Pretzel

Making homemade pretzels is a fun and rewarding process. Here's a recipe for traditional soft pretzels:

### Ingredients

#### For the Dough
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

#### For the Baking Soda Bath
- 10 cups water
- 2/3 cup baking soda

#### For Topping
- 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- Coarse sea salt

### Instructions

#### Making the Dough
1. **Proof the Yeast**: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until the mixture becomes frothy.
2. **Mix the Dough**: Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix until a rough dough forms.
3. **Knead the Dough**: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.

#### First Rise
4. **Let the Dough Rise**: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

#### Shaping the Pretzels
5. **Preheat Oven**: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly brush with oil or spray with nonstick spray.
6. **Divide and Shape**: Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a slightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope (about 24 inches long) and form into a pretzel shape.

#### Boiling the Pretzels
7. **Prepare Baking Soda Bath**: In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil.
8. **Boil the Pretzels**: One or two at a time, place the pretzels into the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove them with a large slotted spatula and place back on the prepared baking sheets.

#### Baking the Pretzels
9. **Egg Wash and Salt**: Brush each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
10. **Bake**: Bake in the preheated oven until dark golden brown in color, about 12-14 minutes.

### Serving
11. **Cool and Serve**: Allow the pretzels to cool on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy them warm with mustard or cheese sauce.

### Tips
- **Flavor Variations**: For sweet pretzels, you can skip the salt and, after baking, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- **Storing Pretzels**: Store pretzels in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To reheat, place them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 minutes.
- **Freezing**: Pretzels can be frozen after baking. Let them cool completely, then wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. To reheat, bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.

Enjoy your homemade pretzels!

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Pretzel

Pretzel

Making homemade pretzels is a fun and rewarding process. Here's a recipe for traditional soft pretzels:

### Ingredients

#### For the Dough

- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)

- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast

- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

- 4 cups all-purpose flour

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

#### For the Baking Soda Bath

- 10 cups water

- 2/3 cup baking soda

#### For Topping

- 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)

- Coarse sea salt

### Instructions

#### Making the Dough

1. **Proof the Yeast**: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until the mixture becomes frothy.

2. **Mix the Dough**: Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix until a rough dough forms.

3. **Knead the Dough**: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.

#### First Rise

4. **Let the Dough Rise**: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

#### Shaping the Pretzels

5. **Preheat Oven**: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly brush with oil or spray with nonstick spray.

6. **Divide and Shape**: Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a slightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope (about 24 inches long) and form into a pretzel shape.

#### Boiling the Pretzels

7. **Prepare Baking Soda Bath**: In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil.

8. **Boil the Pretzels**: One or two at a time, place the pretzels into the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove them with a large slotted spatula and place back on the prepared baking sheets.

#### Baking the Pretzels

9. **Egg Wash and Salt**: Brush each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

10. **Bake**: Bake in the preheated oven until dark golden brown in color, about 12-14 minutes.

### Serving

11. **Cool and Serve**: Allow the pretzels to cool on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy them warm with mustard or cheese sauce.

### Tips

- **Flavor Variations**: For sweet pretzels, you can skip the salt and, after baking, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

- **Storing Pretzels**: Store pretzels in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To reheat, place them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 minutes.

- **Freezing**: Pretzels can be frozen after baking. Let them cool completely, then wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. To reheat, bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.

Enjoy your homemade pretzels!

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1. Proof the Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until the mixture becomes frothy.

2. Mix the Dough: Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix until a rough dough forms.

3. Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.

4. Let the Dough Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

5. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly brush with oil or spray with nonstick spray.

6. Divide and Shape: Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a slightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope (about 24 inches long) and form into a pretzel shape.

7. Prepare Baking Soda Bath: In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil.

8. Boil the Pretzels: One or two at a time, place the pretzels into the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove them with a large slotted spatula and place back on the prepared baking sheets.

9. Egg Wash and Salt: Brush each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

10. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven until dark golden brown in color, about 12-14 minutes.

11. Cool and Serve: Allow the pretzels to cool on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy them warm with mustard or cheese sauce.

- Flavor Variations: For sweet pretzels, you can skip the salt and, after baking, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

- Storing Pretzels: Store pretzels in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To reheat, place them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 minutes.

- Freezing: Pretzels can be frozen after baking. Let them cool completely, then wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. To reheat, bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.