Buttery Pretzels Recipes

BUTTERY SOFT PRETZELS

Steps:

• Whisk together the warm milk, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer). Sprinkle the yeast on top, and wait 5 minutes for the yeast to activate.
• Add the flour and melted butter. Then either (a) use a spoon to mix everything in until combined, and then use your hands to knead the dough for about 4 minutes until it is smooth, adding a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky or (b) if using a stand mixer, place the dough hook on the mixer and mix on medium speed for 4 minutes until the dough is smooth, adding a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly-oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let the dough rest for 20 to 30 minutes in a warm place until it has doubled in size.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper, then set aside.
• Combine the water and baking soda in a stockpot or very large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a lightly-oiled work surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into an even 20-inch* rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, then cross the ends over each other and press then onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel.
• Very carefully, use a spatula to transfer the pretzels into the boiling water, one at a time, for about 30 seconds each. Use the spatula to transfer the pretzel to the parchment-lined pan, and repeat with the remaining pretzels.
• Finally, brush the top of each pretzel with the egg wash and sprinkle with the coarse sea salt.
• Bake until the pretzels reach your desired level of golden brown color, about 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.
• If you would like your pretzels to taste extra buttery, brush them with extra melted butter just before serving.
• These pretzels taste best the day they have been baked, and even better hot out of the oven. So serve warm and enjoy!

BUTTERY SUGAR PRETZELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix pretzels, butter, and confectioners' sugar together in a resealable plastic bag; shake until pretzels are coated. Spread coated pretzels onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven sugar is dissolved onto the pretzels, about 5 minutes.

BUTTER TOFFEE PRETZELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200° degrees F. Lightly grease a large roasting pan with cooking spray; I use a disposable one for easy cleanup. Add the pretzels to the roasting pan; set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, add the brown sugar, cubed butter, and corn syrup and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and baking soda; the toffee will bubble violently - this is normal.
• Pour the hot toffee mixture evenly over the pretzels; sprinkle half of the bag of toffee bits over the pretzel mixture, too. Toss the pretzels to coat evenly in the toffee mixture and toffee bits.
• Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure the hot toffee mixture evenly coats the pretzels. Once baked, spread the pretzel mixture onto a wax paper-lined countertop and immediately sprinkle with the remaining toffee bits. Allow the pretzels to set and harden, about 1 hour, before breaking into smaller clusters and packaging.

BUTTERY PRETZELS

Steps:

• Add the yeast to 2 cups warm water (no hotter than 110 degrees F) in a bowl and whisk until dissolved. Slice 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) of the butter into thin slices. Lightly whisk the butter slices and brown sugar into the yeast mixture, then fold in 2 cups of the flour with a rubber spatula until combined. Add the salt and remaining 2 1/2 cups flour and mix until combined; the dough will be sticky.
• Place the dough on a floured surfaced and knead until smooth but still slightly sticky, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in a bowl that has been sprayed with cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to double in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Deflate the dough by punching it in the center, then, on a lightly floured surface, divide it into 12 pieces. Roll the pieces until they are about 1/2 inch thick, then form each into a pretzel shape.
• Whisk the baking soda into 4 cups warm water until dissolved. Dip each pretzel into the mixture, then place on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with pretzel salt and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 1 1/2 sticks butter and transfer to a shallow dish. When the pretzels are done, dip the salt side of each in the butter. Place on a drying rack and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm.

PRETZEL SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Process the pretzels in a food processor until finely ground and the consistency of flour. Measure 1/2 cup of the ground pretzels into a bowl (discard any remaining ground pretzels). Whisk in the flour, cornstarch, confectioner' sugar and fine salt.
• Add the butter and brown sugar to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low just to combine, about 20 seconds. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix on low until it comes together to form a dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a 14-inch piece of parchment and form into a ball. Place the parchment in a 9-by-13-inch jelly roll pan or baking sheet and press the dough into an even rectangle the size of the pan using the bottom of a measuring cup. Cut the dough in half horizontally, then cut in half vertically to make 4 quarters. Cut each quarter into 10 slices to make 40 narrow rectangles (the ends might be less than perfect, but that's ok). Freeze for 20 minutes.
• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Add the baking soda to 1/2 cup warm water and mix well.
• Brush the dough evenly with the baking soda mixture and then with the beaten egg. Sprinkle with the pretzel salt.
• Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until the shortbread is deep brown and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes in the pan, then carefully lift the shortbread onto a cutting board. Using the previous cuts as a guide, carefully cut into bars. Let cool completely, about 25 minutes.
• Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a double boiler over low heat. Transfer to a small bowl. Dip the lower third of each cookie in the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

BUTTERY SOFT PRETZELS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 1/4 cup warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two more tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. 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 warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.
• In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in 4 cups hot water; set aside. When risen, turn dough out onto a 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-hot water solution and place pretzels on baking sheets. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
• Bake in preheated oven until browned, about 8 minutes.