Yummy Hot Buttered Homemade Soft Pretzels

Yields: 24 Pretzels

(I usually cut this recipe in half)

Ingredients

10 Cups Flour
2 tsp. Salt
4 tsp. Sugar, granulated
3 Tbsp Active Dry Yeast
4 Cups Water, warm

Topping Ingredients:
2 cups Hot water
6 Tbsp Baking Soda
12 Tbsp Butter, unsalted
1/2 cup Kosher Salt, coarse

Procedure:

Combine Flour, salt, sugar and yeast ( I used quick rise yeast because that is all I had and it works just fine) in a mixing bowl and whisk until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Using your dough hook, start the machine and add your warm water (105-110 degrees) in a steady stream to your dry ingredients and mix until dough starts to clear the sides of the bowl. Then mix for 45 seconds. A kitchen aid mixer works best for this. Once your dough has mixed for 45 seconds and is not sticky, remove it from your mixing bowl and place it in a separate floured or greased bowl to let rest for 30 minutes. Once your dough has rested, transfer dough to a lightly floured or greased work surface and divide into 3 ounce pieces. Allow pieces to rest uncovered for 5 minutes. While dough is resting, combine hot water and baking soda (making sure baking soda is thoroughly dissolved. If it isn't your pretzels will be splotchy.

Take a 3 ounce piece of dough and roll with your fingers and ball of your hand to make a long strand of dough. Twirl the dough into a pretzel shape of your choice, dip the top of the pretzel in your baking soda, hot water mixture and lay on your greased pan. Bake @ 350 Degrees for about 11-15 minutes depending on your desired consistency. Once they are finished, brush a little melted butter on top of the pretzels with a pastry brush and sprinkle with salt or cinnamon and sugar or whatever you would like

.

F.Y.I: The baking soda and hot water mixture will give your pretzels a nice shine, it makes them a little crunchier on the outside and helps with browning as well.