they offer mustard. : )

    Reply