This batch of soft pretzels is my very first success at making yeasted breads! Up until now, I've never had much success with the whole frothing, rising, doubling, kneading business! But these came out so soft and fluffy, I couldn't believe it!
The method includes letting the dough rise, as well as dunking the formed pretzels into water that is boiling with LOTS of baking soda! I call it the baking soda bath because wow was that pot of water ever fizzy. Dunking the pretzels before baking made them puff up really big.
I made half with a non-vegan topping (cheese, jalapenos, and minced garlic) and the other half with cinnamon sugar - my fave! This is the recipe for the cheesy one, I'll leave a note for the vegan version down below as well.
If you have some extra time on your hands this break, these are a must-try. Man, were they good!
Soft Pretzels makes 8
-1 1/2 cup warm water
-1 tsp salt
-1 tbsp sugar
-2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
-4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-1/4 cup olive oil, more for oiling bowl
For Dunking:
-10 cups water
-2/3 cup baking soda
Egg Wash (optional- makes the pretzels golden, glazy, and shiny)
-1 egg yolk whisked with 1 tbsp water
Spicy Cheese Garlic Topping:
-1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used cheddar)
-minced garlic to taste
-1 jalapeno pepper, seeds and membranes scraped out, minced
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the warm water, sugar, and salt. Sprinkle the yeast over this mixture and let sit for about 5 minutes, until the mixture starts to foam at the top.
Add the flour and olive oil, mixing at low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and let the machine knead the dough for 4-5 minutes until it no longer sticks to the bowl. Remove the dough and transfer to a large oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a relatively warm place for 55-65 mins.
Preheat oven to 450 F (I find 425 F is enough for a convection oven) When the dough has risen to twice its size, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece out to a 2 ft long rope, and twist to make a pretzel shape (or any shape you wish :P) Repeat with remaining dough.
Bring 10 cups of water to a boil with baking soda. Dunk pretzels in one at a time, let boil for 30 seconds, then transfer to a lined baking sheet with a slotted spoon. Repeat with the other pretzels.
Brush egg wash over pretzels if you wish, and sprinkle cheese, garlic, and jalapeno on top. Bake in oven for 12-14 minutes until golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving!
**Vegan Cinnamon Sugar Topping Pretzels**
Omit egg wash. When pretzels have come out of the oven, brush over the tops with melted coconut oil, then sprinkle cinnamon sugar over top.
Cinnamon sugar (1/3 cup sugar mixed with 1 tbsp cinnamon)
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