This is a "copycat" from Auntie Annie's we just found on Google. However, as evidenced by this picture you can see it has been well loved and tweaked over the last few years! I will include our changes.
2 cups milk
1 1/2 tablespoons (2 packets) active dry yeast
6 tablespoons brown sugar (not packed)
4 tablespoons butter melted
4 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons fine salt
1/2 cup baking soda
4 cups water
Coarse salt
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Warm up the milk in microwave or stove top for about 1 1/2 minutes. It should be about 110 degrees (too hot kills yeast). You should be able to comfortably put finger in. Stir in the yeast and let sit for about 3 minutes until creamy. Add butter and sugar. Add flour 1 cup at a time and then the salt. Kneed for about 10 mins with a stand mixer or by hand. You may need to add a little more flour during this process if it becomes too sticky or liquid-y.
Kneed on a floured surface for one minute until shaped into a ball. The dough will be VERY sticky.
Put in a greased glass bowl and cover with greased cling wrap. Let rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size. Preheat oven to 450. Punch down dough and divide into 12 lumps (divide in half, then divide each half into three and then divide each remaining one in half again). Roll them all out as thin as you can and then form into pretzel shape.
In saucepan boil water and baking soda. Place formed pretzel in boiling water/soda one at a time. Let them puff up before removing carefully (we use a long handled slotted spoon). This will take close to 2 minutes to make them stable enough to remove. Make sure you get the water back to boiling each time you place a new pretzel in.
Place on VERY WELL greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for 7-11 minutes or until browned. You will want to check half way and rotate your pan 180 degrees if only partially browning. Brush each with melted butter while hot.
Let me know WHEN you try this awesome recipe! Post your finished pretzel pictures and tag @The Right Relief Inc on Facebook! Can't wait to see your Pretzel Relief!