Valentine’s Day Pretzels
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
These Valentine's Day Soft Pretzels are sweet. And salty. And soft. In short, just so scrumptious. And best of all, they are made with love, which makes them oh...so special, aaw...
Author:
Recipe type: Snack/Breakfast/Bread
Cuisine: American
Yield: 15 small pretzels
Ingredients
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1¼ cups bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
For the baking soda bath
  • ⅓ cup baking soda
  • 4 cups water
For the toppings
  • Honey butter sauce (1/4 cup melted butter mixed with ¼ cup honey)
  • Cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
  • Roasted almonds, coarsely ground
  • Sparkling sugar
  • Kosher or Sea salt
  • Heart-shaped sprinkles
Instructions
  1. Warm milk until it reaches 110°F (or lukewarm to the touch). Pour into the bowl of your mixer.
  2. Add brown sugar, stir to dissolve, then sprinkle the yeast, stir again. Set aside for about 5 minutes to let yeast bloom.
  3. Add melted butter, salt, and the flours.
  4. Stir slowly at first, using the dough attachment, to incorporate all ingredients. Then turn up the speed and continue to mix for 5 minutes, or until dough pulls away from the sides of bowl. Dough should be smooth but slightly sticky.
  5. Scrape dough into a bowl that’s been oiled or buttered. Cover with plastic wrap then place in a warm spot.
  6. After dough doubles in size (about 1 hour), punch it down lightly to deflate, then turn out onto floured surface and divide into 15 equal portions for small-sized pretzels.
  7. Roll each portion into a long and thin rope, about 24-inch in length, then shape as desired (either into a simple heart or a pretzel shape.)
  8. Meanwhile, heat oven to 400°F, and prepare the baking soda bath by boiling water and baking soda in a deep pot (I prefer using a deep pot because this solution has the tendency to bubble and spray droplets of soda water all over the place.)
  9. Drop pretzels one at a time into boiling water, boil for 5-10 seconds, flip and boil for another 5-10 seconds, then remove with a slotted spatula.
  10. Drain pretzels on paper towels to remove excess water, then place on a baking sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper. If pretzels unravel or become misshapen in the bath, reshape them as you're placing them on the baking sheet.
  11. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, or until they’re deep golden brown.
  12. While still hot, brush with the honey butter sauce, then sprinkle with desired toppings.
Notes
For chocolate pretzels, replace 2 tablespoons of either flour with cocoa powder.
Recipe by Fiesta Friday at https://fiestafriday.net/2019/02/10/valentines-day-soft-pretzels/