Soft Pretzels - Like Auntie Anne's

Hungarian Gypsy's Note:

A soft, buttered pretzel justlike the kind you find at fairs and in the mall. You can customize by adding poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic salt, cinnamon sugar and even icing for a new dessert.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 40 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 12

Yield: 12.0 pretzels

• 3 ½ cups flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (¼ ounce) package dry active yeast
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon Crisco
• 6 cups water
• ¼ cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

1. Combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast in medium bowl. Blend well.
2. Heat 1 cup water and Crisco in small saucepan to 100 - 110 degrees.
3. Add liquid to flour mixture and blend at low speed until moistened.
4. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
5. Stir in by hand an additional 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups of flour or until dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl.
6. Knead in 1/2 - 3/4 cup flour, on a floured surface, until dough is smooth and elastic.
7. Put dough in greased bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap and a cloth towel.
8. Let rise in a warm (80-85 degrees) until light and doubled in size. About 45 minutes.
9. Spray 2 cookie sheets with no-stick spray.
10. Punch dough down and seperate into 12 pieces.
11. Roll each piece into a 16-inch rope.
12. Form into pretzel shape.
13. Place on greased cookie sheets and cover.
14. Let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
15. Adjust oven rack to top position.
16. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
17. Combine 6 cups water and baking soda in a shallow saucepan and bring to a boil.
18. Slowly drop pretzels into water, one at a time, cooking 15 seconds on each side.
19. Remove from water with a slotted spoon and return to greased cookie sheet.
20. Sprinkle with pretzel salt, sesame seeds, etc.
21. Bake for 8 minutes.
22. Brush with melted butter.
23. Bake an additional 2 minutes or until golden brown.
24. Remove from cookie sheet and brush generously with remaining butter.