Pretzels
Ingredients
Whisk together the whole milk, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the apples and salt, and cook until the apples are soft, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the flour, the melted butter, cinnamon, yeast, and baking soda. Gradually add 3 cups of the warm water to this mixture until it forms a soft dough. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. In another large bowl or pan (nonstick if you have it), whisk together 1/3 cup of the flour and egg + water to make an egg wash. Set aside. Punch down the dough again and divide it into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough into an 8-inch-long rope. Cut each rope into 12 even pieces by cutting through one end at an angle then pulling it through both ends again (like making braided bread). Place on 2 greased baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats (if you have them). Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 more minutes. Meanwhile preheat your oven to 375ºF degrees F (190ºC). Bake until golden brown on top and firm to the touch but not too hard to pull apart with your fingers, 25-30 minutes. Let cool on racks before serving ..
Recipe
Caramel Topping
Ingredients
- Combine kosher salt, pure vanilla extract, brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, and confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl; mix well.
- Pour mixture into an 8x8 inch baking dish.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Recipe
Pretzel dough is a great choice for gatherings and even presents. As far as they leave a smile on whoever’s eating it, then that’s perfect.
