While not as easy as buying a box of Kim & Scott’s pretzels, making your own soft pretzels is a really fun activity to do with the kids.  We like to invite a couple of friends over and make our own warm pretzels, especially when we are less harried during school holidays.  We got this recipe from the summer cooking camp that Celia attended at Just Cakes in Bethesda, Maryland.

Soft Pretzels

2 little packages active dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 tsp. sugar

4 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water.  Add the sugar, and let it stand for about 5 minutes.  Stir in 2 cups of the flour, followed by the salt and the remaining 2 cups of the flour.

On a lightly floured counter or pastry stone, knead the dough for about 10 minutes or until it becomes elastic and shiny.  Divide the dough into 6 - 8 equal parts, and roll each part into a long strip, then twist it into a pretzel shape. 

Place the pretzels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and brush it with egg wash, if desired. (To make the egg was, beat together 1 egg and 1 tsp. of water.)

Sprinkle the pretzels with kosher salt or cinnamon-sugar, if desired.  Bake them for 12 - 15 minutes until the pretzels are golden brown.