Soft Pretzels

Ingredients

• 3.8 cups flour all-purpose
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 
• 1.5 teaspoons salt 
• 2.3 teaspoons yeast dry
• 1.5 cups water 
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 1 sheets pam original flavor shopping list 
• 1 cup water 
• 2 teaspoons baking soda 
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• oven
• wire rack
• plastic wrap
• hand mixer
• wooden spoon
• kitchen thermometer
• spatula
• cutting board
• pastry brush

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir 2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast with a wooden spoon until well mixed. In a 1-quart saucepan, heat 1 1/2 cups water over medium heat until very warm and an instant-read thermometer reads 120°F to
2. °F.
3. Add the warm water and oil to the flour mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, stopping frequently to scrape batter from side and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, stopping frequently to scrape bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir in enough of the remaining flour, about 1/2 cup at time, until dough is soft, leaves side of bowl and is easy to handle (dough maybe slightly sticky).
4. Sprinkle flour lightly on a countertop or large cutting board.
5. Place dough on floured surface. Knead by folding dough toward you, then with the heels of your hands, pushing dough away from you with a short rocking motion. Move dough a quarter turn and repeat. Continue kneading about 5 minutes, sprinkling surface with more flour if dough starts to stick, until dough is smooth and springy. Lightly spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray; cover the dough loosely with the plastic wrap, sprayed side down.
6. Let rest 10 minutes.
7. Move the oven rack to the middle of the oven.
8. Heat the oven to 425°F. Spray cookie sheets with the cooking spray. In a shallow bowl, stir 1 cup water and the baking soda to make pretzel “wash.”
9. Divide dough into 16 equal pieces. With your hands, roll each piece into a 24-inch rope (dip hands in pretzel wash to make rolling dough easier). To make pretzel shape, form rope into a circle, crossing ends at top. Fold dough so crossed ends rest on bottom of circle. Stir pretzel wash; brush over both sides of pretzel, using a pastry brush.
10. Place pretzel on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Reserve remaining pretzel wash. Cover pretzels loosely with plastic wrap. To make thin pretzels, let rest about 5 minutes or until very slightly puffed. To make thicker pretzels, let rise in a warm place 15 to 20 minutes or until puffed.
11. Just before baking, brush pretzels with reserved wash; sprinkle with coarse salt.
12. Bake 1 cookie sheet at a time 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown.
13. Remove from cookie sheets to a cooling rack; cool at least 15 minutes.
14. Serve warm or cooled.