Super Awesome Pretzels

1. Sprinkle yeast into warm water until bubbles form, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, mix yeast/water, milk, brown sugar, butter, egg and salt until combined. Gradually add flour until dough becomes a slightly sticky ball.

2. Knead dough on floured surface for 10 minutes, adding extra flour if necessary, until ball becomes tacky and satiny. Place in an oiled bowl, turn dough over, and cover with towel. Let dough rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size, then knead again for 30 seconds. Spray 2 large baking pans with non-stick spray.

3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Cut dough into 16 pieces. Cover pieces with a towel so they don’t dry out. On an unfloured surface, roll each piece into an approximately 18” rope* and fold into a pretzel shape. Place formed pretzels onto cooking sheets, covering them with a towel. Let rest for 15 minutes. In the meantime: in a large pot, bring 2” of water to a boil for the poaching liquid. Add baking soda, then reduce to a simmer.

4. Drop 2 pretzels at a time into the poaching liquid for 1 minute, turning midway. Place poached pretzels back onto the pan (you should sprinkle corn meal on the pan first to prevent sticking). Mix the egg yolk with water and brush onto the poached pretzels. Sprinkle on seeds or kosher salt.

5. Bake pretzels for 10-13 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks. Yum!

*NOTE: Try not to stretch the dough. If you have trouble rolling them to 18”, roll each one to about 10”, making sure to keep them covered. Then, go back to the first pieces and roll them longer.