Soft pretzels are one of those comfort foods, we are used to buying at are local fair or carnivals and sometimes, if Your lucky at Your local market. Here is a simple to follow recipe for those same, soft and tender pretzels. You can make at home in only about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2lb plain flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons softened butter (plus extra, melted)
• 8fl oz warm milk
• mustard (optional)

Preparation

Start by boiling a large pot of water and preheating the oven to 400°F. Next lightly grease a baking sheet. Then put about 4oz of the flour, the sugar, salt, baking powder, yeast and the two tablespoons softened butter in a large bowl.

Mix until smooth and the yeast starts to froth. Sift in the remaining flour, and continue mixing until a stiff dough forms. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball and allow to rise in a warm place, until doubled it’s size.

Punch down the dough and knead for a minute or two. Then divide the dough into eight equal pieces. Roll or cut each piece into a rope about 18in long and 1/2in in diameter, and twist each rope into a pretzel shape. Allow the dough shaped pretzels to rest for a couple of minutes.

Using a slotted spoon or broad spatula, slide the pretzels into the boiling water one at a time, and boil each one until they float to the top. Remove immediately, drain off the excess water and transfer to the greased baking sheet.

Bake each pretzel in the oven for about 15 minutes or until golden. Finish by brushing the pretzels very lightly with melted butter as they emerge from the oven. Sprinkle a little salt on each pretzel and serve them with a side of mustard.