Nothing can match a large, soft and chewy pretzel cake, complete with the curves of a salty crust. Soft pretzels are a classic, but you can easily make your own at home. Read on to learn how to make fluffy pretzels from scratch.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 pack of dry yeast
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 10 glasses of water
- vegetable oil
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 2 eggs, beaten
- pretzel salt or kohser salt
Step
Method 1 of 3: How to Make the Dough
Step 1. Print the yeast
Mix 1 cups of warm water, sugar and 2 tablespoons of kohser salt in a large bowl. Unwrap the yeast and pour it into the mixture. Allow about 5 minutes until the yeast starts to foam.
Step 2. Add butter and flour
When the yeast starts to foam, pour in the melted butter and add 4 cups of flour. Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture until smooth. Beat faster, kneading in a circular motion and turning the dough on the bottom if needed until the dough is smooth and away from the sides of the bowl.
- If you have a stand mixer, you can use it without mixing by hand.
- By hand, this process can take up to 10 minutes, but if you are using a stand mixer it will only take you about 5 minutes.
Step 3. Let the dough rise
Coat a large bowl with oil. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in the greased bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm place in your kitchen. Let the dough rest for about an hour until it has doubled in size.
- If you want to use the same bowl as the one used for the dough, first remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and coat it with oil, then put the dough back in.
- If you want, you can let the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight.
Method 2 of 3: How to Form a Pretzel Cake
Step 1. Separate the dough in an even number of pieces
The size depends on how big the pretzels you want to make. You can divide the dough into 8-12 equal parts. The bigger the pretzels, the softer the texture will be. While the small pretzels will be harder and crunchier.
Step 2. Flatten each piece of dough that has been separated
Place a piece of dough on a flat surface that has been floured. Place your palms on the dough, then twist the dough back and forth until it forms like a long rope, continuing to twist until the dough is about 20 cm long. Repeat this method for the other dough pieces.
- About how long you have to make the dough so it's shaped like a rope is up to your individual taste. If you like pretzels with thin loops and large cavities, then make the dough in the form of long, thin strings.
- For a more 'plump' pretzel, make an 18cm long string of dough.
Step 3. Shape the dough into pretzels
Place the dough on a flat surface that has been floured. Then shape the dough into a U shape. Cross the two ends of the dough in the shape of a rope. Press the tip under the letter U. Use your fingers to pinch the tip slightly to make sure the dough sticks tightly. Repeat this step for the other string-shaped dough pieces.
Method 3 of 3: How to Cook Pretzels
Step 1. Get ready to boil and bake the pretzels
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees, then place the parchment paper on a baking sheet. Coat the parchment paper with a little oil to prevent the pretzels from sticking. In a large saucepan, boil 10 cups of water and baking soda.
Step 2. Make beaten eggs
Put the eggs in a bowl and beat gently.
Step 3. Boil the pretzels
Place the pretzels in boiling water and let sit for 30 seconds. Use tongs to lift the pretzels out of the water and place them in a baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper. Repeat this step for the other pretzel dough pieces.
Step 4. Coat the pretzels with beaten egg then sprinkle with salt to taste
Use a pastry brush to coat the pretzels with a layer of egg. Sprinkle with pretzel-specific salt or kohser salt. You can also add onion salt, sesame seeds, black pepper, and other spices according to taste.
Step 5. Bake the pretzels
Place the pretzels in the oven for about 15 minutes, until golden brown. If you like crunchy pretzels, reduce the oven heat to 350 degrees and bake them 15 minutes longer.
Step 6. The pretzels are ready to serve
These soft and delicious pretzels go well with dijon honey sauce, honey mustard sauce, cheese and dipping salsa, or you can serve them as they are. Serve while hot. You can also freeze leftovers in the refrigerator to enjoy later.
Step 7. Done
Tips
- Don't use too much flour, this can ruin the texture of the pretzels.
- Purchase kohser (coarse) salt at the grocery store.
