Handmade Pretzels

• prep time: 15 minutes
• cook time: 10-15 minutes
• total time: ~30 minutes

Servings: 5-8 pretzels depending on size

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. salt
• Coarse sea salt for sprinking

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F
2. Mix the yeast into the water until well mixed
3. Add salt and sugar and stir until mixed
4. Add flour (one cup at a time) and mix until dough is thick
5. The dough is ready when it is no longer sticky and bounces back when poked (you may need to add more or less flour
6. Flour a clean surface and knead the dough for 3-5 minutes and then shape into a ball
7. Cut and divide the ball into 6-8 pieces
8. Roll the dough pieces into a long rope
9. Make an upside-down horseshoe shape, then cross the bottoms, and curl up upon itself to create the pretzel shape. Click here for a great video example.
10. In a bowl beat the eff to create an eggwash
11. Brush both sides of pretzels with eggwash
12. Place pretzels on a parchment-lined baking sheet
13. Season with coarse salt
14. Bake for about 10 minutes and then put the oven on broil and bake for 3-5 minutes until golden brown (keep a close eye so that they don't burn)