how to prepare Pretzels

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c water,Warm
1 T plus 1/4 teaspoon yeast
3 3/4 c all-purpose flour
3/4 c plus 2 tablespoons powdered
-sugar
1 1/2 t salt
2 t vegetable oil
Bath
4 c water,Warm
1/2 c baking soda
Other
1/4 c butter,melted
kosher (or pretzel salt)
Cinnamon Topping
1/2 c granulated sugar
2 t cinnamon


1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a small bowl or cup. Let it sit for a few
minutes.
2. Combine flour, powdered sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add water with yeast
and vegetable oil. Stir with a spoon and then use your hands to form the dough into a
ball. Knead the dough for 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Dough will be nice and
smooth when it's ready. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it and, and store
it in a warm place for about 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.
3. When dough has risen, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
4. Make a bath for the pretzels by combining the baking soda with the warm water and
stir until baking soda is mostly dissolved.
5. Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into 8 even portions. Roll each portion
on a flat non-floured surface until it is about 3 feet long. Pick up both ends of the dough
and give it a little spin so the middle
of the dough spins around once. Lay the dough down with the loop nearest to you. Fold
the ends down toward you and pinch to attach them to the bottom of the loop. The twist
should be in the middle.
6. Holding the pinched ends, dip each pretzel into the bath solution. Put each pretzel on
a paper towel for a moment to blot the excess liquid. Arrange the pretzels on a baking
sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. If you want salt, sprinkle pretzels with kosher or
pretzel salt. Don't salt any pretzels you plan to coat with cinnamon/sugar. You will likely
have to use two baking sheets, and be sure to bake them separately. Bake the the
pretzels for 4 minutes, then spin the pan halfway around and bake for another 4 to 5
minutes or until the pretzels are golden brown.
7. Remove the pretzels from the oven, and let them cool for a couple minutes. If you
want to eat some now, brush 'em with melted butter first, if desired, before serving. If
you want the cinnamon/sugar coating make it by combining the 1/2 cup sugar and 2
teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl. Brush the unsalted pretzels you plan to coat with a
generous amount of melted butter. Sprinkle a heavy coating of the cinnamon/sugar onto
the entire surface of the pretzels over a plate.