Click for Cookbook LOGIN
"Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?"--Unknown

Soft Pretzel with Lye Solution Recipe

  Tried it? Rate this Recipe:
 

 

This recipe for Soft Pretzel with Lye Solution is from The Poljak Family Cookbook Project, one of the cookbooks created at FamilyCookbookProject.com. We'll help you start your own personal cookbook! It's easy and fun. Click here to start your own cookbook!


Category:
Category:

Ingredients:  
Ingredients:  
For the Dough:
1 tablespoon yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
4 1/4 cups bread flour
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons salt

2 1/2 tablespoons salted room-temperature butter

For the Lye Dip:
Plastic gloves
Safety goggles
1 quart water
1 ounce food-grade lye

Coarse salt

Directions:
Directions:
Make the Dough

Proof the yeast by dissolving it in 1/4 cup warm water and sugar for 5 minutes.
Measure the flour into a mixing bowl, add the salt, the proofed yeast and 1 cup of warm water. Mix by hand or with a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment until flour mixture comes together into a stiff ball. Add more warm water as needed to form the dough.

Knead for 5 minutes, let rest for a few minutes and then add the butter and knead for at least 5 more minutes, or until butter is fully incorporated. At this time, the dough should be firm and soft, and velvety to the touch.
Form into a ball, butter all surfaces and let rise until double, about 1 hour, in a warm spot.

Shape the Pretzels

Place wax paper on a baking sheet.
De-gas (punch down) the dough and divide into 12 (2-ounce) pieces. Form into balls. Using very little flour, form balls into 1-foot long strands, thicker in the middle and tapering towards the ends.
Take each strand and roll out again to form 2-foot strands. Twist into a pretzel shape, using a little water to make the ends stick to the loop. Experienced pretzel bakers can flip pretzels into shape in the air, but most people have to coax them.
Place the pretzels on the baking sheet and refrigerate for 1 hour. This dries out the surface and makes them easier to handle.

Make the Lye Solution

Put on gloves and safety glasses.
Place 1 quart of water in a plastic or glass container, weigh 1 ounce of food grade or reagent grade sodium hydroxide into a bowl and add slowly to the water, stirring with a plastic spoon or similar object. ALWAYS ADD THE LYE TO THE WATER, not the other way around! For scientists: The lye solution will be approximately 0.75 M NaOH (FW 39.99g/mol) or almost 3% w/w.

Remove pretzels from the refrigerator and dip each for 30 seconds in the lye solution. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on greased or parchment-paper-lined baking sheet.
Sprinkle pretzel with salt. Make a deep cut through the thick part of the pretzel horizontally with a razor blade or lame.

Let pretzels rest for 15 minutes.

Heat oven to 375 F. Bake pretzels for 20 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Number Of Servings:
Number Of Servings:
12
Preparation Time:
Preparation Time:
2 hours 20 minutes
Personal Notes:
Personal Notes:
Try gluten enhancer

 

 

 

Learn more about the process to create a cookbook -- or
Start your own personal family cookbook right now!  Here's to good eating!

Search for more great recipes here from over 1,500,000 in our family cookbooks!

 

 

 

233W  

Cookbooks are great for Holiday Gifts, Wedding Gifts, Bridal Shower ideas and Family Reunions!

*Recipes and photos entered into the Family Cookbook Project are provided by the submitting contributors. All rights are retained by the contributor. Please contact us if you believe copyright violations have occurred.


Search for more great recipes here from over 1,500,000 in our family cookbooks!