Soft Pretzels
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast (1( 1/4 ) -ounce envelope
- 5 to 6 cups all--purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- Vegetable oil cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 large egg
- Coarse or pretzel salt
- Pour 2 cups hot water into bowl of electric mixer with dough hook.
- Check water with instant-read thermometer to register about 110 degrees.
- Add sugar, stir to dissolve.
- Sprinkle with yeast; let sit 5 minutes; yeast should bubble.
- Beat 1 cup flour into yeast on low until combined.
- Beat in salt and 4 cups flour until combined, about 30 seconds.
- Beat on medium--low until doughy pulls away from sides of bowl, about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Add 1/2 cup flour, and knead on low 1 minute more.
- If dough is still wet and sticky, add 1/2 cup more flour (this will depend on weather conditions); knead until combined, about 30 seconds.
- Transfer to a lightly floured board, and knead about 10 times until smooth.
- Pour oil into a large bowl; swirl to coat sides.
- Transfer dough to bowl, turning dough to completely cover all sides.
- Cover with a kitchen towel, and leave in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until dough has doubled in size.
- Heat oven to 450 degrees.
- Lightly spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
- Set aside.
- Punch down dough remove bubbles.
- Transfer to a lightly floured board.
- Knead once or twice, divide into 16 pieces (about 2 1/2 ounces each), and wrap in plastic.
- Roll 1 piece of dough at a time into an 18 -- inch -- long strip.
- Twist pretzel shape; transfer to prepared baking sheet.
- Cover with a kitchen towel.
- Continue to form pretzels; 8 will fit on each sheet.
- Let dough rest until it rises slightly, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, fill large shallow pot with 2 inches water.
- Bring to a boil.
- Add baking soda.
- Reduce to simmer; transfer 3 to 4 pretzels to water.
- Poach 1 minute.
- Use slotted spoon to transfer pretzels to baking sheet.
- Continue until all pretzels are poached.
- Beat egg with 1 tablespoon water.
- Brush pretzels with egg wash. Sprinkle with salt.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.
- Let cool on wire rack.
- Pretzels are best when eaten the same day, and will keep at room temperature, uncovered, for 2 days.
- Do not store in covered container.
water, sugar, active dry yeast, flour, salt, canola oil, vegetable oil cooking spray, baking soda, egg, salt
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/soft-pretzels-recipe2.html (may not work)