Auntie Ann's Pretzels

Ingredients:

Pretzels

• 1 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 1/8 tsp. active yeast (1 1/2 pkg)
• 2 Tbs. brown sugar
• 1 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 cup bread flour
• 3 cups regular flour

Baking soda water bath

• 2 cups warm water
• 2 Tbs. baking soda

Toppings

• 2-4 Tbs. butter (melted)
• To taste coarse salt
  

Directions:

1. Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve.
2. Add sugar, salt, and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.
3. While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 Tbs. baking soda. Be certain to stir often.
4. After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape.
5. Dip pretzel into soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzel to rise again.
6. Bake in a 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter, and coarse salt if desired and enjoy!
7. Variation: For Auntie Anne's famous cinnamon sugar, try melting a stick of butter in a shallow bowl( big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another bowl, make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
8. Dip the pretzel into the butter, coating both sides generously, then dip again into the cinnamon mixture.