Almond Pretzels Mandelplaetzchen Food

NORWEGIAN ALMOND PRETZELS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, stir yeast into warm water and dissolve, add sugar. Wait five minutes to activate yeast. Add eggs and beat in with a whisk. Add first cup of flour with 1/2 tsp.of salt and cardamom, if using. Add remaing cups beat with dough hook on a stand up mixer, or if doing by hand, knead to form a soft dough. Add in raisins if using right at the end of kneading. Grease another bowl, add dough and cover with a tea towel until double in size. Divide dough evenly into 7 balls. Roll out into long strings and form a pretzel knot. Dip into soda water solution and place 4 pretzels onto 1 cookie sheet that has been sprayed with oil. Place the other 3 onto another cookie sheet. Let double in size.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 12 minutes until slightly golden. Cool and brush with glaze and drizzle with sliced almonds. Sprinkle the finished pretzel with powdered sugar.

ALMOND PRETZELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut shortening into flour as for piecrust.
• Combine beaten eggs, cream, vanilla, sugar and salt.
• Add to flour and shortening mixture and chill.
• Form into rolls about 8 inches long and as thick as a pencil.
• Mix egg white with milk.
• Brush pretzels with egg white/milk mixture and sprinkle with chopped almonds.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.