I love you, homemade soft pretzels...

One of my favorite indulgences is a hot soft pretzel dipped in mustard, cheese, or covered in a dusting of cinnamon sugar. Awhile back I found a recipe online at the Curvy Carrot and now it's one of my favorite things to make on lazy weekends filled with football, naps and reading. They are surprisingly simple to make and are a great snack for entertaining or just a quiet weekend at home... Enjoy! 

Soft Pretzels with Butter 

Servings: 8

Ingredients: 

For the dough

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons regular instant yeast
1 1/4 cup warm water

For the topping

1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda
coarse, kosher or pretzel salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Place all of the dough ingredients into a stand mixer bowl, and beat till well-combined.

2. Knead the dough for about 8 minutes, till it’s soft, smooth, and slack.

3. Place the dough in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap,  and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 500°F.

5. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.

6. After a half hour, transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface, and divide it into eight equal pieces.

7. Allow the pieces to rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

8. While the dough is resting, combine the 1/2 cup warm water and the baking soda, and place it in a shallow bowl.

9. Roll each piece of dough into a long, thin rope, and twist each rope into a pretzel.

10.Dip each pretzel in the baking soda wash and place them on the baking sheets.

11. Sprinkle them lightly with coarse, kosher, or pretzel salt.

12. Allow them to rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

13. Bake the pretzels for 8 to 9 minutes, or until they’re golden brown, reversing the baking sheets halfway through.

14. Remove the pretzels from the oven, and brush them thoroughly with the melted butter. 

15. I usually dust at least a few in the batch with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar (optional)!