How to Make Old-Fashioned German Soft Pretzels

Large soft pretzels are a perennial favorite.

Who doesn't love a giant soft pretzel? Now you can make them in your own home. They are so delicious and you kids will love them so much more than store bought. Remember, old-fashioned recipes are always the best!

Things You'll Need

• 2 Tablespoons very warm water
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1-1/3 cups warm water
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 5 cups flour, plus a little extra
• Spray grease
• Coarse Kosher salt
• Large mixing bowl
• Cookie sheets
• Frying pan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. In a large bowl mix the very warm water and yeast until the yeast dissolves. Stir in the warm water and the brown sugar. Slowly add 5 cups of flour to the mixture, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough is smooth and does not stick to the side of the bowl. Put the dough on a lightly floured board.

2. Dip your hands in the extra flour. Knead the dough until it is stretchy and smooth, about five minutes. Push it down and away from you with the palms of your hands, and turn the dough frequently as you work. Allow the dough to rest 30 minutes.

3. While dough is resting, thoroughly grease two cookie sheets. Sprinkle each with a couple of tablespoons of coarse kosher salt. Set the sheets aside.

4. 

   Shaping pretzels takes a bit of practice to perfect.

   Pinch off a piece of pretzel dough about the size of a golf ball. Roll the dough into a rope 14 inches long and as thick as your thumb. Bend the rope into a U shape, crossing one end of the rope over the other end. The ropes should cross about 3 inches from the tips. Twist the crossed ends making a full turn. Fold the ends back, toward the middle of the U. Open the ends slightly to form a pretzel shape, and press the ends into the dough firmly.

5. Measure cups of water into a frying pan until it is about two-thirds full. For each cup of water in the pan add 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Bring water to a gentle boil. Use a spatula to lower each pretzel into frying pan. Count slowly to 30, then remove the pretzel and place onto the greased and salted cookie sheet. Repeat until all the dough is used. You will likely need to work in batches. Sprinkle some additional kosher salt on top of the pretzels.

6. Bake pretzels for 8 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Makes 30 average size pretzels.

Tips & Warnings

• Twisting the dough into the pretzel shape may take some practice before you get it correct. If you can't get the knack, you can always make pretzel sticks.