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Recipe compliments of www.ITISAKEEPER.com
Homemade Philly Soft Pretzels with Cheese
Homemade Philly Soft Pretzels with Cheese are an irresistible, cheese covered snack. They're the perfect combination of soft and chewy that the whole family will love, plus they're so easy to make.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Yeast
- 1 cup Warm water, between 90-110℉
- 1 tablespoon Butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon White sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 3 cups All-purpose flour, plus additional as needed
- 1 cup Shredded cheese, divided
- 4 cups Water
- 4 tablespoons Baking soda
- Flaked Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475℉.
- Mix yeast, warm water, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir until the yeast bubbles and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Add 2 ½ cups of flour and ¾ cup of shredded cheese. Mix well.
- Add more flour as necessary until the dough comes together.
- Take the dough and place it on a clean surface, then proceed to knead it for 5 minutes.
- Return the dough to the bowl, cover it with a fresh kitchen towel, and keep it in a warm area of your kitchen. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, which should take about 15-20 minutes.
- Heat 4 cups of water until it boils, then add baking soda and stir until dissolved. Take it off the heat and let it cool down to a slightly warm temperature.
- Divide pretzel dough into 8 equal pieces and then form them into pretzel shapes.
- To make pretzels, first roll each dough segment into ropes that are 1" thick. Then, form each rope into a U-shape and twist both ends twice at the top. After that, flip the twisted edges to the bottom of the U-shape and press the dough together firmly to hold it in place.
- Dip the shaped pretzels in warm baking soda water for 2 minutes, and then transfer them to a baking sheet that has been lined.
- Spread the remaining cheese over the pretzels and bake them until they turn golden brown, which should take around 8-10 minutes.
Christina's Notes
- Let Pretzels Proof: After shaping the pretzels, allow them to proof for a little while before baking. Place the shaped pretzels on a baking sheet and let them rest in a warm, draft-free area for about 15 minutes.
- Parmesan Cheese: For added flavor, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top of the pretzels before baking. The nutty and salty profile of parmesan complements the soft pretzels beautifully.
- Adding Beer: To enhance the flavor of the pretzels, you can replace a portion of the water in the dough recipe with beer. The beer imparts a subtle malty taste and adds complexity to the overall flavor profile.
- Serve with Cheese Sauce for Pretzels: Prepare a simple cheese sauce by melting your choice of cheese with a bit of milk or cream in a saucepan over low heat.
- Bites: Rather than twisting the dough into the classic pretzel shape, make bites. Roll the dough into ropes and chop them into bite sized pieces.