Auntie Anne's Pretzel

- 1 1/4 cups warm water (105 - 115 degrees)

- 1 tablespoon plus 1/4 teaspoon yeast

- 3 3/4 cups flour

- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Bath: 1/4 cup baking soda, 2 cups warm water

1/4 cup melted butter

1. Stir yeast into warm water in a small bowl. Let sit for a few minutes. Stir until

dissolved.

2. Combine 3 cups of flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add water

with yeast and vegetable oil. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Gradually add

additional flour as needed and then use your hands to form the dough into a ball.

Knead dough for 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface or until smooth. Place the

dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and store it in a warm place for about an hour

or until the dough doubles in size.

3. When the dough has risen, preheat oven to 400 degrees.

4. Make the "bath" by dissolving the baking soda in the warm water in a bowl wide

enough to fit a pretzel in. (It will not completely dissolve.) This will be used to dip the

pretzels in before baking to make them brown nicely.

5. Divide dough into 8 parts. Roll each part into a 3 foot "snake." Form into a pretzel,

pinching ends down. While holding the pinched ends, dip pretzel into the "bath" and

then blot it on a towel. Place on a greased baking sheet or cover sheet with parchment

paper.

6. Sprinkle with kosher salt or pretzel salt. If you plan to coat with cinnamon sugar, don't

sprinkle with salt or use very little.

7. Bake the pretzels, one pan at a time for 10 minutes.

8. Remove the pretzels from the oven, and let them cool for a couple of minutes. Brush

with melted butter. If you want the cinnamon and sugar coating, make it by combining

1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Sprinkle over butter.

Makes 8 pretzels.