Easy New Years Pretzel Neujahrsbrezel Food

NEUJAHRSBREZEL (GERMAN NEW YEAR'S PRETZEL)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over milk. Let sit for a minute, then stir to combine. Let sit until frothy, about 10 minutes.
• In the bowl of a large food processor fitted with a dough blade or a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Mix in yeast with milk, butter, and egg until dough forms. Knead until dough becomes smooth and elastic. Place in lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, 1- 1 1/2 hours.
• On a lightly floured large surface, lightly knead dough. If you want to make the braid on top of the pretzel, break off 1/4 piece of the dough and cover with a cloth. Roll the larger piece into a long rope, about 3 feet long. Place a piece of parchment the size of your baking sheet under the middle of the rope. Twist the ends together and place over the middle of the rope to form pretzel shape. To make the braid, cut the set aside dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a foot long rope. Pinch together the edges at one side and tightly braid. Seal the edges on the other side. Position on top of the lower part of the pretzel and lightly press down. Cover the entire pretzel with a cloth and let rise until puffy, about 1 hour.
• Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees In a small bowl, whisk together egg, sugar, salt, and milk for topping. To keep the holes in the center of the pretzel open, fill with crumpled pieces of foil. Brush the entire surface with the topping. If desired, sprinkle with pearl sugar.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 15 minutes before serving.
• Serve warm with butter or jam.

NEW YEAR'S PRETZELS

Steps:

• Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130 degrees F.).
• Mix yeast, salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour.
• Slowly beat into warm milk.
• Beat for 2 minutes.
• Add eggs and 1 cup of flour.
• Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
• Add enough flour to form a soft dough.
• Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Place dough in a greased bowl.
• Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down and let rise again until doubled. (1 hour more).
• Divide dough in half.
• Shape pretzel as follows: Roll dough into a rope about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Cross the ends leaving a large loop in the center.
• Flip loop back onto crossed ends to form a pretzel.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• Place pretzels on greased baking sheets.
• Let rise 15 minutes more.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool on wire racks.
• Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing.
• Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds.

NEUJAHRSPRETZEL (NEW YEAR'S PRETZELS)

Steps:

• Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130°F).
• Mix yeast, salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour.
• Slowly beat into warm milk.
• Beat for 2 minutes.
• Add eggs and 1 cup of flour.
• Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
• Add enough flour to form a soft dough.
• Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Place dough in a greased bowl.
• Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down and let rise again until doubled (1 hour more).
• Divide dough in half.
• Shape pretzel as follows: roll dough into a rope about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Cross the ends leaving a large loop in the center.
• Flip loop back onto crossed ends to form a pretzel.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• Place pretzels on greased baking sheets.
• Let rise 15 minutes more.
• Bake at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool on wire racks.
• Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing.
• Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds.
• Makes 2 large pretzels.

EASY NEW YEARS PRETZEL (NEUJAHRSBREZEL)

Steps:

• Add the yeast and sugar into the lukewarm milk. Stir, cover and leave to rest for at least 10 minutes. At the surface of the milk some bubbles should appear. (see image). If the bubbles do not appear the milk might have been too hot.
• Preheat your oven to the lowest setting. Mine is 50 degrees.
• Now add the yeast to the flour, butter, egg, and salt and knead to a homogeneous dough for about 10 minutes. Place the dough into a bowl and cover with a tea towel. Turn off your oven and place the bowl into it. Leave to rise for about 40 minuites.
• Now briefly knead the dough through again. Remove 1/4 of the dough and set aside.
• Form the remaining dough into a roll, about 45 cm (17.7 inches) long. Make your that the ends of the roll are tapered to a point.
• Line a baking tray with baking parchment. As the pretzel is really large it might be easier to shape the pretzel directly on the tray.
• To form new years pretzels take the roll and lay it in a "U" shape. In the middle take both and twist them around each other. The ends get pressed against the pretzel belly (the lower part of the pretzel).
• Cover the pretzel with a tea towel and leave to rise for a further 10 minutes.
• In the meantime, divide the remaing 1/4 of the dough and divide into three equal parts. Roll each part into a long thin roll (about 30 cm). Then lay the three rolls into a braid.
• Brush the lower part of the pretzel (the pretzel belly) with some water and lay the braid on top. Cover and leave to rest for a further 20 minutes.
• In the meantime, preheat the oven to 190°C/ 374°F top to bottom heat. Mix the egg yolk with the 2 tablespoons of milk.
• After the resting time brush the pretzel evenly with the egg yolk mixture. If you like you can sprinkle it with pearl sugar. Then place in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes. The exact baking time depends on your oven. To check whether the new years pretzel is done, pick the deepest part with a skewer. If it comes out clean it is done.
• Serve the same day. Tastes delicious with butter, jam or chocolate spread.