Fresh From the Market Pretzels

Have you ever had a fresh, buttery pretzel from a farmer's market...well now you can have one or maybe 12 in your home house!

I have made pretzel rolls in the past (check out that recipe on here too) and decided to make the official pretzel this weekend. This recipe was so simple and yet so perfect!

Take some time...about 1 1/2 hours and have the best pretzels to eat and the best smell from the oven too.

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Fresh Soft Pretzels

Recipe from Sam at https://sugarspunrun.com/homemade-soft-pretzels/

1 1/2 hours total: 10 minutes to make dough, 30 minutes to rise, 25 minutes to form, 10 minutes to prep, and 12-15 minutes to bake

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Ingredients

Dough

2 1/2 teaspoon instant/rapid yeast

1 cup warm water (110° to 115°F)

3 cups bread flour

3 tablespoon brown sugar (light or dark)

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

Baking Soda Wash

3-4 quarts water boiled

1/4 cup baking soda

Egg Wash

1 egg

1 tablespoon or dash of water

1 pinch or 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cinnamon Sugar Covering

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

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Steps

Using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, place 2 1/2 teaspoons of active/instant yeast into the bowl

Heat 1 cup of water to 110° to 115°F or warm to the touch, about 30 seconds in the microwave. Add this to the yeast and let it foam for 5 minutes

After yeast and water has foamed or sat for 5 minutes, add 3 cups of bread flour, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar (light or dark), and 1 teaspoon salt

Mix on medium speed until combined and then add in 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter that is melted and mix on low till butter is incorporated

The dough should come off the sides of the bowls and be tacky but not sticky, if it sticks to your hands, add in a tablespoon of bread flour until no longer sticky

Oil a medium sized bowl, place the ball of dough into the bowl, and cover to let it rise in room temperature for 30 minutes

At the 30 minute mark, begin boiling water, about 3-4 quarts and at the boiling point, add in 1/4 cup of baking soda

Preheat oven to 400°F and line one big or two medium sized baking sheets with parchment paper

While the water and baking soda is boiling, roll out the dough into 12 pieces. Roll the dough into strands, cross the ends, twist, and then fold back down and seal the ends to the outside of the pretzel. Place the completed pretzels on the baking sheet to wait to be put in the baking soda solution

Once you have done this with all the pretzels, place one pretzel at a time into the boiling baking soda for 45 seconds on each side, and then placing on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Keep pretzels 1" away from each other

After all the pretzels have been put in the baking soda mixture, mix 1 egg, a dash of water, and pinch of salt to make an egg wash. Brush this mixture on each pretzel and generously sprinkle salt on top of the pretzels

For pretzels you want for cinnamon sugar, do not add the salt after the egg wash

Place pretzels into the oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and rotate the baking sheet halfway through

Once golden brown, remove from oven and melt 2 tablespoons of butter to brush on each pretzel. Again sprinkle with sugar and for the cinnamon sugar pretzels, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon and generously sprinkle on chosen pretzels

Let cool and enjoy these fresh from the market pretzels the day you made them for the best taste!