Soft Pretzels

Soft pretzels just like you can buy at ball games and the pretzel store at the mall. They are surprisingly easy to make…

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon plus 1/4 teaspoon yeast
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Bath
4 cups warm water
1/2 cup baking soda

Cooking

1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a small bowl or cup. Let it sit for a few minutes.
2. Combine flour, powered sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add water with yeast and vegetable oil. Stir with a spoon and then use your hands to form the dough into a ball. Knead into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and store it in a warm place for about 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.
3. When dough has risen, preheat oven to 425.
4. Make a bath for the pretzels by dissolving the baking soda in warm water until mostly dissolved.
5. Divide dough into 16 even portions. Roll each into a rope about 18 inches long. Make a loop with the dough, twisting ends 2X and fold the twisted ends over the bottom of the loop into a pretzel shape.
6. Dip each pretzel into the bath and blot for a moment on paper towel. Arrange on baking sheet coated with non-stick spray. Sprinkle with salt if desired.
7. Bake for 4 min, turn pan around and bake for 4 more minutes until pretzels are golden brown.
8. Remove from oven and cool. For cinnamon sugar pretzels, brush with melted butter and dip in cinnamon sugar.
9. Enjoy with mustard, cheese and pizza sauce, or just plain salted.

Tags: Bread