pretzel recipe from kbd for kids

yo'ma

Mon, Jan 12 2009, 6:47 pm

2 packets rapid rise yeast
2 T sugar
1 1/2 c warm water
3 1/2 c bread or all-purpose flour
1 t salt
2 c hot water
1 T baking powder
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 425. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
Place the yeast and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add the 1 1/2 c warm water. Stir to dissolve the yeast. Let stand for 7 minutes. No bubbles after, wait 3 more minutes, if not chuck it and start all over.
Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture. with your hands, mix the ingredients in the bowl to get them to form a rough dough; it will not be smooth. Transfer the dough to your work surface. Knead the dough. Really push and pull it to get the dough smooth.
With a knife, cut the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long, thin rope, about 12-16" long. Twist into a pretzel or any shape.
Pour the 2 c of hot water into a bowl or pan and stir in the baking powder. Dip each pretzel, one at a time on each side and put on pan.
for salted pretzels:
brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with kosher salt very lightly. Bake for 12-15 until golden brown. When done, remove from pan and allow to cool a little before eating.
for cinnamon sugar pretzels:
place 4 T butter in microwave bowl with 2 T sugar and 1 t cinnamon and microwave for 45 seconds to melt the butter. Stir and brush onto pretzels. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. When done, brush on more butter mixture.