Pretzels are one of my favorite things to make. I like this recipe for dipping the pretzels in baking soda (made stronger by baking) cold water bath instead of boiling water. To make the baking soda more caustic bake for 1h at 300F. Be careful with baking soda since it can be an irritant and damage stuff if you spill it.
youtube video
https://the-farmersdaughter.com
Ingredients
- 500g flour (bread flour is better)
- 10g salt
- 1t instant yeast
- 270g room temperature water
- 1 1/2T barley malt syrup
- 2T unsalted butter
- egg whites (for brushing)
- pretzel salt
- 200g baking soda
dipping sauce
- spoon of mayo
- mustard, yellow mustard
- honey
- apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper
- mix together
Steps
prep baking soda
- in glass bowl add 200g baking soda
- bake at 300F for 1h, can do night before, keep in glass pan
Dough
- in bowl of mixer mix flour, salt, yeast, butter softened
- mix water and barley malt stir to dissolve barley malt
- add water mixture to mixer
- mix low for about 5-9 minutes until dough is supple, keep track of mixer since has to work hard so does not overheat
- should spring back and gluten get well developed, knead by hand to get into ball
- leave covered in bowl for 1.5h-2h until doubles
Shape and Bake
- divide into 8 sections, equal sizes about 100g
- roll into balls using friction, cover and rest for 5m
- press each ball pat down into rectangle, roll and tuck into about 8 inch log rest and repeat for all 8
- long ropes about 24in can taper so ends get thin, can use some misted water so does not dry out
- shape into pretzel shapes, let rest and use 2 sheet trays
- stretch again, put in fridge for min of 2h or as long as 18 hours (can be overnight)
Bake Pretzels
- preheat oven to 450F
- put pretzels in freezer for 5-10m
- put 4c water in large bowl, add baked baking soda (200g)
- dip pretzels in solution for 3-4m (make sure not to splash, put in upside down)
- place clean water in another bowl to rinse, rinse for 10s
- can dry with towel
- reshape into pretzels
- place in fridge after 4 have been dipped
- brush pretzels with egg white wash
- sprinkle on pretzel salt
- bake each tray for 10-15m (rotate after 10m)
- let cool for a few minutes
