Title: New Year's Pretzels
Categories: Snack German Holiday
Yield: 2 Servings
| 2 | c | Milk |
| 1/2 | c | Butter Or margarine |
| 2 | pk | Active dry yeast |
| 2 | ts | Salt |
| 1/2 | c | Sugar |
| 7 | c | Unbleached flour |
| 2 | lg | Eggs |
| 1 | c | Confectioners' sugar |
| | | Water |
| 1 | ts | Vanilla extract |
| 1/4 | c | Chopped almonds |
Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130 degrees F.). Mix yeast,
salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour. Slowly beat into warm milk. Beat for 2
minutes. Add eggs and 1 cup of flour. Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic,
about 5 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl. Let rise in a warm place
until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Punch dough down and let rise again
until doubled. (1 hour more). Divide dough in half. Shape pretzel as
follows: Roll dough into a rope about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in
diameter. Cross the ends leaving a large loop in the center. Flip loop
back onto crossed ends to form a pretzel. Repeat with remaining dough.
Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Let rise 15 minutes more. Bake at
375 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire
racks. Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing.
Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Makes 2 large
pretzels.