Soft Chewy Pretzels

If you like Croissants, you are going to love Pretzels. They are one of my favorite yeast rolls whether sweet or salty, they never fail to impress you as they have a crispy crust but are soft and buttery from inside. They are very interesting to make and I love making them and eating them.  Homemade pretzels never last long in our house.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1 ½ cups lukewarm water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons butter

4 ½ cups all purpose flour

6 cups water

1/3 cup baking soda

¼ cup milk

½ cup cinnamon sugar or vanilla sugar

Method

1.     In a large bowl, take lukewarm water.  Add sugar and salt in the water.  Sprinkle yeast over it and let it stand for 5 -7 minutes.

2.     Add butter and flour in the yeast mixture to form dough. Knead until smooth and elastic for about 5 minutes.

3.   Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled, about an hour.

4.      Punch down. Divide into 12 portions. Roll each into an 18-in long rope with tapered ends; twist into a pretzel shape.

5.     In a large saucepan, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Place pretzel, one at a time, into boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towel.

6.      Place on greased baking sheets. Brush with milk and sprinkle cinnamon or vanilla sugar on it.

7.      Bake at 220 degree c on a pre-heated oven for 12 -14 minutes or until golden brown.

8.      Remove from pan to wire rack. Serve warm your homemade exclusive chewy soft pretzel.

Forming Pretzel

1.      Roll each piece of dough into an 18-in, rope and taper the ends. Shape rope into a circle with about 3 in. of each end overlapping.

2.      Twist ends where they overlap.

3.      Flip the twisted ends over the circle; place ends around edge and pinch under.

Done Enjoy!!