Pretzels

Pretzels

New york style pretzels

Ingredients

• 500g strong white bread flour
• 7g fast acting yeast (I use this dried active yeast).
• 7g Salt (tsp or so)
• 50g butter
• 300ml milk
• 25g dark muscovado sugar or other brown sugar

Method

In a bowl mix the flour, sugar, yeast and salt.

In a small pan melt the butter, once melted add the milk and heat until just warm.

If you're kneading by hand make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the liquid, mixing until you get a firm dough. Knead until nice and elastic.

Or, with a dough hook on and the mixer running slowly add the milk/butter to the ingredients and mix for 5 minutes.

Put in a greased bowl, cover with greased cling film and leave to double in size for an hour or so.

Once the dough has doubled in size, flour a work surface and turn out the dough. Knock it back and divide into 8 pieces.

Roll each piece out to around 60cm long and form into a pretzel shape. You can youtube this, but basically: bring the ends together and twist, lay on the board with the twist at the top and the U of dough at the bottom, then fold over from top to bottom.

Once shaped place on a baking sheet and cover with greased cling film to prove for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oven, 200C, 180C fan.

In a large pan bring some water to the boil, then add 3-4 tbs bicarbonate of soda. Set the heat to a nice simmer and boil the pretzel one at a time for 20-30 seconds a side, returning each one to the baking sheet once done.

Once you have boiled all the pretzels glaze them with a beaten egg and sprinkle on any toppings you choose. (eg salt flakes, poppy seeds, etc..)

Next bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes, until golden and delicious.