Super Soft Pretzels and Pretzel Bites nuggets - active dry yeast

Method

• Dissolve sugar in warm water with yeast.
• Let sit until foamy.
• About 10 minutes or so.
• In large bowl, add the flour, 1/2 cup sugar and salt.
• Mix until well combined.
• Make a well in the middle of flour mixture and slowly add the yeast mixture and vegetable oil.
• Mix well until it turns into dough.
• Add one tablespoons of warm water at a time if dough is to dry.
• Knead until smooth and elastic.
• Usually about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Grease a large bowl with vegetable oil and place dough in bowl, turning to coat all sides.
• If you have a bread maker, set to dough setting and take out after first rise.
• Saves time.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in warm place until it doubles in size.
• Usually about an hour, depending how warm the place is.
• May take less time if very warm.
• Preheat oven to 450F.
• Yes 450 :) Grease 2 cookie sheets.
• I like to also use cooling rack after I dip pretzels in water bath to drain off excess water, but you don't have to.
• Dissolve baking soda in hot water.
• I like bringing my water to a full boil, then adding soda.
• Be careful because it will foam.
• Then remove from heat after it has fully been dissolved.
• When dough has doubled in size, turn out onto lightly floured surface and divide into 12 pieces.
• You can make these as large or small as you like.
• I like mine rather large as you can see.
• Roll each piece into a rope by using both hands and working from the middle out.
• Make rope about 15-20 inches for larger pretzels.
• Shape each rope into a pretzel shape.
• I make a upside down horseshoe shape and then take ends and twist and press ends at bottom of twisted end.
• Shape pretzel after twisting to make it more pretzel looking.
• Once all the pretzels are formed, dip each pretzel into water and baking soda mixture and place on cookie sheet draining off excess after dipping.
• This gives the pretzels that golden mahogany color.
• I like mine a little lighter so I do not bake mine as long.
• Whatever you choose is fine.
• Beat eggs and water together to make a egg wash.
• Brush the dipped pretzels in egg wash mixture and sprinkle each pretzels with salt.
• Bake for 5-8 minutes or until browned to your liking.
• Brush with melted butter right out of the oven.
• You can also roll out the ropes and cut into 1 inch pieces and follow rest of directions to make pretzel bites.
• Or roll into sticks.