Hungarian Pretzels (perec)

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 3 teaspoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon flour
• 1 teaspoon hot water

Recipe

• 1 warm milk. remove from heat.
• 2 add sugar and stir until it dissolves.
• 3 add yeast and stir until it dissolves.
• 4 proof yeast (wait 10 minutes until mixture becomes bubbly).
• 5 meanwhile add flour, 1 teaspoon salt and butter to large mixing bowl.
• 6 mix together.
• 7 add yeast and continue mixing until ball is formed.
• 8 divide into 4 equal portion and roll into ball.
• 9 add balls to large mixing bowl, cover with towel and place in warm area.
• 10 let rise until doubled (usually 30 minutes).
• 11 remove 1 ball from bowl.
• 12 divide this portion into 4 pieces.
• 13 roll each piece into long rope-like shape and form into pretzel shape or cut into pieces for pretzel sticks.
• 14 place on oiled baking sheet.
• 15 continue until all pretzels are made.
• 16 whip egg and 1 teaspoon water together.
• 17 brush over pretzels.
• 18 bake at 375f for 10 to 15 minutes or until pretzels begin to brown.
• 19 meanwhile make salt wash.
• 20 mix 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon flour and 1 to 2 teaspoons hot water.
• 21 this should be a jam like consistency.
• 22 brush salt mixture onto pretzels and bake another 3-4 minutes.