Growing up in PA, pretzels were kind of a big deal.  Benzel’s pretzels were made the next town over and Philly with their hot pretzels were king.  Going to Pittsburgh Pirate games and other sporting events it was always a given that I would get a hot pretzel with cheese on the side.  Well, I still love it 🙂  When I worked at Sheetz and even today, I still love a breakfast sandwich on a pretzel roll and love it as alone or as a bread or pizza base!

It is hard to find a good fresh pretzel roll and they can go bad pretty quick.  To help out, here is a great recipe that you can make around 18 smaller pretzels or half the recipe and make less if needed.  I prefer to make the full batch and freeze some for later.  We also make them half salted and half with cinnamon and sugar because we all have a sweet tooth too.

Hot Pretzel’s

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Hot Water

1 Active Yeast Packet

1/4 Cup Melted Butter

1 Egg

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 Tsp Salt

1 Cup Milk

4 Cups Flour

Salt and Cinnamon Sugar to coat pretzels

Directions:

1. Mix warm water and yeast in a bowl and let sit for at least 10 minutes.
2. Separate the egg and put the egg white aside for later.
3. Mix the egg yolk, sugar, salt, butter, milk and yeast mixture together until combined.
4. Add flour 1 cup at a time being sure to mix in thoroughly before adding more.  You may have to use your hands at the end to get it all in.   
5. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until smooth.
   

   
6. Place in a bowl and cover with a towel.  Let it sit for 1 hour somewhere warm.
7. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
8. Place parchment paper on the trays ( or spray with nonstick spray)
9. Separate the dough into 18 equal size pieces (cut into 1/4’s and then those into 1/4’s)
10. Roll each piece to be a long rope
11. Make an oval and cross at the top
12. Cross one more time and bring the cross down to close onto the bottom of the circle making a pretzel shape.  It’s ok, the first few will be a bit abstract, but you will get it and the kids will enjoy it too
13. Place on the trays
14. Mix 1 Tablespoon of water with the egg white.  With a pastry brush, brush the top of each pretzel with the mixture
15. Top with either salt or the cinnamon/sugar mixture.  You will want to use a lot of cinnamon & sugar.
16. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes
17. One removed from the oven, I recommend melting some additional butter and coating them again ( or even dipping them in if you want to go full Auntie Anne’s)
18. Feel free to eat as they are or cut in half and make mini sliders.  When cutting, place your hand on top of the roll flat and keep your fingers out of the way.  Cut across with a serrated knife.

We life the pretzels sandwiches plain or toasted so the cheese melts into the pretzel roll.  Since they aren’t huge, you can make a few different ones for dinner and have a variety.

Check it out and let me know what you think.  The smell as they bake it worth the work alone!