PRETZELS WITH CHEDDAR DIPPING SAUCE

Have you ever taken a trip to the mall JUST for the warm chewy deliciousness pretzel? You are not alone! There should be a secret support group for this addiction. The warm chewy center. The golden outer crust. The tangy sea salt perfectly placed around the top………… Ohhhh just heaven on a plate (or in a cup if you choose the wonderful little bites perfect for dipping!)

Now you can make this irresistible recipe yourself and enjoy your pretzel addiction in the comfort of your own home. No one ever needs to know how much you crave these salty little bites of heaven. Ok, now I sound like the little devil on your shoulder telling you to do the really bad things. I’m really just trying to help you here! I promise I am.  You will thank me after you make these just once! They are as close to the original as it can get from home. Give this recipe a try and let me know how they come out for you!

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup whole milk
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 1/4 Cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 Cups warm water
• Coarse salt
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted in a small bowl

Directions:

• Warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove top for about one minute to 110º. If it’s too hot it will kill the yeast. You should be able to comfortably keep your finger in it.
• Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 3 minutes
• Add the butter and sugar.
• Add the flour 1 cup at a time and then add the salt.
• Knead the dough for about 10 minutes with a stand mixer, or by hand until smooth and elastic. Sprinkle with flour as you knead if the dough is too sticky
• Place the dough in a greased bowl turning once and cover with plastic wrap.
• Let it rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size.

• *TIP: preheat your oven on the lowest “warm” setting while you are mixing the dough. Turn it off before you begin kneading the dough. Place your covered dough in the warm oven for 1 hour.

• Remove from the warmed oven
• Preheat the oven to 400º.
• Combine the warm water and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.

Makes 6 large pretzels or 12 – 16 small pretzels 

• Punch down dough and turn it out on to a lightly floured surface.
• Divide into 12 – 16 equal pieces
• Roll the dough all out into logs as thin as you can.
• Shape each piece of the dough into pretzel shapes (see the video above), then dip them in the baking soda water.
• Place on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt.
• Bake for  7-11 minutes or until browned.
• While hot, brush each pretzel with melted butter. Serve with The Perfect Cheese sauce (recipe below).

THE PERFECT CHEESE SAUCE: 

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 C milk
• 8 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• pinch of salt

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Whisk in the flour and cook for 30 seconds, whisking constantly.
• Slowly whisk in the milk until no lumps of flour remain.
• Stirring constantly, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat until it thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the shredded cheese until all of the cheese has melted.
• Add a pinch of salt, if needed.
• Serve warm. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave on medium power at 30-second intervals.

If the sweeter version of these perfect pretzels is more your taste, try dipping them in cinnamon sugar mixture once they come out of the melted butter! Delicious!!

Pretzels with Cheddar Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 Cup whole milk
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2¼ Cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons baking soda
• 1½ Cups warm water
• Coarse salt
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted in a small bowl

Instructions

1. Warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove top for about one minute to 110º. If it's too hot it will kill the yeast. You should be able to comfortably keep your finger in it.
2. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 3 minutes
3. Add the butter and sugar.
4. Add the flour 1 cup at a time and then add the salt.
5. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes with a stand mixer, or by hand until smooth and elastic. Sprinkle with flour as you knead if the dough is too sticky
6. Place the dough in a greased bowl turning once and cover with plastic wrap.
7. Let it rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size.
8. Remove from the warmed oven
9. Preheat the oven to 400º.
10. Combine the warm water and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
11. Punch down dough and turn it out on to a lightly floured surface.
12. Divide into 12 - 16 equal pieces
13. Roll the dough all out into logs as thin as you can.
14. Shape each piece of the dough into pretzel shapes (see the video above), then dip them in the baking soda water.
15. Place on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt.
16. Bake for 7-11 minutes or until browned.
17. While hot, brush each pretzel with melted butter.