Ingredients:
1 1/3 c. warm milk
1 c. warm water
2 packages or (4.5 tsp or .5 oz) active dry yeast
2 T. barley malt syrup, or brown sugar
6.5 c. bread flour
1 stick (1/2 c.) cold salted butter
1T. salt
20 c. water
1 ¼ c. baking soda
Method:
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast with the syrup (or sugar) with the warm milk and water. Let sit for 10-15 minutes before continuing.
In the bowl of a mixer, add the flour, salt, and butter. Break up the butter with your fingers until well combined. Make a hole in the middle of the flour and pour the yeast mixture in when ready.
Using a dough hook attachment, mix the dough together until a soft ball forms. Knead on medium speed for 6 minutes or until smooth. * If the dough seems too much for the mixer, move to a counter top and knead by hand for 6-8 minutes or until a smooth dough forms.
When the dough is smooth and balled up, place it in a large bowl (large enough to cover the rise) and cover the top of the dough with a thin coating of olive oil. Place a towel over the bowl and put it in a warm place in your kitchen for an hour so it can rise. Let dough double in size.
When the dough has risen, place it on a large work surface, and punch out the air. Shape it into a rectangle and cut 12 equal pieces of dough. Stretch and roll out each piece of dough to around 30 inches, tapering the dough toward the end. Twist the dough around to form the pretzel shape and place the formed pretzels on a baking sheet sprayed with non stick spray. Do not overcrowd the tray. When all of your pretzels have been trayed up, place uncovered in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to rest.
While the pretzels are resting in the refrigerator, prepare your baking soda bath. Boil the 20 cups of water in a NON ALUMINUM POT. Make sure the pot is large enough to leave 3 inches of water from the top of the pot. When the water is boiling, slowly add the baking soda, in batches. When the baking soda is added, it will bubble up quickly, so be sure not to add it all at once. When all of the baking soda has been added and stirred in and dissolved, start adding your pretzels to boil, 1 at a time. *Make sure you add the pretzel in top side down first. Set a 30 second timer, and drop a pretzel in the boiling water. When the timer goes off, reset it for 30 more seconds and flip the pretzel over gently so it can boil on the other side. When the pretzel is finished, gently remove it from the water and pat it on a dry towel to remove any water from the bottom. Place the pretzel back on the baking tray and sprinkle with coarse or pretzel salt. Repeat this process until the first tray of pretzels are finished.
Place the pretzels in a preheated 450 degree oven. Set a timer for 8 minutes. When the timer goes off, rotate the tray 180 degrees and bake for 8 more minutes. Remove the pretzels and enjoy while fresh out of the oven!
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