Homemade Soft Pretzels

Auntie Ann better watch out! Alexandra and I made some soft pretzels yesterday and they came pretty darn close to tasting just as good as good as the pretzels you get at the mall! I found a recipe where I could use my bread machine to make the dough and I found one via Taste of Home. The dough takes about an hour and a half in the bread machine but the baking time is only 8-10 minutes. (See recipe under pictures). I did most of the work but Alexandra helped dump the ingredients into the bread machine and helped to butter the pretzels before they went into the oven. And her favorite part...eating them! They were SO good fresh out of the oven. My husband loved them!!! (And I did too as it's only the day after we made them and there are none left!)

 This is one of the better looking ones. I started making sticks at the end because it was just easier! 

The recipe is taken from the Taste of Home site

Ingredients: 

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water (70° to 80°)

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

2 quarts water

1/2 cup baking soda

Coarse salt

Directions:

In bread machine pan, place the first four ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons water or flour if needed).

When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into eight balls. Roll each into a 20-in. rope; form into pretzel shape (I also did pretzel sticks - they are easier to stay together!)

In a large saucepan, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop pretzels into boiling water, two at a time; boil for 10-15 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.

Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Bake at 425° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Spritz or lightly brush with water. Sprinkle with salt.