Bavarian Pretzels Pretzel Rolls Laugenbrezeln Food

BAVARIAN-STYLE SOFT PRETZELS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl (or bowl of a mixer), stir together syrup, lard or butter, yeast, 2 cups warm water and half the flour. Add kosher salt and remaining flour and stir just until mixture comes together in a shaggy mass.
• Turn out onto counter (or attach dough hook to mixer) and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and supple. Cut into 12 pieces and let rest 5 minutes.
• Roll out each piece into a rope about 22 inches long. (For traditional shape, the ends should be thin and the center fat.) Lift both ends, twist them around each other once, then bring ends back and press them on either side of fat "belly," at about 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock. Then gently spread out "shoulders" of pretzel. Transfer shaped pretzels to an ungreased baking sheet. (Alternatively, form each piece into a round or oval to make laugenbrötchen, rolls.)
• Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate at least one hour or overnight.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a deep bowl, wearing rubber or latex gloves, make a solution of 1/2 cup lye and 10 cups water (or 1 part lye to 20 parts water); pour lye carefully into water to avoid splashing. Dip each pretzel in solution, turning it over for 10 to 15 seconds, and place back on baking sheet.
• Sprinkle pretzels with salt. Bake about 15 minutes or until deep brown. Remove to a rack and serve warm.

PAPA DREXLER'S BAVARIAN PRETZELS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, 2 tablespoons of butter, and 1 1/3 cup water. Let this mixture stand until bubble begin to form, about 15 minutes. Stir in the salt and gradually stir in the remaining flour until dough can be picked up and kneaded on the counter. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes, adding more flour if needed.
• Divide the dough into 6 pieces and let them rest for a few minutes. Roll out one piece at a time into a rope about 15 inches long. Loop and twist into that cool pretzel shape. Set on a baking sheet while you roll out the remaining portions.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Bring the remaining 3 cups of water to a boil and add the baking soda. Remove from the heat. Dip pretzels into the water bath for about 45 seconds, flipping over about halfway through. Place the soaked pretzels on a greased baking sheet. Brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

BAVARIAN PRETZELS/ PRETZEL ROLLS (LAUGENBREZELN)

Steps:

• Place the flour in the bowl of a stand mixer.
• Using the paddle attachment stir in the butter on low speed until it is evenly distributed and the texture of coarse cornmeal, 1-2 minutes.
• Pour in the water and sprinkle on the yeast and salt.
• Switch to the dough hook and knead on medium until very smooth and pliable, about 8-10 minutes.
• Shape the dough into a ball and place in a large well oiled bowl.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place, (70-75 degrees) for about 1 hour until it has slightly expanded and risen to a dome.
• Lightly oil a baking sheet, (I use parchment paper).
• Turn the dough out onto an unfloured countertop and pat into a rough rectangle.
• Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces.
• At this point you can shape the dough into either pretzels or rolls.
• Arrange the rolls on the baking sheet at least 1 inch apart and cover with plastic wrap.
• Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 2-24 hours.The dough will not necessarily rise while refrigerated, but it helps them to hold their shape while handling.
• Boiling and Baking:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a wide 6 quart kettle, (I highly recommend you do not use a teflon coated kettle as I ruined my brand new Calphalon pot this way. The baking soda is acidic).
• ***IMPORTANT- Add the baking soda slowly, (The water will bubble like crazy when you add the baking soda and can boil over furiously if added too fast).
• Turn the heat down to a healthy simmer.
• Add the rolls 1 at a time to the boiling water and allow each roll to rise to the surface before adding the next one. (I only make about 3-4 at a time).
• After each roll has risen to the surface, let cook for about 20 seconds and then flip over with a slotted spoon and cook the other side for 20 seconds.
• Remove the rolls from the water with a slotted spoon, draining them well and place on a freshly oiled baking sheet. (I use parchment paper). Repeat until all rolls have been boiled.
• Sprinkle the rolls with salt or seeds if desired and place the baking sheet in the oven for 30-35 minutes.
• When nicely browned remove the rolls from the oven to a cooling rack and let cool at least 10 minutes.
• If you have any leftover, place the rolls in a plastic bag and they will be good for about 1-2 days, (We have never had leftovers *wink*).
• ****If making "Pretzel Dogs" simply flatten the piece of dough by hand into a rectangle (Step 10) big enough to accomodate your hot dog (I pat the hot dog dry with paper towels first). Place hot dog on long side of dough rectangle and roll up tucking in the sides and pinching the seams so they are well sealed. Continue with/to step 11.

PRETZEL CRESCENT ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.
• In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat 10 cups water and the baking soda to boiling over high heat.
• In small bowl, beat egg and 1 tablespoon water with fork until well mixed. Set aside.
• Unroll dough onto work surface and separate into 8 triangles. Starting at shortest side of each triangle and stretching dough slightly, roll up loosely to opposite point. Bring ends of dough together and pinch lightly.
• Place rolls, 2 at a time, in boiling soda water and cook 30 seconds. With slotted spoon, remove from water and place on paper towel. Repeat with remaining rolls.
• Lightly brush tops with egg mixture. Sprinkle each with sesame seed and pinch of salt.
• Using metal pancake turner, carefully transfer rolls to cookie sheet. If necessary, reshape rolls into pretzel shape.
• Bake until deep golden brown (11-13 minutes). Immediately remove from cookie sheet.

LAUGENBROTCHEN (PRETZEL ROLLS)

Steps:

• Mix the first 6 ingredients together and knead to a soft dough, about 10 minutes.
• Then let it rest in an oiled bowl, covered, until the dough has doubled in size (about 1 hour).
• Form into 14 bread rolls/pretzels/croissants. Place on baking paper well spaced, and allow to rise again (about 20-40 minutes).
• Mix the water, salt and bicarb in a stainless steel pan and bring to the boil. Take it off the heat.
• Take the risen bread rolls, and using a slotted spoon, dip them one by one in the bicarb water, drain well and set back on the paper.
• Cut slits in the bread rolls with a sharp knife and sprinkle with extra coarse salt.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes in the middle of a preheated 200 degree Celcius oven.

GERMAN PRETZELS (LAUGENBREZELN)

Steps:

• Add the flour to a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and sugar and give everything a good stir.
• Sprinkle the instant yeast on top, then give it another stir.
• Add the butter. Then slowly pour in the warm milk and water a little bit at a time while kneading the dough with the spiral dough hooks of your electric mixer. Alternatively, you can use your hands - you just might have to knead a bit longer.
• Keep kneading until you have an elastic-feeling dough that forms a ball and doesn't stick to the side of the bowl anymore. If your dough is too dry, add a little bit more water. On the other hand, if it is too sticky, add a little bit more flour.
• Form a nice ball with your hands and cover the bowl with the dough inside with a dishtowel or a lid. Place it in a warm spot without draft for an hour to allow the dough to rise.
• Once the hour is over and the dough has noticeably increased in size, sprinkle a little bit of flour onto your countertop. Knead the dough briefly with your hands, then cut or rip it into eight equal pieces.
• Using your hands, roll out these pieces into at least 26 inch long rolls. Make sure that the two ends are thinner than the middle to give the pretzels their distinct shape. If it is difficult to roll the dough/make it longer, lightly wet your hands with water - a little bit (but not too much!) of moisture can really help.
• Once you have rolled the dough pieces into long "sausages" with tapered ends, give them their unique pretzel shape. Just remember to follow "loop, loop, twist, press". If you need help, see the photo above for reference.
• Place the pretzels on baking sheets lined with parchment paper and let them rest for another 15 minutes.
• In the meantime, preheat your oven to 390 degrees Fahrenheit and bring approximately 4 cups of water to a boil in a large, flat pot.
• Once the 15 minutes are up and the water is boiling, add the baking soda, give it a stir with a spoon and remove the pot from heat.
• With a flipper or straining spoon, lower each pretzel into the baking soda mixture and allow for a 30-second bath. Make sure the whole pretzel is covered in liquid. If it isn't you, can flip the pretzel over after 15 seconds or baste the top of the pretzel with water in the pot. With a straining spoon, carefully remove the pretzel and allow excess water to drip off.
• Place the pretzel back on the parchment paper and sprinkle it with coarse salt, if desired. Some people like lots of salt, others like just a little bit - so this is really up to personal preference. Repeat these steps until all pretzels had their bath and are sprinkled with salt.
• Bake the pretzels in the middle rack of your oven for approximately 20 minutes until they are nicely brown in color. If your pretzels don't fit onto one baking sheet (and they probably won't), we'd recommend baking the pretzels in two rounds so that they get the heat they need (having two baking sheets in the oven can block the heat if you are using top and bottom heat).
• Remove the pretzels from the oven and let them sit for around 5-10 minutes. They can be enjoyed warm or cold - and taste delicious with a little bit of butter.

PRETZEL ROLLS

Steps:

• In a small container, mix yeast with warmed milk and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Whisk 5 3/4 cups of flour and teaspoon of salt in a large bowl.
• Add canola oil and warmed water to yeast mixture.
• Pour into bowl with flour and salt.
• Knead in the bowl until dough is mostly smooth. Only add more flour if your dough cannot be easily handled. The dough will be somewhat stiff.
• Cover the bowl with a dish towel and put in a warm place to rise for one hour.
• Punch down dough and knead in bowl for one minute.
• Cut dough into 15 pieces. (Cut more pieces if you would like smaller size rolls.) Form balls by pulling the dough under.
• Place on a well-greased surface.
• Let the dough balls rise for 15 minutes.
• While the dough balls are rising, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and get the pretzel "bath" ready.
• In a large pot, bring water, salt, and baking soda to a rolling boil.
• Plunge three dough balls into the water and let them "poach" for 1 minute total.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a well-greased baking sheet.
• With a serrated knife, cut 2-3 lines across each roll and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until pretzels are a rich brown.

AUTHENTIC GERMAN SOFT PRETZEL (LAUGENBREZELN)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Proof the yeast by dissolving it in 1/4 cup warm water and sugar for 5 minutes.
• Measure the flour into a mixing bowl, add the salt, the proofed yeast, and 1 cup of warm water. Mix by hand or with a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment until flour mixture comes together into a stiff ball. Add more warm water as needed to form the dough.
• Knead for 5 minutes and let rest for a few minutes.
• Add the butter and knead for at least 5 more minutes or until butter is fully incorporated. At this time, the dough should be firm and velvety to the touch.
• Form into a ball, butter all surfaces, and let rise until double, about 1 hour, in a warm spot.
• Place wax paper on a baking sheet.
• De-gas ( punch down ) the dough.
• Divide it into 12 (2-ounce) pieces. Form the dough into balls.
• Using very little flour, form balls into 1-foot long strands, thicker in the middle and tapering towards the ends.
• Take each strand and roll out again to form 2-foot strands.
• Twist into a pretzel shape, using a little water to make the ends stick to the loop. Experienced pretzel bakers can flip pretzels into shape in the air, but most people have to coax them.
• Place the pretzels on the baking sheet and refrigerate for 1 hour. This dries out the surface and makes them easier to handle.
• Make sure that you put on gloves and safety glasses.
• Place 1 quart of water in a plastic or glass container, weigh 1 ounce of food grade or reagent grade sodium hydroxide into a bowl, and add slowly to the water, stirring with a plastic spoon or similar object. ALWAYS ADD THE LYE TO THE WATER, not the other way around! For scientists: The lye solution will be approximately 0.75 M NaOH (FW 39.99g/mol) or almost 3 percent w/w.
• Remove pretzels from the refrigerator and dip each for 30 seconds in the lye solution.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a greased or parchment-paper-lined baking sheet.
• Sprinkle pretzel with salt. Make a deep cut through the thick part of the pretzel horizontally with a razor blade or lame. Let pretzels rest for 15 minutes.
• Heat oven to 375 F. Bake pretzels for 20 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown.