Soft Pretzels
- 6 cups (1 pound, 13 ounces) all purpose flour, plus more as needed
- 1 packet (2 1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 egg
- In a food processor fitted with the dough blade (or a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook), whirl together the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
- With the motor running (at low speed for a stand mixer), drizzle in the oil, then 2 cups of the water.
- The dough will come together and grab onto the dough hook.
- Dust a countertop with flour and knead the dough, pushing it in from the sides and then over from the bottom, for 7 to 10 minutes.
- It will become less sticky, more cohesive, and slightly shiny; and it will have the texture of an earlobe to the touch.
- (If it doesnt, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.)
- Lightly oil a large bowl and dampen a clean kitchen towel.
- Heat a cup of water in the microwave and remove it.
- Roll the dough into a ball, transfer to the oiled bowl, and cover the bowl with the moist towel.
- Move the bowl into the microwave and let it sit for 1 hour.
- Transfer the dough to a countertop lightly dusted with more flour.
- Stick your finger directly into the center to make a small hole.
- Use your fingers to widen the hole and work the dough, hand over hand as if youre pulling on a rope, into a large O-shape about 2 inches thick.
- Cut the dough into a long rope and then into 12 equal pieces.
- Working with 1 dough piece at a time, roll into a 22-inch-long rope and fold into a pretzel shape: first, make a tall, skinny U shape, then cross the ends down and across each other to the opposite sides of the U.
- Pinch the pretzel to hold its shape.
- Form the other pretzels and let them rest for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425F Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Bring the remaining 6 cups of water and the baking soda to a rapid boil in a wide-mouthed Dutch oven or other large pot.
- Boil the pretzels, one at a time, for 30 seconds each.
- Dont skip this step: its what sets a pretzel apart from a doughy roll.
- Remove the pretzels from the water with a slotted spoon and hold them over the pot to drain well, then place them on the lined baking sheets.
- Beat the egg with 1 teaspoon of water.
- Brush the pretzels with this egg wash and sprinkle with salt to taste.
- Bake both sheets of pretzels for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the baking sheets and swapping their places in the oven halfway through.
- When theyre done, the pretzels will be golden brown.
- Transfer to a cooling rack and allow them to cool for a full 30 minutes-really: this sets their texture.
- The pretzels are ready to eat immediately; and they are best eaten within a day.
- Alternatively; they can be frozen in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months.
flour, packet, sugar, kosher salt, vegetable oil, water, baking soda, egg
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/soft-pretzels (may not work)