There are some carb-splurges that are totally worth it. One of them being soft homemade pretzels (others: chocolate molten cake, maple donuts, and fettuccini alfredo) How ’bout turning these fellas into clovers to jazz up St. Patrick’s Day! Remember to start making these at least a couple hours before you need them because they have to rise a couple times!
You will need a package of yeast, brown sugar, salt, flour, bread flour, water, baking soda, and butter. (Plus any toppings or dip you want…coarse salt, parmesan cheese, cinnamon & sugar, nacho cheese, marinara, etc.) This recipe made about 8 clover pretzels.
Dissolve 1 1/4 tsp. yeast in 1 1/2 cups of warm water.
To that, add 2 TBS. brown sugar, 1 1/4 tsp. salt and stir to dissolve. Then add 1 cup bread flour and 3 cups of regular flour. Mix and then knead the dough for a few minutes.
Cover the dough and let it rise at least half an hour.
After about 1/2 hour or more of rising, pour 2 cups of warm water into a flat dish (I used a bowl but realized I needed to dump it into a flat dish like a cake pan). To the water add 2 TBS. of baking soda. Stir to dissolve and re-stir often.
Pinch off about a plum-size section of dough. Roll until really thin (this was kinda hard for me, but try to get it about 1/2 inch thick). Shape the dough into the shape you want, I did shamrocks for St. Patrick’s day. Then dip the dough into the baking soda bath. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Cover and let rise again for at least another 1/2 hour. Then bake at 450 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes, or until slightly golden on top. Immediately butter and add toppings. We had these with Ham and Potato soup! Yummers!
Soft Pretzels
Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
- 2 TBS. brown sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 cup bread flour
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups water
- 2 TBS. baking soda
- Any toppings you want or dips
Instructions
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Dissolve yeast in 1 1/2 cups warm water.
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Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve.
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Add the flours and knead the dough for a few minutes.
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Cover the dough and let it rise for at least a half hour.
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After it has risen, break of pieces and roll into thin ropes.
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Shape into pretzels (or any other shape).
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Dip it into a bath of 2 cups warm water and 2 TBS. baking soda.
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Place on a greased cookie sheet. Cover the dough pretzels and let rise another half hour or more.
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Bake at 450 degrees from 7 to 10 minutes until slightly golden on top.
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Brush with melted butter and add toppings (salt, parmesan, cinnamon & sugar, etc.)
Jessica says
Those are so cute! I will have t try those!
Nichole says
Yummy! I will have to try those this week! Thanks for a great new idea Mariel!
SO says
How did you know I’ve been considering doing homemade pretzels??? It’s like you’ve been inside my head. What a great idea for St. Patty’s day too.
And thanks for stopping by my blog!
That Girl in Brazil says
OH, thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou. Not only do I never do anything cool for St. Patty’s (is that tomorrow?), I haven’t had a soft pretzel in … well, a LONG time.
I know what we’re doing after naps today!
rad6 says
So do you think that they would still be a favorite treat if you added green food coloring??? Hmmm…. Maybe green salt!
Looks like fun!
Ruth
Jill says
Yummm…I’m totally stoked to make these. They look delish!
capperson says
These look sooo yummy!!!
Reb says
These look so darling. And I have to say, I am coveting your granite counter tops too!
DeNae says
Oh my gosh, I love your blog! NOOOO!! I can’t afford to be hooked on any more fabulous bloggers!! My butt is fused to this flippin’ computer chair as it is!!
OK, that’s enough double-exclamation points. Thanks for stopping by my nonsensical blog and commenting. This is how I find cool people like you. Because, now that I’m a blogger, I never leave the house or meet people in 3-D.
Julia Catherine says
mmm looks delish. Bookmarking this for when i have time to make some!
Hollyween says
Those look good. But I bet they’d taste better if someone else made them for me. Like say… YOU.
Catherine Agnes says
These look awesome in shamrock shapes! I loved the edited movie tip as well.
Stacie says
Mariel- I made these today. They are great!!!
orsoshesays says
Oh, cool! I haven’t made those forever. I’ve been wanting to try them, cut up into bite size “nuggets” and serve them with toothpicks and dipping sauces. I thought that would be fun. Soft pretzels are a definite weakness of mine. I’m always so grateful that bread takes a lot of effort and time to make, otherwise I would be chowing down all day! Thanks for commenting!
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