Pretzel Bread
This recipe for pretzel bread is incredibly tasty! It's super soft, with a hint of sweetness. The outer crust tastes and looks just like a pretzel!
Ingredients
For Dough
- 2 ¼ tsps active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tbsps whole milk OR half and half
- 3 tbsps brown sugar, light OR dark
- 4 tbsps melted butter, unsalted OR salted
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 3 cups all purpose flour
For Baking Soda Bath
- 4 quarts water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
For Topping
- 1 tbsp sea salt
Instructions
- In a bowl of stand mixer (or hand held mixer) combine yeast, warm water and brown sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- In a small bowl combine melted butter and milk. Add mixture to yeast mixture.
- Using dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until combined. If you don’t have a dough hook attachment, whatever you are using to mix will work. I’d recommend a wooden spoon.
- Add salt and flour. Mix until flour is completely incorporated.
- Knead dough with dough hook attachment for about 5 minutes, or by hand. Dough should be slightly tacky, but not too sticky. If its too sticky where its sticking to your hands, add a tbsp more of flour until its not sticky.
- Cover bowl with dough in it with a damp towel. Let sit for about 1 hour until dough doubles in size.
- When dough has risen, preheat oven to 400°, and bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.
- Take your dough and gently press it down to release any air bubbles. Divide and roll into two even balls.
- When water starts to boil, carefully add baking soda, a little at a time. If you add all of the baking soda at once, your water will fizz and go everywhere!
- Once all of your baking soda is in water, add one ball of dough to water and boil for 90 seconds on each side.
- Scoop dough out with slotted spoon to drain excess water off and place on a greased or lined baking sheet. Repeat with other dough ball.
- Sprinkle sea salt over dough. Bake in preheated oven for 22-25 minutes. Rotate baking sheet once throughout baking time.
- When bread is done, remove from oven, and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!