Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

• 1 1/2 cups water warm 110°F-115°F

• 4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 tablespoons butter or ghee melted

• coarse sea salt

Poaching Water:

• 6 cups water

• 2 tablespoons baking soda

Utensils:

• small bowl

• stand mixer with dough hook

• bench scraper

• large baking sheet

• parchment paper

• large pot

• slotted spatula

• plastic wrap

• serrated knife

Instructions:

1. prepare ingredients

Dough:

1. get a small bowl and add 2 tbsp of syrup

2. add 2 1/4 tsp of yeast to the bowl

3. pour 1 1/2 cups of warm water into the bowl and set aside for 5 minutes until foamy

4. in the bowl of a stand mixer add 4 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour

5. add 2 tsp of salt to the bowl

6. add 1/4 cup of olive oil to the bowl

7. add the proofed yeast mixture to the bowl and place on the stand mixer fitted with the dough hook and mix on medium-low speed for 5-6 minutes until the dough begins to form around the hook; if the dough looks dry after about 3 minutes of mixing then add 1 tbsp of water at a time until it's hydrated enough

8. cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place and set aside in a warm space for 60-90 minutes until doubled in size

9. preheat the oven to 450°F

10. line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside

Shaping:

1. turn the dough out onto a clean, not floured, work surface

2. divide the dough into 8 equal sections

3. roll each section into an 18-inch rope

4. grab the ends of the dough rope to make a U shape

5. cross one of the ends of the rope over the other, leaving a wide loop of dough below them

6. then wrap the dough ends around each other again to create the twist

7. then fold the twist toward you, into the center of the dough loop and pinch together to create the pretzel shape

8. place the pretzel onto the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough

Poaching:

1. add 6 cups of water to a large pot

2. add 2 tbsp of baking soda to the water and place on the stove over high heat util boiling then reduce the heat to medium

3. one at a time, drop the pretzels in the water and boil for 30 seconds, then lift using a slotted spatula and return to the baking sheet

4. sprinkle with salt while it's still wet and repeat with remaining pretzels then turn off the heat

5. use a serrated knife to cut a 4-nch slit along the bottom of each pretzel

6. place pretzels in the oven at 450°F for 14 minutes until golden brown

7. brush butter over the pretzels while they're still warm and serve

Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter or the fridge to last longer and warm in a microwave when ready to eat.