Yummy Soft Pretzels

Ok I did a cooking class with my boys and the neighbor girls the other day. We learned how to make soft preztels. Just like the kind that they sell at the mall. They were so yummy that we ate them all too quickly to even take pictures. But they were such a hit I will be making them again and will include the pictures then.

Buttery Soft Pretzels
By Christa Rose

Prep Time: 2 hrs
Cook Time: 10 min
Yield: 1 dozen

Ingredients
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water(110 F)
4 -4 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I did 2 c whole wheat flour and then the rest white flour)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup baking soda
4 cups hot water
1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping

Directions
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tsp sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 c sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one to two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7-8 minutes. (I did all of this in my Bosch) Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a wram place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450 F. In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water. When risen, turn dough onto lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
Bake in preheated oven for 7-8 mintues, until browned.

Enjoy plain or dipped in cheese sauce or a raspberry cream cheese. The kids shapes were quite unique but they tasted amazing!!!