Homemade Soft Pretzels, Three Ways

• Vegetarian

• Baking & Spices

  • 2 1/4 tsp Active dry yeast
  • 2/3 cup Baking soda
  • 4 1/2 cups Flour
  • 1 tbsp Granulated sugar
  • 2 Teaspooons salt

• Dairy

  • 8 tbsp Butter

• Liquids

  • 11 1/2 cups Water

Found on girlversusdough.com

Ingredients

• 1½ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 4½ cups flour, divided
• 2 teaspooons salt
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 10 cups water
• ⅔ cup baking soda
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• Cinnamon Sugar: ¼ cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• Garlic Parmesan: 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese + 3 teaspoons garlic powder + 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Zaatar Sesame: 4 tablespoons zaatar spice + 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions

• In large bowl or bowl of stand mixer, combine water, sugar and yeast. Let rest 5 minutes until slightly foamy. Using wooden spoon or dough hook attachment on low speed, stir in 4 cups flour, salt and melted butter until dough forms.
• Transfer dough to well-floured surface and knead by hand 10 to 15 minutes, adding just enough remaining ½ cup flour until dough is smooth, soft, elastic and slightly firm; OR, using dough hook attachment on medium speed, knead dough in stand mixer 5 to 7 minutes, adding just enough remaining ½ cup flour until dough is smooth, soft, elastic and slightly firm. Shape dough into ball and place in lightly greased large bowl. Cover with tea towel and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees F; line 2 baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper lightly sprayed with cooking spray. In large pot, bring water and baking soda to boil. Punch down risen dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 2-foot-long rope; twist into pretzel shape (see photos in post for visual direction).
• Using slotted spoon, carefully dip 2 to 3 pretzels at a time into boiling water; boil 30 seconds. Remove pretzels with slotted spoon and transfer to lined baking sheets spaced 2 inches apart. When all pretzels are boiled, bake 12 to 14 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking, until pretzels are deep golden brown.
• While pretzels bake, mix desired toppings. Brush warm pretzels with butter, then sprinkle toppings on top (NOTE: amounts of toppings listed above are each for 8 pretzels; reduce amounts if you want to make all 3 varieties with 1 batch of pretzels). Serve warm.