Soft Pretzels

9 steps

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Bring 1 and 1/2 cup water to 115F (i.e. very warm)
3. In a large bowl or KitchenAid mixer bowl, thoroughly dissolve yeast in very warm water, and then add flour. (Work in another 1/2 cup flour to make stiffer dough if desired)
4. If not using KitchenAid, mix/knead dough with your hands. If ough is still sticky, add some flour.
5. Take a small piece of the dough and roll it until it looks like a fat pencil. Twist it into a pretzel shape.
6. Bring 2 cups of water to very hot, then stir in baking soda.
7. Drop each shaped pretzel into this hot water; use a slotted spoon or spatula to remove the pretzels immediately.
8. Sprinkle with a little coarse salt and put on greased cookie sheet.
9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 400 F.