Ingredients:
1 Pkg active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 cups flour
Baking soda
Kosher Salt
Grated cheddar cheese, marinara, Ragu cheese sauce -Optional
Directions:
Combine yeast, warm water, and sugar together. Let stand 5 minutes. Add flour (I add 3 and then add the last gradually until dough is not quiet sticky. Beat with dough hook (or knead on floured surface 6-7 minutes) until smooth. Let rest 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a large saucepan 3/4 fulll with water. For every cup of water, add 2 teaspoons baking soda to the pan. Bring water and soda to a boil.
Divide dough into 12 pieces. (This can be adjusted according to how big you would like the pretzels to be.) Roll each piece into a rope and fold into a pretzel. Drop each pretzel into low-boiling water for about 10 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon. Place pretzels on greased baking sheet or stone and sprinkle with kosher salt.(Note- to reduce pretzels sticking to the stone, I wipe the slotted spoon across a towel before I place them onto the stone.)
Bake at 450 degrees for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan/stone immediately, place on cooling rack, and quickly sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on top to melt. Dip in Marinara sauce or Ragu cheese sauce.
This recipe may be used to make pretzel bites by cutting dough into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
