Recipe: Homemade Pretzels

Kylie makes these delicious pretzels for us at squad a lot. They are a great thing to have as an afternoon snack or before dinner, especially if you have notorious complainers when waiting for dinner. And who doesn't love anything doughy and full of carbs? Better for the hours of life-saving ahead ;)

2 cups milk
1½ tbsp active dry yeast
6 tbsp brown sugar
4 tbsp butter
4½ cups flour
2 tsp salt

⅓ cup baking soda
3 cups warm water
Coarse salt to sprinkle on top

Warm up the milk in the microwave for just about one and a half minutes. It should be about 110º. If it's too hot it will kill the yeast. You should be able to comfortably keep your finger in it. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 3 minutes.

Add the butter and sugar. Transfer into the bowl of your stand mixer and start it to mixing on very low speed. Add the flour about 1 cup at a time and then add the fine salt. Kneed for about 10 minutes after you've added all the ingredients with the stand mixer. Put it in a greased bowl and cover with greased cling wrap.

Let rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 450º. Punch down dough and divide into 12 lumps.

Roll them all out as thin as you can. Combine the warm water and baking soda in a wide bowl. Form the dough into pretzel shapes, then dip in the baking soda water. Place on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for about 7-11 minutes or until browned.

Love these. They're delicious and doughy. The coarse salt on top just makes the pretzels. And considering I'm not the best baker, they must be nearly fool-proof, because mine turned out just fine!