Homemade Pretzels

I must say they look and taste yummy. We polished these guys in one day. :)

Recipe:

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup warm water (100 to 110 degrees)
1 cup bread flour
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Vegetable oil, for bowl and baking sheets
1/4 cup baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon water
1 tablespoon course grain Kosher salt

In a mixing bowl, whisk together yeast, salt, sugar and water in a small bowl until sugar and salt dissolve. Leave the mixture alone until foamy, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add butter and flour. Knead until no longer sticky, about 5 minutes.

Transfer dough onto a floured surface. Use the same mixing bowl and coat with Olive Oil. Cover bowl with plastic and let the dough rise in a reasonably warm place, until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Turn out dough onto a rolling surface, and cut into 12 equal pieces. Roll each into an 18-inch rope and shape into a pretzel (as dutifully described in photos above). Place onto an oiled baking sheet, covering with plastic to keep from drying out while you finish the rest. Let rise for 20 minutes and 

preheat oven to 475 degrees.

  

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add baking soda and 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar. Boil pretzels in batches of 3-4 until puffed, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on a wire rack and return to the oiled baking sheet. Make an egg wash by whisking together 1 teaspoon water and egg in a small bowl. Brush tops of pretzels with the wash and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.