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Homemade Soft Pretzels Made Easy

Pretzels, Soft Pretzels

Soft Pretzels are made up of yeast, sugar, salt, flour, and water. At least those are the ingredients involved with getting the same taste bought at pretzel places. To achieve the soft pretzel look and taste is tricky, but it can be done with practice in the comfort of the kitchen at home.

To get an idea of what a pretzel really is all you need to do is picture bread. Pretzels are a tasty convenient way to eat a miniaturized version of bread. If yeast, sugar, salt, flour, and water are mixed and baked then bread is what will be pulled from the oven.

An easy way to make soft pretzels without blending ingredients is to use canned biscuits or ready to use pizza dough. Biscuit mix or pizza dough mix can be bought and is easy to make because usually all the mixes call for is water.

After the canned biscuits or pizza dough has been opened or if using mixes the water has been added and stirred thoroughly, the shaping of the pretzels can begin. Pretzels can be made any size preferred. Break off the desired amount of dough, roll it between the hands so it will form a stick or snake. Try to extend the length as far as possible without the dough breaking in two. If the dough breaks that’s okay. Stick the pieces back together and try again.

When the dough is as long as it can get without breaking take the two ends of the dough and point them toward each other as if making a circle, but instead of closing the circle let each end pass each other and stick them together a few inches past. It will appear as though it is a letter x open at the bottom ends closed at the top. Take the x ends and pull them toward the inner circle and attach them slightly past the bottom of the circle or on the bottom of the circle. The pretzel shape is done.

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Use a skillet or deep fryer to achieve the texture and taste of the soft pretzel. Make sure there is no oil in the deep fryer if it is to be used. Pour six cups of water in the skillet or fryer and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Stir the baking soda and water up. Allow the water time to get hot, which thanks to the baking soda should happen much faster then without it plus the baking soda will give the pretzels taste.

Place one pretzel or as many as the skillet or pan will allow into the hot water for 15 seconds then turn the pretzel over and cook the other side for 15 seconds. Remove the pretzels and put them on a tray or rack lined by paper towels. This is the time to put salt on the pretzels while they are still warm. If you want the shiny glazed look of a pretzel get a stir cooking brush and lightly touch the tops with a stirred raw egg then use kosher or regular table salt and sprinkle atop the pretzels.

Put the pretzels into an oven set at 350 degrees for about twenty-five minutes or until the tops of the pretzels is golden brown. Remove them and enjoy.