Recipes : Homemade Soft Pretzels : Food Network

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Homemade Soft Pretzels
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2007

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for pan
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Pretzel salt

Instructions
Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl
of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or
until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough
hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and
knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl,
approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and
then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with
plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until
the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and
lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart
saucepan or roasting pan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide
into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a
U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other
and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place
onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them
from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the
top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with
the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14

minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.