Soft Pretzels

1 cup milk

2 TBS unsalted butter

3 TBS light brown sugar, packed

2 1/4 tsp instant yeast (or 1 pkt rapid-rise yeast)

2-1/2 to  2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp table salt

1/4 cup baking soda (for water/baking soda solution)

Topping

3 TBS unsalted butter, melted

3/4 tsp coarse salt 

Warm milk and butter in microwave or on stove top 

until the butter is just melted, about 90 seconds - do not boil.

Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved; set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment,

combine 2-1/2 cups flour with salt and yeast.

Mix on low until well combined, about 1 minute.

With mixer on low, gradually add warm milk mixture.

When dough forms a cohesive mass, switch to dough hook.

Knead, adding more flour as needed, until dough is 

smooth but still slightly tacky, about 5 minutes.

Shape the dough into a ball, place in a lightly greased bowl,

and cover with plastic wrap.

Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size - 1 to 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 450.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper 

and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a 2 quart baking dish, combine the baking soda with 2- 1/2 cups warm water.

Stir until soda is dissolved; set aside.

Punch dough down and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface.

Shape dough into a log and cut into 6 equal pieces.

Cover with a damp towel so dough doesn't dry out while shaping other pretzels.

Roll and stretch each piece with the palms of your hands into a 24 inch rope,

holding the ends and slapping the middle of the rope on the counter as you stretch.

Using two hands, gently dip each rope into the soda solution.

Allow any excess liquid to drip off, then form into a pretzel shape.

Form a U shape, then holding the ends of the rope, 

cross them over and under each other, making a twist in the center,

and press the ends onto the bottom of the pretzel.

Sprinkle evenly with the coarse salt.

Bake until golden brown, about 8 - 12 minutes... 

Watch bottoms carefully as they can burn easily.

Brush tops of baked pretzels with melted butter.

May be re-heated in microwave.

*YUMMY NOTE

For cinnamon-sugar pretzels, Omit coarse salt;

Brush tops of baked pretzels with cinnamon sugar.

(About 1/2 cup sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon, combined.)

Makes 6 large pretzels