All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. If you're worried about appearance, these treats are best enjoyed the same day you make them. With the mixer on low, gradually add the warm milk/butter mixture to the bowl. You will not be disappointed in this recipe! Stir in the vegetable oil, 1 . This soft pretzel recipe is perfect for serving as a snack or party appetizer, or as a delicious side dish with soup or chili for dinner. Read on for the easiest homemade pretzel recipes plus some surprising twists thatll turn you into a pretzel pro almost instantly. *For a detailed list of ingredients and measurements, please reference the recipe card down below. Yummy but had no rise and were sad versions of the lovely puffed up roll shown here. Bring the water bath to a medium (but not rolling) boil; when you add your pretzels, it'll calm down to a simmer. Let the shaped pretzels rest for 15 minutes, while you heat 6 cups water, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and 1 tablespoon table salt in a large saucepan or electric frying pan. Pretzel sandwich buns? Let's talk about the mix, OK? Your pretzels wont get quite the same depth of color or deep pretzel-y flavor, but its the method that I use and recommend. Made 12 pretzels, one batch with salt, one with sesame and salt. Traditionally this alkaline bath was made using food-grade lye. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Theyre remarkable pretzels but Im satisfied with this ultra quick dough! Is it better to check the toggle for the weight instead of just going with the KA conversion? Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. What if I forgot to add salt to my bread dough? We baked these two ways. Press down dough where dough overlaps in an X. Next we tried it an un-greased baking sheets and had much better results, they still stuck to some degree. Is it due to too much excess liquid? Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Read my full disclosure policy. Remove from the oven and increase the oven's temperature to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Dont believe us? [not sure if this comment got posted previously so sent it again], Hello. Checked other pretzel recipes and found 21/4 c. Second try is proofing.I shall let you know how they turn out. This means it's far less corrosive and safer to handle. If I make this next time, Id opt to do a baking soda bath with boiling water for a few seconds. I cant decide which I like more, so I recommend making both! Melt the remaining three tablespoons of butter and brush on the baked pretzels. This way, the inside of the pretzel is still warm and chewy, while the outside has the crunch we know and love. Not only are homemade soft pretzels a fun and tasty treat to make with kids, they can also be customized to your liking whether you prefer a classic salted pretzel or a sweet cinnamon sugar flavor. Dip in the water bath and bake the bites as normal. Jennifer Segal, adapted from Food Network, all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off, I'm Jenn Segal - Classically Trained Chef, Cookbook Author & Busy Mom. They had the same basic ratio of liquids to flour (1 cup liquid to 3-ish cups flour), with only very slight variations. When the dough forms a cohesive mass, switch from the paddle attachment to the dough hook. Mix the dough, knead it, and let it rise for 30 minutes. Let any excess liquid drip off, then form the dough into a pretzel shape directly on the prepared baking sheet (form a U-shape, then holding the ends of the rope, cross them over and under each other making a twist in the middle and press the ends onto the bottom of the pretzel). The solution causes a chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction, which results in browning and a distinctive taste. Hi Sandra, the one way you can reduce the sodium is by cutting back a bit on the added salt. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Still, they all taste wonderful. Could this mix be used to make crackers with a cheddar/salt topping? Thats it, youre done. I have made the from scratch KA recipe method before and h by B (not verified). Quick question about measuring flour for your recipes. In reply to Could this mix be used to make crackers with a cheddar/salt top by David R Van Gelder (not verified), In reply to Is there somewhere locally I can buy the soft pretzel mix? While I'm a from-scratch baker, I confess to keeping a stash of King Arthur Flour mixes in my cupboard, as well. If youre making the pretzels for grown-ups, serve them with mustard or beer cheese dip for an extra kick of flavor. Loop and twist the rope into a pretzel shape, and place onto a baking sheet. Transfer your shaped pretzel to the bath for 10 to 15 seconds. Using a baking soda bath is a common approach for home pretzel bakers. When choosing what to serve with pretzels, its important to keep balance in mind. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Whether you are a pretzel-twisting professional or a first-time baker, our easy recipefor how to make pretzels will have you sampling a taste in less than an hour. Also I suggest that if you are doing this by yourself dont leave the pretzels too long before putting in the oven as they go rock solid and dont bake well. Spray large cooking sheet with cooking spray. The baking soda bath seen above follows King Arthur's Classic Pretzels recipe. Lets talk about dough for a moment. (Alternatively, the dough can be mixed and kneaded by hand.) When combined with hot water, the starches on the surface of the pretzel dough gelatinize, forming a protective crust. How to make Pan de Cristal with sourdough starter, How to make your sourdough bread more (or less) sour: part 2, Fresh Sourdough Starter and Glass Sourdough Crock Set. If you've ne. Bake at 450F 6-8 minutes or until dark golden brown. Stir together hot water and baking soda; brush mixture over outer 1-in. 1 can (13.8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust. Roll each piece into a rope 18 to 20 inches long. Then move the pretzel to a cooling rack on top of parchment paper. This style emphasizes a consistent thickness all the way through. Beat egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl and brush yolk mixture over each pretzel; sprinkle each with coarse salt. If this sounds a little too adventurous for your taste, never fear: Baking soda makes a fine substitute. These are amazing! Lets chat about the dough. To reheat, preheat your oven to 350F. Don't forget the mustard. Delicious and my first time using yeast and I didnt fail. Amount is based on available nutrient data. Shape the dough into a ball, place in a clean, lightly greased bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. In reply to We baked these two ways by Bruce (not verified). Hi Bruce, draining the pretzels on a stainless steel rack over parchment paper for a few minutes after the water bath, as recommended in this blog post, will definitely help minimize sticking. This reactiongives each pretzel a chewy crust, mahogany color, glossy sheen, and that unmistakable pretzel flavor typical of a German soft pretzel. Required fields are marked *. Pinterest The best way to store pretzels, however, is without freezing. Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, mix cheese spread and milk. Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Place them on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with coarse white pretzel salt (included with the mix). Additionally, the crossed arms at the top of the pretzel are rolled very thin. The process is straightforward. My husband took one bite and said these taste just like Auntie Annes, but BETTER! (and we LOVE auntie Annes). Step 2: To make pretzel shape, form dough into U shape. Pick ends up and fold over so they rest over bottom on U shape, pressing ends to stick. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours. Or snap a photo and share it on Instagram; be sure to tag me @onceuponachef. Let the shaped pretzels rest for 15 minutes, while you heat 6 cups water, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and 1 tablespoon table salt in a large saucepan or electric frying pan. With its high heat and compact size, this wood-fired oven is my summer staple. Sourdough Pretzels Recipe | King Arthur Baking Unroll dough; reroll into long rope, stretching carefully to about 55 inches long. Microwave on High 1 minute, stirring once halfway through cooking, until melted and hot. Enjoy hot pretzels. When youre making pretzels at home, wed recommend leaving lye to the experts and going the baking soda routeits a more accessible ingredient (that might already be sitting in your pantry!). Made in food processor, needed much more flour. This constant thickness makes them perfect for slicing and making into a sandwich. Then move the pretzel to a cooling rack on top of parchment paper. Make a well in the center; add yeast mixture and oil. Lye is a strong alkali that can be dangerous if misused, but it's lye that enhances the Maillard reaction on the outside of the dough. Mix on low speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Divide the dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. I don't think cooling them on the pan for a few minutes is likely to help avoid sticking. Let the yeast foam in the warm water for a few minutes, then add the rest of the ingredients and mix. It will rise minimally. Let's take a look at each method for preparing a pretzel bath. I should have weighed my flour. Learn how your comment data is processed. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Rate the recipe: 5 stars means you loved it, 1 star means you really disliked it. Shape the dough into a log, then cut into 6 equal pieces; cover with a damp dishtowel so the dough doesn't dry out. This boiling step is the secret to firm skin and adds that definite pretzel flavor. It is highly corrosive, after all, but with the right preparation and a careful approach, working with it isn't as daunting as you might think. Combine the baking soda with warm water in a 2-quart baking dish and stir until dissolved. Let the dough rise: Clean out the bowl, film it with oil, and return the dough to the bowl. Shape into flattened balls. Have both of your cookbooks and really enjoy your recipes and teaching style! Bring 6 cups of water to a low boil in a large pot. In the end, the choice between lye and baking soda is yours. PJ Hamel grew up in New England, graduated from Brown University, and was an award-winning Maine journalist (favorite topics: sports and food) before joining King Arthur Flour in 1990. You can update your privacy settings to enable this content. Shape the dough into a log and cut into six equal pieces. Theres no wrong way to shape a pretzel, but lets stick with tradition today. Or ham and cheese. Yum! Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe (Easy, Classic Version) - Kitchn Twist ends together twice. Grease a baking sheet. Simmer for another 30 seconds, then scoop the pretzels out of the water and return them to the baking sheet. Feed your starter to active it. Buttery Soft Pretzels - Allrecipes Enjoy! Soft Homemade Pretzels - Allrecipes Stir to dissolve the baking soda and syrup, then reduce the heat to medium to maintain a simmer. Instructions Mix the sugar, water and yeast; stir to dissolve. Once upon a time, I went to culinary school and worked in fancy restaurants. Absolute deliciousness! Place the bites into the solution, gently swish . Heat 1-1/2 cups whole milk in a saucepan until it reaches 110. This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. The exterior crust will still be somewhat soft; the coloring looks brown rather than deep mahogany; there's far less of a sheen on the crust; and the typical pretzel flavor is there, just not at the same magnitude. Need a little extra help? Let rise at least 1/2 hour. Fancy! It did double in size and all my other items rose fine. Hi! 1 18 teaspoons salt 1 cup bread flour 3 cups flour 2 cups warm water 2 tablespoons baking soda coarse salt 2 -4 tablespoons butter (melted) directions Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Mix and let it rest for about 5 minutes until the mixture looks frothy. I'd love to know how it turned out! Instagram Tip: The sturdy texture of these buns makes them perfect for overstuffed sandwiches and "messy" fillings of all kinds. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator before using. Simply freeze your baked pretzels until you are ready to eat them. After a few minutes, transfer the dipped pretzel to a silicone or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Pretzel dough 9 ways, part 2 | King Arthur Baking 2011-2023 Sally's Baking Addiction, All Rights I think next time I'll do that for the pretzel buns, since I didn't have them rest at all after dividing and flattening the rounds. Remove pretzels from cookie sheet. Purchase our classic fresh sourdough starter itll be ready for baking soonafter it arrives at your door. Preheat the oven to 450F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Or let them rest at room temp only (no refrigeration) before putting in the lye. This post may contain affiliate links. Bake until golden, 8 to 12 minutes. Continue adding flour as needed if the dough is too sticky. Then, transfer one shaped pretzel to the bath using a slotted spatula and let sit for 1 minute. How To Make Homemade Soft Pretzels - only 6 ingredients! - JZ Eats While wearing eye protection and rubber or latex gloves, mix 37g of lye powder/pellets into a bowl holding 4 cups (907g) of cold water and stir to dissolve. Add yeast, and let rest 5 minutes until yeast starts to foam. Now drop the pretzels into the boiling water + baking soda. The best homemade soft pretzels are buttery, salty, slightly sweet, and easy to make from scratch with ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Repeat until all pretzel dogs are boiled. Bake in a preheated 400F oven for about 18 . In reply to I actually do refrigerate by Kersie Jhabvala (not verified). Drop 1-2 pretzels into the boiling water for 20-30 seconds. To halve this recipe, halve all the ingredients. 3. However, lye can be tricky to get your hands on and trickier to use its a hazardous chemical and requires special precautions in order to use it safely. Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically. Any thoughts on what I might do next time to get the lovely shape shown here? * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Note: If you prefer a cinnamon sugar topping, omit the coarse salt. We don't see why not, David! (Meanwhile, I like to get the water + baking soda boiling as instructed in step 6.). As a final note, I encourage you to branch out once youve tried the knotted pretzel shape. In reply to Hi KJ, do you happen to by balpern. Mix 1 cup flour and Greek yogurt together in a medium bowl until a shaggy dough forms. Can i use granulated sugar? Keep going until you reach 24 inches (60 cm). Roll and stretch each piece with the palms of your hands into a 24-inchrope, holding the ends and slapping the middle of the rope on the counter as you stretch. The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. Homemade Pretzel Bread (Pretzel Rolls) - JoyFoodSunshine Annabelle@KAF. Is omitting this ok? Prepare a baking sheet by spraying it with vegetable oil spray, or lining it with parchment paper. Store them in a paper bag at room temperature for up to one day after baking. Preheat oven to 425. The secret is the baking soda bath that each pretzel takes before it goes into the oven. Wondering if cooling them on the pan for a short time before removing them to the rack would help avoid the sticking? After processing, transfer each pretzel to a baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment paper. Homemade Soft Pretzels (No Knead, No Machine Recipe) And the onion inside adds wonderful flavor. Make Ahead Tip: At this point, the pretzel dough can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for three months. And also because I believe everyone should get to relive their best memories with a piping-hot soft pretzel every once in a while. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours. Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved; set aside. Some used beer and some added a touch more sugar, but on the whole, the recipes were the same. Add the oil or lukewarm melted butter and salt. Particularly after their "bath" in garlic butter: 4 tablespoons melted butter and as much chopped garlic as you like. Stir the mixture until the sugar and salt are dissolved, then sprinkle the yeast over the liquid. Step 1: Heat oven to 375F. WATCH Watch how to make this recipe. 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) 1 teaspoon white sugar 2 teaspoons quick-rise yeast 2 cups bread flour 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt cup baking soda 1 tablespoon butter, or as needed 1 pinch kosher salt, or to taste 1 cup pizza sauce, or to taste 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, or to taste Brushed with an egg yolk and 1tbsp of water before sprinkling with salt/ sesame seeds. Next, lay the dough out in front of you in an upside-down "U" shape (upper left, above). Now, Im cooking for my family and sharing all my tested & perfected recipes with you here! Texturally, the interior was still quite chewy and soft. Thank you to the author for this recipe. Roll the dough into a 20-22 inch rope. You need the simplest, most basic ingredients possible and I guarantee each one is in your kitchen right now. Transfer to cookie sheet. Tip: You might think the chopped onion would fall out during the rolls' trip through the water bath. I try an experiment: what happens if you don't put the knots through the water bath? Use a slotted spoon to remove it from the bath and place it on the prepared baking sheet. They looked just like the picture when they were flattened balls but they didn't rise up much more. Soft Pretzels (Just like Auntie Anne's) - Once Upon a Chef Brush with egg and sprinkle with salt: Once all the pretzels have been dipped in the water bath, brush them with the egg and water mixture and sprinkle them with salt. Our easy, kitchen-approved method for making soft pretzels at home is easier than you think. Allow the baked pretzels to cool completely, then place them into airtight containers in the freezer. One by one, carefully drop each pretzel into the water and boil until the pretzel floats to the top, 2 to 3 minutes. Dont forget the dip! Instagram I use a lye bath for about 20-30 seconds then place in oven at 425 degrees. Thank you for always posting the best recipes. Let stand a few minutes, then stir to dissolve the yeast. They lose a little softness over time. Great recipe, just follow the measurements as close as you can! If mixture is dry, add one or two more tablespoons of water. Rolling and twisting the dough into pretzel shapes is all part of the fun, but you could also make them into bite-sized pieces if you prefer. Ive made this recipe twice, once without a mixer and once with. Simmer the "pigs" for 30 seconds. With its high heat and compact size, this wood-fired oven is my summer staple. Twist the ends together. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. These pretzels are soft and chewy in the middle, golden brown on the outside, and have that delicious iconic. You know the drill after that: let the rolls rest for 15 minutes, simmer 30 seconds on each side, top with salt, bake for 20 minutes. Or room-temperature pretzels; their texture remains just as compelling as they cool down. So, that's what the instructions on the box cover. Perhaps the most common way to serve pretzels is as an appetizer alongside your favorite dip. Any more than that and your pretzels will have a metallic taste. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Find what you need in our sourdough baking guide. barley malt syrup, rice syrup, or dark brown sugar, large egg, whisked with 2 tablespoons warm water. While there's a variety of ways to shape pretzels, which we'll look at later, the part that sometimes separates the home baker from the professional baker is the way they prepare the alkali bath: When making pretzels at home, most use common baking soda, whereas many bakeries use lye (caustic soda) for the bath. Increase the acids. Refrigerating shaped dough often results in blisters forming during baking, which is related to condensation forming on the surface of the baked good during a long rest in the fridge. I discovered something interesting in my research: All the recipes were basically the same. I have so many good memories of soft pretzels: a cold afternoon my first time in New York, Red Sox games at Fenway Park a few years later, a fantastic restaurant in San Francisco that serves them as an appetizer with cheese dip. We have a couple of recipes that would work great with lye: Classic Pretzels or German-Style Pretzels Both of these recipes will have instructions under the Tips from our Bakers section on how to use lye should you wish to. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). After dipping the balls of dough in the water bath, slash a shallow "X" in the top of each one before baking. So when I was tasked with taking our new pretzel mix and seeing what else I could make with it (besides the traditional soft pretzel), I took the bait and after a couple of days of baking, I'm hooked. Did the buns deflate while being boiled? firmly . These require that you dredge up your long-dormant knot-tying skills. Absolutely delicious. While in the water bath, the pretzels will puff and take on a doughy, puckered appearance. You can also consider checking out, Your email address will not be published. Is there somewhere locally I can buy the soft pretzel mix? Please enable all cookies to use this feature. The pretzels shown above were dipped in a 4% lye solution using the process outlined in BREAD, by Jeffrey Hamelman, before being scored, salted, and then baked at 450F. How to give any bread a chocolate makeover. First time ever making soft pretzels, and it was super easy. We do it every time now. I used the recipe again this week but used the cooking times and simmering method described here and had very good results. Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe | Alton Brown | Food Network Amount is based on available nutrient data. Keep the gorgeous holes amp up the flavor. If you find the dough keeps springing back when you try to roll it, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 15 minutes to allow the gluten to relax. It's possible! I did not have white flour, so I used whole wheat, and they still turned out fabulous! Weve got tons of dinner recipesto serve with your pretzels. Sometimes it's nice to have thin "arms" for crunch. Allow to sit for 1 minute. It's crucial for both texture and color. What is bakers math, and how can I use it in my everyday bread baking? I made two batches of these amazing pretzels. Im going to make these this week for a Memorial Day picnic, and a beer cheese dip to serve with them. I guess I could have fit four at once into this pan, eh? Baked Soft Pretzels (Step by Step Instructions!) - The Recipe Critic Even if you have zero skill in the kitchen, you can make these homemade soft pretzels. In a large bowl, stir the brown sugar into 2 cups of warm water until dissolved. Set aside. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Sigh. Poke the dough with your finger if it bounces back, it is ready to knead. The answer is yes! Finally, fold the tips up to overlap the sides of the pretzel loop (lower right, above). By PJ Hamel. I love making pretzels but find that they tend to have a metallic taste. STEP 2 Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal-size pieces. After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. They're handy when you want to make something fresh and yummy but don't have enough time or all the ingredients you need. Reserved. Hi Eileen, This is not a concern here because its such a small amount of salt. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully "springing" during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. Your email address will not be published. 2023 Warner Bros. Roll each piece of dough into an 18" rope. 22 Quick and Easy Recipes in 30 Minutes (or less) + 5 Chef Secrets To Make You A Better Cook! How to Make Pretzels By Pillsbury Kitchens Created April 3, 2018 Our easy, kitchen-approved method for making soft pretzels at home is easier than you think. Grease a baking sheet. Form a circle with the dough by bringing the two ends together at the top of the circle. Bake until soft and warmed through, about 10 minutes.