Hot Pretzels!

Mr. Lawyer and I had a hot Friday night date night at home filled with orange bitters, watching the Avengers, and making hot pretzels. Confession: I have not met a hot pretzel I didn't like but these were a pretty spot on replica of Auntie Anne's. They were a little less greasy (a good thing!) and delicious. For example, the boy ate an ENTIRE tray before I could get the second tray out of the oven. We made original, garlic, and cinnamon sugar. The winners were the garlic. I would recommend sprinkling a little garlic powder on them after you brush on the butter. It was a fun recipe to make together, we got flour every where and had some good laughs! Plus it was a great movie snack.

Like laughing at our ridiculous pretzel shapes. I would recommend making pretzel sticks, they are easier and bake more evenly.

 We switched over to sticks pretty quick.

Perfect Hot Pretzels!

(Pinterest find! from Yammie's Noshery adapted from Food Network)

Ingredients:

2 cups milk
1 1/2 tablespoons (2 packets) active dry yeast
6 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons fine salt
1/3 cup baking soda
3 cups warm water
Coarse salt
8 tablespoons butter, melted

Garlic powder

Mustard/Cheese Sauce/Preferred Sipping Sauce
Directions:
1. Warm up the milk in the microwave or on the stove for just about one and a half minutes. It should be about 110º. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 3 minutes. Add the butter and sugar. Add the flour about 1 cup at a time and the add the fine salt. Kneed for about 10 minutes with a stand mixer, or by hand. 

2. Put it in a greased bowl and cover with greased cling wrap. Let rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size. 

3. Preheat the oven to 450º. Punch down dough and divide into 12 balls and roll them all out as thin as you can. Combine the warm water and baking soda in a wide bowl. Form the dough into pretzel shapes or pretzel sticks, then dip in the baking soda water. Place on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt. 

4. Bake for about 7-11 minutes or until browned. Brush each with the melted butter while hot, sprinkle on garlic powder if desired. Serve with a dipping sauce of your choice.