Pretzels
Fresh pretzels are something to behold. Few other snacks really hit the spot quite like a pretzel. BUT be warned. You’ll be making a fresh bread. It takes time and patience but the pay off is divine.
If all that effort isn’t your style try the frozen variety you can find at the store. We tried them both and, honestly, the frozen ones aren’t that bad and literally take 30 seconds to make!
Make sure to check out the episode by clicking the button above. It will give you all the info you need.
Full Measure Pretzels
Credits: Alton Brown + Modification by Michael Martin
Time: 2 hours
Servings: 8 Pretzels
Ingredients
1 ½ cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 envelope active dry yeast
625 grams all-purpose flour
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
10 cups water
¾ cup baked baking soda
1 large egg yolk, beaten with 1 Tbsp water
Pretzel salt
Equipment Needed:
Stand mixer
Two baking sheets
Sauté pan
Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C)
In a small foil-lined baking sheet pour about ½ box of baking soda
Bake baking soda for 1 hour while you make the dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer mix sugar, water and yeast and let stand for 10 minutes or until foamy
Add flour, salt and melted butter and mix on high for 5 minutes or until dough pulls away from wall
Remove dough temporarily and spray bowl with cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap
Let rise for 1 hour in a warm spot in your kitchen, should double in size
Remove baking soda after hour of baking and raise temperature to 450°F (230°C)
Remove dough and divid into 8 equal pieces
Roll dough into 24” (60 cm) ropes
Make an overlapping circle, add one twist and bring ends back to the top, pinching the ends into the dough, set on parchment lined and greased baking sheet
Repeat for all 8 pretzels
Bring about 10 cups of water to a boil in a large low-walled sauté pan and add baked soda, stir to combine
Dip each pretzel, one at a time, into the boiling water for 30 seconds and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment and greased
Brush the pretzels with the egg yolk mixed with 1 Tbsp of water
Sprinkle pretzel salt on top
Bake pretzels for 12-15 minutes or until deeply brown
Remove from oven and serve immediately
