Updated Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

I’ve made this recipe quite a few times and this time we made them for Valentine’s Day.  I couldn’t believe I was 14 days behind on photos!  We hired a real estate agent on Saturday and putting the house up for sale on Thursday or Friday – so, it has been quite the busy week.

Back to the recipe, I made these three different ways using the same dough for variation:

1.  Regular pretzels
2.  Heart-shaped pretzels
3.  Pretzel bites

I think they taste pretty close to Auntie Anne’s.  This is one of the very first recipes I ever posted and had very good feedback from them.  Brushing them with butter really gives it that authentic flavor.

Update Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

yields 8 large pretzels

adapted from Todd Wilbur’s book “Top Secret Recipes”

1.  Dissolve yeast in warm water and let sit.  Skip this step if using Red Star Platinum or instant yeast.
2.  Combine flour, powdered sugar and salt.  Add yeast and oil.  Knead 5 minutes.
3.  Let rise 45 minutes.  Preheat oven 425 degrees.

4.  Make a bath for the pretzels using the 4 cups of warm water and 1/2 cup of baking soda.  Roll dough 8 pieces 3 feet long.

Or to make a heart:

Or make pretzel bites:

Dip in the baking soda bath for about 20-30 seconds.  Then place on greased baking sheet.

5.  Bake 4 minutes.  Turn and bake 4 minutes.  Brush with melted butter and salt with kosher salt, pretzel salt, etc.