Twisted Super Bowl Treat

It smells G-O-O-D in here!

We had our own little super bowl party at the bacon house tonight. I decided to make a special treat for it. Nothing better to go with your ice cold... well what ever you're drinking than pretzels. Soft, buttery, salty pretzels were great while we cheered on our favorite team- GO PACKERS!!

They didn't take much time at all to make, but were gobbled up fast. These seem like another one of those scary to make breads because once again it uses yeast. Trust me, it's easy and the taste is SO worth it. These are by far better than those you buy at the mall.

The first steps of this recipe are similar to those I used while making buns here.

Buttery Soft Pretzels

5 tsp yeast (or 2-.25 packets)
1 tsp sugar
1 1/4 cup warm water (110-115*)
3-4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 TBSP oil

1/4 cup baking soda
2 cups water
2 TBSP butter - melted
Coarse salt

In bowl, place yeast, 1 tsp sugar and 1 1/4 cups warm water. Let sit until yeast becomes bubbly. Add in sugar, salt and oil and mix. Slowly add in flour 1 cup at a time and mix until dough forms a ball. If using your mixer, when dough ball forms and pulls away from sides. Kneed dough by hand or in mixer for 6-7 more minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning once and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for one hour. I turn my oven on 200* while I start to mix up the dough, I place the dough in the bowl in the oven and turn the oven OFF to rest for one hour.

Ahhh... the relaxing hour. Today was great, Mr. Bacon took the kids outside to play, I was able to get Bacon bit to take a nap... so quiet! It goes by too fast.

Once doubled in size. Punch down and turn out onto a floured surface. You don't need a ton of flour here. Kneed dough a few times into a ball.

Cut ball into twelve pieces. Now the fun begins. This is where this is where it requires some work, but still it only took me 30 min tops to roll these out. And that was with having to answer the door three times because Little Miss Bacon kept wanting to show me the snow balls she was making.

Take one dough ball and start to roll it between your hands. Then roll it along the the cutting board or counter until you get a thin, long rope. My cutting board is 23" long, I made my ropes that long.

Now it's time to twist. If you want to make a traditional pretzel, twist the ends twice like the picture below. Then fold it over on it's self. Tada!

Next- take the 1/4 cup of baking soda and dissolve it in the 2 cups water. Place in a shallow pan, I found my 8x8 baking dish worked well. Take the pretzel and dip it in the water solution. Then pat it on a paper towel to get rid of any drips and place on greased cookie sheet.

If you prefer to make something easier than the pretzel, you can make twists. Roll the dough into a long rope again, cut it in the middle. Lay the 2 ropes next to each other and twist together. Repeat the baking soda bath with the rope and place on the pan.

Once you have them all rolled out. Melt 2 Tbsp butter and brush on the tops of the pretzels. Sprinkle with course salt. Bake in oven at 425* for 8 minutes. Go ahead and try out other variations. You can bake them and then dip them in cinnamon and sugar, sprinkle with garlic salt, our your favorite seasonings too.

Don't worry about the dough puffing up once it sits on the pan. It's ok. It will puff up more once it's bake too so make sure not to crowd them on the pans either. Baked buttery goodness! ENJOY!