trishacal

Homemade Pretzels

Charlotte and I are not talented cooks. Nothing ever looks right, but we have fun. The other day we made Homemade Pretzels. Do not be fooled, this is harder than it looks.

Here is the recipe we used:

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups water (approx 105 degrees)
  • 1 tablespoon yeast
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 cups occident flour (bread flour)
  • 2 cups flour

Dipping solution

  • 1/2 cup baking soda, into
  • 3 cups hot water
  • sweet creamy butter, for ‘dipping’ face of pretzels after baking (melt butter, then let set a few minutes, and use paper towel to remove cream which will float to the)

Directions

  1. Dissolve yeast into warm water.
  2. Add sugar, then flour& mix well- do not ‘knead’ as this toughens the dough.
  3. (Mix just until combined well) Let rise until doubled, at least 20 minutes.
  4. Cut into long ‘ropes’.
  5. Shape into pretzel shapes, then dip into prepared dipping solution.
  6. Place on well-greased cookie sheet and sprinkle with pretzel salt.
  7. Bake at 500-550°F for 4-6 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Dip face of pretzel into melted butter.
  9. Variation: add 1 t vanilla to the dough.
  10. Flavor variations.
  11. Cinnamon/sugar- omit salt& dip into cinnamon sugar after face has been coated with butter.
  12. Sour cream& onion- after dipping face of pretzel in butter, sprinkle with sour cream& onion powder Garlic- same as sour cream& onion, but use garlic powder.
  13. Sesame or poppy seed–BEFORE baking, AFTER dipping into dipping solution, dip pretzel face-down into the seeds, then bake.
  14. Salt is optional with this one.

How it really went:

I did most of the stuff up until the yeast rising. Am I the only one that hates working with Yeast? Or saying the word “Yeast”.
Yeast.
I might as well be saying the word “Vagina”.
pretzeldough

2) Rolling into ropes is not an easy concept for a 4 year old.

Lots of smashing and “mommy, I need help” statements.

pretzeldirections
rollingdough

3) Shaping the dough was pretty much pointless-for either one of us. Hearts and dots; not so much pretzel shapes. I’m starting to think there is a hefty training program at that Auntie Annes in the mall.

addingpretzels

dough

4) This pile looks like dog doo doo.

dogcrap

Or hearts.

Depends on your perspective.

heartdough

5) Put in oven.

And Pray.

dearlord

6) Once they are done, cover in butter.

As you can see I used a paintbrush sponge. This soaked up the butter excellently. I used this because I couldn’t find a baster, but it worked great.

butterpretzels

7) Everything tastes better with sugar. Even our cooking!

sugarpretzels

About Trisha-admin

Trisha Haas is the head of MomDot; a sometimes controversial (but always fun!) mom blogger community. Trisha has a beautiful daughter, Charlotte and an often crazy (but lovable) husband named Chris. Her family encourages and inspires her to blog in this personal and professional online dialogue. You can follow Trisha on twitter @MomDotRocks.
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12 Comments

  • 12
    October 2, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Wow you are adventurous! :) They look good.

  • 11
    October 2, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Oh they look perfect to me :D love how much fun kiddos have when cooking :) mine loves it…

  • 10
    October 1, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Those do look good! Now that you’ve got the technique down, you can make bagels, too. It’s not much different.

  • 9
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Looks yummy! How did they taste?

  • 8
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Oh those look yummy! I’ve never made them before…maybe a new idea for the holiday season. Thanks Trisha!

  • 7
    Victoria
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    I love pretzels! Those look DELICIOUS! :)

  • 6
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    YUMMY! LOL @ doodoo!

  • 5
    Sky
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    They look great! I’d like to try this recipe…but it looks like too much. Oy!

  • 4
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Looks like it would be fun to try, all that butter and sugar sounds yummy!! Great recipe!! thanks a lot!

  • 3
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    DELICIOUS! I have to try this!

  • 2
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Well, they look edible hehe :) What more could ya want

  • 1
    September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    You’re brave. I HATE making any form of yeast breads. I stick to the quick breads that you stir until just combined, pour and bake. I don’t have the patience for rolling and kneading and waiting for stuff to rise. By the time it rises I’ve lost interest.

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