These have always been a a staple in my family. Growing up my mother made them on snow days. I remember standing next to her at the counter and rolling out the long dough snakes to make the pretzel. They are very easy to make. Nowadays I make them a little healthier. But it is definitely a guilty pleasure
Preheat oven to 475
Ingredients
1/8 cup hot water (not boiling)
1 package active rapid rise yeast
1 3/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup brown sugar (optional coconut sugar)
5 cups organic all purpose flour
Kosher salt-course
3 cups water
3 tbls baking soda
Directions
Stir the yeast into the hot water until dissolves
Mix the warm water and sugar in a large mixing bowl
Add the yeast water to the sugar water and mix
Slowly add the flour, one cup at a time
Hand knead the dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes
Tear off small handfuls and roll out into long snakes
Make pretzel shape (my sister and I have also rolled out flat circles, then added chocolate chips or cheese and folded them over and pinched the edges closed)
Bring the 3 cups of water and baking soda to a boil
Dip the pretzels in the boiling water for 30 seconds each
Grease the cookie sheet and sprinkle some salt on it
Place the pretzels1-2 inches apart
Sprinkle salt on top
Bake 7-8 minutes. Cool on rack
Snow Day with Sandy 1981