Buttery Soft Pretzels

Do you want soft pretzels like Auntie Anne's? You can buy Auntie Anne's make-your-own pretzel kit for $12.95 and make in your own kitchen.

Or go for bargain like us? We combined a few different homemade soft pretzel recipes we found via Googling.

Buttery Soft Pretzels

Serves: 8-12

1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 Tb. brown sugar
1 1/2 C 110 degree water
4 C bread flour
Vegetable oil
1 Tb. baking soda
1/4 C warm water
4 Tb. butter (melted)

1. In a large bowl, combine yeast, salt, sugar, and water; allow to rest for 5 minutes

2. Add flour to mixture and knead for 5 minute or until smooth.

3. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl (with vegetable oil), cover with a damp towel, and allow to rise (doubled in size) in a warm place for one hour.

4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 to 12 equal size pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape.

5. In a shallow dish, stir baking soda into warm water. Dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.

6. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Brush melted butter onto hot pretzels.

Topping (after you brush with butter): For salted pretzels, sprinkle with pretzel salt or kosher salt. For cinnamon- sugar pretzels, stir 2 tablespoon honey into the melted butter before brushing on pretzels, then sprinkle with a mixture of 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. For parmesan pretzels, sprinkle with a mixture of 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon garlic salt.

*According to one recipe, sweet butter, not regular butter, is one of Auntie Anne's secrets!

Next time, we want to try make one with all-purpose flour to see if there is any difference.