Copycat Pretzel Maker Pretzel Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS SOFT PRETZELS

Steps:

• Make the pretzels: Warm the milk in a saucepan until it's about 110 degrees; pour into a medium bowl and sprinkle in the yeast. Let the yeast soften, about 2 minutes; stir in the brown sugar and 1 cup flour with a wooden spoon. Dice 2 tablespoons butter and soften; stir into the mix. Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour and the fine salt to make a sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour if needed, until smooth but still slightly tacky, about 5 minutes. Shape into a ball, place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and grease a large baking sheet. Punch the dough to deflate it, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface. (If the dough seems tight, cover and let rest until it relaxes.) Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Roll and stretch each piece with the palms of your hands into a 30-inch rope, holding the ends and slapping the middle of the rope on the counter as you stretch. Form each rope into a pretzel shape.
• Dissolve the baking soda in 3 cups warm water in a shallow baking dish. Gently dip each pretzel in the soda solution, then arrange on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Prepare the sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, brown sugar and vinegar in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
• Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a shallow dish. Dip the hot pretzels in the butter, turning to coat; place on a wire rack to let excess butter drip off. Serve the pretzels warm with the sweet mustard sauce.
• Illustration by Jason Lee

AUNTIE ANNE'S PRETZELS - COPYCAT

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve.
• Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic.
• Let rise at least 1/2 hour.
• While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 tbsp baking soda.
• Be certain to stir often.
• After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape.
• Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet.
• Allow pretzels to rise again.
• Bake in oven at 450 for about 10 minutes or until golden.
• Brush with melted butter.
• Toppings: After you brush with butter try sprinkling with coarse salt.
• Or for Auntie Anne's famous Cinnamon Sugar, try melting a stick of butter in a shallow bowl (big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another shallow bowl make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
• Dip the pretzel into the butter, coating both sides generously.
• Then dip again into the cinnamon mixture.
• Notes: The longer and thinner you can make the dough rope, the more like Auntie Anne's they will be.

SOFT PRETZELS (FOR BREAD MACHINES)

Steps:

• Place ingredients in bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer.
• Select White Bread setting, Manual and then press Start.
• After the machine has completed the second rising cycle, it will beep.
• Remove the dough onto a very lightly floured surface.
• Divide into 4 parts.
• Divide each fourth into 3 pieces.
• Roll each piece into an 18 inch rope.
• Shape rope into a circle, overlapping about 4 inches; from each end, leaving ends free.
• Take one end in each hand and twist at the point where dough overlaps.
• Carefully lift ends across to the opposite edge of circle.
• Tuck ends under edge to make a pretzel shape; moisten and press ends to seal.
• Place on greased cookie sheet.
• Let rise, uncovered, until puffy, about 20 minutes.
• In a 3-quart saucepan, combine 2 quarts of water and 1/3 cup baking soda; bring to a boil.
• Lower 1 or 2 pretzels into the saucepan; simmer for 10 seconds on each side.
• Lift from water with a slotted spoon.
• Return to greased cookie sheet.
• Let dry briefly.
• Brush with 1 egg white slightly beaten.
• Sprinkle with course salt or sesame seeds or leave plain.
• If you leave them plain, after they bake dip into melted butter then in cinnamon and sugar mixture.
• Bake at 425°F for 4 minutes; then turn cookie sheet around and bake 4 more minutes.
• These are so good.