These pretzels are soft and chewy on the inside and golden brown and crispy on the outside and they’re so easy to make that you can make them anytime at home.  My dad made these with Princess this past summer when she stayed with them and she has talked about them ever since.  So, I asked my dad to share the recipe and teach us how to make them, too.  And now, I have the deliciousness of these Soft Pretzels to share with y’all! (Thanks, Dad)

• 1 Cup of Lukewarm Water (roughly 105 degrees F)
• 3 1/4 C flour ( I use 1/2 Cake and 1/2 all purpose sifted together.. this gives them a wonderful chewiness)
• 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 packets Active Dry Yeast (1 Tbsp)
• 2 Tbsp unsalted, melted butter
• 1/2 C baking soda (for boiling)
• 8 additional cups water (for boiling)
• 1 egg yolk + 1 Tbsp water
• Kosher Salt

1.  In your mixing bowl, mix the lukewarm water, brown sugar and salt until the sugar and salt are dissolved

2. Add in yeast and stir.  Get rid of any yeast lumps by pressing them to the side and bottom of the bowl.

3.  Let this sit for about 10 minutes or until the yeast mixture is foamy and producing little bubbles.

4.  Pour in the butter and slowly sift in the flour a little at a time

5.   Using your dough hooks, mix on low speed until the ingredients are completely combined.

6.  Change the speed to medium and work the dough until it cleanly pulls off from the sides of the bowl, roughly 5 minutes.  If the dough is too sticky, add 1 Tbsp of flour at a time until it’s the right consistency.

7.  Grease a bowl with oil and put your dough in it, it needs to be a LARGE bowl so that the rising dough has enough room to expand.

8.  Put the dough in a warm place and allow to rise for 1 hour, it should double in size.

9.  Divide the dough into 8 to 14 pieces.. depending on how big you want your pretzels.   Roll the dough until it becomes ropes about 1 1/2 times the length of your forearm.

10.  Create any shapes that you’d like or to create the “traditional” pretzel twist.

1. Make a U shape with your rope
2. twist the ends 1, 2,3 times or however many twists that you’d like
3. Fold back onto the pretzel ‘ base/body’ and press it securely into the dough

11.  Bring the 8 cups water and 1/2 C baking soda to boil.  Drop the pretzels in one at a time and cook each for 50 seconds.  Pull them out and allow the excess moisture to drip off.

12.  Place the pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with the egg yolk, water mixture and sprinkle with kosher salt (or parmesan cheese or whatever your choice of topping is)

13.  Preheat the oven to 450 and bake the pretzels for about 10 minutes, or until brown.

14.  Remove from baking sheet and place on a cooling rack, serve at will and with whatever dipping sauces you and your friends prefer.

You can always get super creative with your pretzels and show off your hobbies and loves, like my dad did.

He loves music.

I would LOVE to hear your stories with this recipe!  What dipping sauces would you use, what toppings?  What shape would your pretzels be?

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