Homemade Pretzels

These homemade pretzels are more like crafting than cooking....right? It is a fun project for an after school snack. I mixed up the dough then let it rise while I was picking up the kids.

Step One: Mix the Dough
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 1/2 cups flour

Mix the warm water, sugar, yeast, and butter in a bowl and let stand for a few minutes (I just use the bowl from my Kitchen Aid)

In your Kitchen Aid or other mixer combine the wet mixture and add the flour and salt. Mix with the dough hook attachment for about 5 minutes until a nice dough forms. If dough is sticky, add a little flour at a time. The dough should be smooth. (Sometimes I have to hand kneed the dough if the mixer is not doing a good job.)

Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.

Step 2 Roll out the dough.
Take little pieces and make the equivalent of play dough snakes! The longer and thinner the better. We made all sorts of shapes, pretzels, knots, twists, and blobs that were supposed to look like Rapunzel!



Step 3 - Boiling
(prepare the water during the rolling out process)
Fill a stock pot with hot water and add add 3/4 cup baking soda. Bring this to a boil.
After you have made your shapes, put them in the boiling soda water for 30 seconds. They will drop to the bottom then float up to the top.


Step 4 - the Egg Wash
I put a rack on top of a baking sheet and put the boiled pretzels on this. Brush them with a beaten egg. (The rack helps the egg to run off so you don't get baked egg pretzels)

Step 5 - Salt
Transfer the pretzels to a parchment lined baking sheet. (If you don't use parchment you will ruin your baking sheets....trust me I know) Sprinkle course sea salt over the tops.

Step 6 - Bake
Bake the pretzels at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes or until done to your liking. Now get ready for the carb rush of your life! My kids alone can eat an entire batch!