Soft Krendli (Pretzels)

[Olga Drozd]

Soft Krendli (Pretzels)

Homemade krendli are golden brown and make a very tasty treat especially served warm with butter.

2 packages active dry yeast (2 Tablespoons)
1 cup lukewarm water (110ºF.)
2 cups milk, scalded
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
7 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon water
Coarse salt or poppy seeds, caraway seeds or sesame seeds for sprinkling

Sprinkle yeast over lukewarm water; stir to dissolve.

Pour scalded milk over sugar and salt in mixing bowl.  Cool to lukewarm.

Add yeast mixture and 3 cups flour to milk mixture.  Beat at medium speed with electric mixer 2 minutes.  Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.

Turn dough out onto floured surface.  Knead until smooth and satiny, about 10 minutes.

Place in greased bowl, turning over to grease top.  Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down dough.  Divide dough in half.  Let rest 10 minutes.  Roll into 12 x 10 inch rectangle.  Cut into 10 (12 inch) strips.  Roll each strip into 20 inch rope.  To form pretzel, hold ends of rope.  Form a large loop, overlapping rope 3 inches from both ends.  Twist rope once 3 inches from ends. Bring down ends of rope and pinch to opposite sides of pretzel. Place on lightly floured surface.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Let rise uncovered 30 minutes.

Heat 2 quarts water to boiling in Dutch oven or large pot during last 10 minutes of rising time.  Add baking soda.  Add pretzels to boiling water, two at a time.  Boil 1 minute.  Remove with slotted spoon.  Let water drain off.  Place pretzels on well greased aluminum foil covered baking sheets or greased parchment paper lined baking sheets.  Combine egg and 1 Tablespoon water.  Brush pretzels with egg mixture. Sprinkle with coarse salt or poppy seeds or caraway seeds.

Bake in 400ºF. oven 18 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve warm.  Makes 20 pretzels.

NOTE:  Pretzels can be reheated.  Wrap in aluminum foil; place in 400ºF. oven 10 minutes or until warm.