Have you ever tried Auntie Anne’s soft pretzels? Mr. Handsome is a huge fan. They have different flavors, but his favorites are the plain pretzels dipped in cheese sauce and the cinnamon sugar pretzels. With Super Bowl coming up in just a few days, I know that folks will be looking for tasty snacks to serve at their Super Bowl parties. If you’re searching for something delicious and unique that isn’t loaded with sugar, give these soft pretzels a try. Mr. Handsome thinks they taste similar to Auntie Anne’s. Below are my recipes for pretzels and cheese sauce.
I also want to announce that I now have an Instagram page! Follow me @NashvilleWife.com.
Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 2 packages active dry yeast
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar, not packed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour I use King Arthur's
- 4 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1.5 tsp regular table salt
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 Tbsp baking soda
- coarse salt
Instructions
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In a heat-proof bowl, warm milk in microwave until approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius). I use my instant read digital meat thermometer to check the temperature.
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Evenly sprinkle yeast over hot milk. Let stand 5 minutes, and add sugar and 2 cups flour. Mix in melted butter.
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Stir in salt and 2.5 cups flour. Knead dough by hand or use an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Kneading is done when dough feels slightly sticky but no longer sticks to the bowl. Add additional flour if necessary.
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Grease bowl, and form dough into a ball. Place dough ball in bowl, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm oven until doubled in size.
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When dough has finished rising, punch it down to remove air pockets. Use your hands to roll out 12 dough "snakes." Form into pretzels.
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Place warm water into a clean bowl. Stir in baking soda until dissolved.
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Dip pretzels one by one into baking soda water. Allow excess water to drip off before arranging pretzels on greased cookie sheets.
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Sprinkle coarse salt over pretzels.
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Bake at 450 Fahrenheit for approximately 11 minutes (until pretzels begin to turn golden brown).
Cheese Sauce
Delicious with homemade soft pretzels
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 cup milk, 2%
- 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/8 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
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Melt butter in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Add flour, and whisk for 15 seconds.
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Add milk, whisking constantly on low heat until smooth and starting to thicken (approximately 3 minutes).
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Add cheese, shredded or in small chunks. Stir until cheese is completely melted. Stir in paprika and garlic powder.