Soft Pretzels

One of our favorite snacks around the house is soft pretzels. After buying a box from the grocery store and seeing ALL the ingredients, I decided.....ok, I can make these better and healthier. After some recipe hunting and recipe twisting this is what I have come up with.

Soft pretzels
Yields roughly 10-12

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup warm flour
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons yeast
2 teaspoons salt

sea salt
3 cups boiling water
4 tablespoons baking soda


Mix together warm water, sugar and yeast. Allow the yeast to proof. In a mixing bowl, mix together flour and salt. Slowly add in yeast mixture and continue to mix until it forms a smooth ball. (This can be done by hand or in a mixer)


Cut the dough into 10 to 12 pieces. Roll into a long rope and then shape into pretzel form. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Allow to rise until doubled in size.

Boil 3 cups of water and baking soda. Drop each pretzel in the water and boil for 1-2 minutes per side. Remove and drain it on a cooling rack. (I do this step, one or two pretzels at a time, be very gentle they are a little fragile)


At this point you have two options:
1. Brush your pretzels with egg wash or water and sprinkle salt on top and Bake them at 425° for 10 minutes or until golden brown, and chow down.

OR

2. After boiling them, let them cool completely. Lay them out on a baking sheet and stick in freezer until frozen, then transfer them to a ziplock bag for storing. When ready to enjoy, follow option no. 1 and cook them for about 12-14 minutes, if frozen.

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My husband requested I try making jalapeno-cheddar pretzels next go around. Have any other ideas? Do you have any creative & yummy dipping sauce recipes?

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