Bavarian Pretzel Rolls Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, 2 tablespoons of butter, and 1 1/3 cup water. Let this mixture stand until bubble begin to form, about 15 minutes. Stir in the salt and gradually stir in the remaining flour until dough can be picked up and kneaded on the counter. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes, adding more flour if needed.
• Divide the dough into 6 pieces and let them rest for a few minutes. Roll out one piece at a time into a rope about 15 inches long. Loop and twist into that cool pretzel shape. Set on a baking sheet while you roll out the remaining portions.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Bring the remaining 3 cups of water to a boil and add the baking soda. Remove from the heat. Dip pretzels into the water bath for about 45 seconds, flipping over about halfway through. Place the soaked pretzels on a greased baking sheet. Brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Place the flour in the bowl of a stand mixer.
• Using the paddle attachment stir in the butter on low speed until it is evenly distributed and the texture of coarse cornmeal, 1-2 minutes.
• Pour in the water and sprinkle on the yeast and salt.
• Switch to the dough hook and knead on medium until very smooth and pliable, about 8-10 minutes.
• Shape the dough into a ball and place in a large well oiled bowl.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place, (70-75 degrees) for about 1 hour until it has slightly expanded and risen to a dome.
• Lightly oil a baking sheet, (I use parchment paper).
• Turn the dough out onto an unfloured countertop and pat into a rough rectangle.
• Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces.
• At this point you can shape the dough into either pretzels or rolls.
• Arrange the rolls on the baking sheet at least 1 inch apart and cover with plastic wrap.
• Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 2-24 hours.The dough will not necessarily rise while refrigerated, but it helps them to hold their shape while handling.
• Boiling and Baking:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a wide 6 quart kettle, (I highly recommend you do not use a teflon coated kettle as I ruined my brand new Calphalon pot this way. The baking soda is acidic).
• ***IMPORTANT- Add the baking soda slowly, (The water will bubble like crazy when you add the baking soda and can boil over furiously if added too fast).
• Turn the heat down to a healthy simmer.
• Add the rolls 1 at a time to the boiling water and allow each roll to rise to the surface before adding the next one. (I only make about 3-4 at a time).
• After each roll has risen to the surface, let cook for about 20 seconds and then flip over with a slotted spoon and cook the other side for 20 seconds.
• Remove the rolls from the water with a slotted spoon, draining them well and place on a freshly oiled baking sheet. (I use parchment paper). Repeat until all rolls have been boiled.
• Sprinkle the rolls with salt or seeds if desired and place the baking sheet in the oven for 30-35 minutes.
• When nicely browned remove the rolls from the oven to a cooling rack and let cool at least 10 minutes.
• If you have any leftover, place the rolls in a plastic bag and they will be good for about 1-2 days, (We have never had leftovers *wink*).
• ****If making "Pretzel Dogs" simply flatten the piece of dough by hand into a rectangle (Step 10) big enough to accomodate your hot dog (I pat the hot dog dry with paper towels first). Place hot dog on long side of dough rectangle and roll up tucking in the sides and pinching the seams so they are well sealed. Continue with/to step 11.

Steps:

• In a small bowl if using a bread machine, or in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix a 1/3 cup of the warm water (105-115 degrees) with the yeast and let stand until foamy.
• Add the remaining cup of warm water along with milk, sugar & melted butter and swirl to dissolve the sugar. (If using a bread machine add mixture to bread machine at this point and continue).
• Add flour and mix on dough cycle or med-low speed.
• Remove dough from bread machine once it forms a nice a firm, pliable dough ball.
• Add more flour if necessary.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured table and knead for 2 minutes.
• Roll into a 2 foot long log and cut into 12 even pieces.
• Cover dough with plastic and a damp cloth and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Pat dough into rolls or form knots and arrange on a lightly floured surface about an inch apart and cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap.
• Let the pretzels rest for an additional 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425°.
• Lightly oil 2 baking sheets.
• In a large stockpot, bring the cold water to a rolling boil and add baking soda.
• Drop two rolls into the boiling water and boil for no more then 30 seconds, turning once.
• Carefully remove with tongs or slotted spoon and hold above pot and let drain.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Repeat with the remaining rolls.
• Arrange rolls on the oiled baking sheets and bake on the upper and middle racks of the oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until browned all over; shift pans from top to bottom and back to front halfway through, for even baking.
• Let rolls cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a mixer bowl, add yeast and 1 1/2 cups warm water and let stand for about 5 minutes until it foams and smells yeasty.
• Add sweetener, flour, salt, and melted butter. Mix with the dough hook until it forms a dough ball, about a couple minutes.
• Cover and let rise about 1 hour. Punch down and turn ball on a lightly floured counter.
• Roll dough into a "rope" and cut into the approximate sizes you want your rolls - about 12-16 rolls is reasonable. Shape into rolls. You can try pulling the dough balls inside out and pinching the edges together on the bottom to form a nice rounded top and a flatish bottom. Don't make it more difficult than it has to be; they taste good even if they don't look perfect!
• Put the rolls on a parchment lined cookie sheet or two (they won't rise much more). Cover and let rise another 30 minutes.
• Pre-heat oven to 425 °F.
• Heat 2 quarts of water to boiling.
• When water is boiling and rolls have risen, slowly pour baking soda into the water. Be careful! If you pour too quickly, the pot may boil over. Baking soda is a fine powder, providing plenty of nucleation points for steam bubbles to form, and it releases some gas when it contacts the water, to boot.
• Use a slotted spoon or spatula to east the rolls into the baking soda bath and poach for about 30 seconds on each side (the more time they poach the crustier, browner, and more authentic they'll be -- the less time in the bath the more like mall pretzels they'll be -- both are good, it's up to you).
• Use slotted spoon to remove from bath and place back on cookie sheets.
• While still damp, sprinkle with pretzel or kosher salt and score top with a knife in a plus (+) shape to allow the rolls to expand attractively while baking.
• Bake at 425 °F for about 15 minutes or until caramel brown. (More or less depending on your oven and personal preference). Rotate cookie sheets top to bottom and rear to front midway during baking, if you desire.
• Serving suggestions:.
• For breakfast: serve warm with Irish butter and strawberry preserves.
• For snack: smear with cheddar cheese spread
• For lunch/dinner: cut in half and top with thin sliced roast beef and smoked Gouda cheese; broil until cheese is brown and bubbly.
• Or just eat them plain!