Auntie Anne's Pretzels

While living abroad there are lots of foods that I have come to miss that seem to only be available back in the States. One of my fellow American friends really missed the Auntie Ann's Pretzels and I happened to find a recipe claiming to be just like the ones we could get back home so I tried it out. She said they tasted almost like the real thing. So if you can't venture off to the mall to pick one up for yourself, go ahead and make your very own batch at home.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/8 tsp active dry yeast
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 1/8 tsp salt
1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour
2 cups warm water
2 Tbs. baking soda
To taste coarse salt
2−4 Tbs. butter (melted)

Method:

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt, and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 Tbs. baking soda. Be certain to stir often.

After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick).

Then shape the rope into a pretzel.

Dip pretzel into soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzel to rise again.

Bake in a 450 degree (F) / 230 degree (C) oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

***Note - Toppings ideas:
After you brush with butter try sprinkling with coarse salt. For Auntie Anne's famous cinnamon sugar, try melting a stick of butter in a shallow bowl (big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another bowl, make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Dip the pretzel into the butter, coating both sides generously. Then dip again into the cinnamon mixture.