Soft Pretzel Recipe

A few nights ago I was craving mall pretzels.  You know, the super soft cinnamon sugar ones that you used to get all the time in junior high when you went to the mall with your friends?  (and MAYBE you still get them when you go just for the pretzels...)  Anyways, it was 9:00 at night, no pretzel stands open, and I had to have one.  So I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and made some for myself.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

My favorite part was eating the first batch while I kept rolling and baking the others.

Pile of unbaked bites.

When they come out of the oven, brush them with butter and them top them.  I tossed them in cinnamon sugar, but you can salt them, dip them and leave them plain, or make up your own.  Parprika and garlic, parmesan, garlic powder, icing, etc.

RECIPE: 

4 tsp. active dry yeast

1 tsp. white sugar

1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)

5 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1/2 cup baking soda

4 cups hot water

butter for brushing on top

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tsp. sugar in warm water.  Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt.  Make a well in the center, and the oil and yeast mixture.  Mix and form into a dough.  If the mixture is dry, add a tsp or two of water, if it is too wet, add a little flour.  Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 or 8 minutes.  Lightly oil or spray bowl, place dough in it, and cover with seran wrap.  Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

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

4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces.  Roll into a rope and twist into pretzel shape or cut into bite sized pieces.  Dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet.  

5.  Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.  Brush with melted butter when they come out and top with salt or cinnamon sugar.

These were super easy.  I made them while I watched tv.  I froze over half of them and when I want to eat them, I just pop them in the microwave and top them as if they were fresh from the oven.  They freeze great and are nice and soft when they are warm.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below!  Happy pretzel making!