Auntie Anne's pretzel

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c water, warm

1 T plus 1/4 t yeast (make sure your yeast is alive: put a pinch into a little warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes. If it is bubbling, you are good.)

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2 t oil, neutral

3 3/4 c flour, all purpose

3/4 c plus 2 T powdered sugar

1 1/2 t salt

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4 c warm water

1/2 c baking soda

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oil spray

kosher salt (for salty pretzel)

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For cinnamon pretzel:

1/4 c vegan butter, melted (use neutral oil for soy-free)

1/2 c sugar

2 t cinnamon

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If using a bread machine, put all the ingredients into the machine in the order given up to the salt: water, yeast, oil, flour, salt. Run the machine on the dough cycle. Continue with the directions after the manual instructions are given.

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If mixing by hand, dissolve the yeast in the water for 5 minutes. Add the oil.

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If mixing by hand, mix the flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and add the water/yeast. Form the mass into a dough ball and knead for 5 minutes, until the dough is nice and smooth. Oil a large bowl and add the dough. Turn the dough around in the bowl to oil all of it and cover with a plastic wrap. Put in a cold oven and let rise until doubled, about an hour. Remove from oven.

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Prepare your warm water bath. Mix the water and the baking soda until the soda is dissolved. This can be done in a large cooking pot. The water should be warm but not hot since your hand will be going into it.

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Preheat the oven 425.

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Deflate your dough gently and divide into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a three foot long rope without any flour on your board. It will be sticky at first but  then it will get better. You might need to roll and then let it rest. I started rolling all of the ropes at once and returned to the one that had relaxed so I could roll it some more.

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Prepare a baking sheet with oil spray. You will bake one sheet at a time only.

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When your rope is three feet long, grab the ends and spin it once and lay it down quickly into a pretzel shape. Practice a few times with one to get the feeling right. Or you can twist it on the board if that is easier.

Holding the pinched ends, dip into the soda bath, holding over the pot to drip off the excess liquid and place on the cookie sheet. Spray with oil. If not making cinnamon pretzels, sprinkle with salt.

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Bake for 4 minutes. Rotate the pan. Bake for another 4-5 minutes (I needed 5 minutes). Remove and allow to cool a bit.

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If making cinnamon pretzels, brush generously with the melted vegan butter and sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar.

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