Easy comfort - with a twist

We love soft pretzels.  Years ago, I was surprised to learn exactly how easy they are to make.  A fabulous recipe for Hot Buttered Pretzels can be found in King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion.  (Fabulous, all-around baking cookbook.)

The ingredients are simple:  all purpose flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and water.  Ingredients are all placed in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Mix thoroughly, then let the machine knead the dough for five minutes.

Place the dough in a ziplock bag spritzed with baking spray.

Allow to rise 30 minutes.

Cut the dough into 8 pieces.  Allow the dough to rest.

Time to make snakes!  Roll each piece into a long rope and form the pretzel shape.  Dip each pretzel into the sugar water solution, place on the prepared baking sheet, and sprinkle with pretzel salt.  Allow to rest.

Bake at 500F according to instructions.  Brush baked pretzels with melted butter.

In less than one hour, you are enjoying fresh baked pretzels!