Yummy Soft Pretzels

My family loves Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels, but they are so expensive so we very rarely get them (if we get them once a year, that is a lot). I was on a mission to find a pretzel that tasted the same, cause I am a bit of a pretzel snob, when it comes to soft pretzels.  I just have never been a fan of the pretzels from other places, but I could eat the buttery goodness of those Auntie Anne's Pretzels every day.

So began my search for the perfect recipe.  I found this recipe here, then I made changes to it and came up with my own recipe. The results is something I will make over and over again, for years to come, and I will not be paying for those expensive pretzels at the mall anymore. Plus they were a hit with everyone that tried them. The first time I made them, I made them for our life group and there weren't many left to bring home. The next time I made them, my family devoured them in about 20 minutes from removing from the oven. 

Soft Pretzels

servings 12

Prep time 25 minutes

Rest/Rising time 1hour

Bake time 8 minutes

Total time 1hour 35 minutes

 4 teaspoons instant yeast

 1 teaspoon white sugar

 1 1/4 cups warm water 

 4 cups bread flour flour 

 1/2 cup white sugar

 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

 1/2 cup baking soda

 4 cups hot water

 1-2 Tb kosher salt, for topping 

1/4 cup real butter- melted

Directions

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand, it will bloom and is ready by the time you measure everything else out into mixing bowl. 

In a stand mixer bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix on low with dough hook till all combined, then turn up to medium and need dough for about 3-4 minutes. Remove dough from bowl and hook, an place on a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough by hand until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.

When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape or letter shapes and set aside. (the thinner you roll them out, the more like Auntie Anne's they will taste) Once all of the dough is all shaped, stir the baking soda solution to mix all the soda that has settled to the bottom, then dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. 

Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.

Take them out of the oven and brush with melted butter then sprinkle with kosher salt

I hope you enjoy these as much as our family does.  Please leave a comment and tell me what you think. :) 

Also I am going to try and start blogging more, it has been 2 years since my last post, so please follow me and then you can keep up with all the goings on in my crazy kitchen and home.