Guest Blogger: Sunlight After Rain

Hi there! I'm Sarah from Sunlight After Rain

I'm so excited to be guest posting for Mel, because I am in love with her blog! 

She is one of the sweetest bloggers I know and I'm so grateful for all the kindness she has shown me.

I'm a huge baker.
 It's an issue. My family gets a little sick of all of a constant flow of sugary goodness sometimes.

However, one of the recipes I have found that doesn't make them angry is a copycat recipe of Auntie Anne's Pretzels.

You know, those buttery pretzels that you always buy when you go to the mall? (don't lie. you know you buy them every time you go)

Yeah, those.

If you want to make these without the hassle of going to the mall, then you're in luck!

Here are the ingredients you will need:

1 1/2 cup warm water

1 1/8 teaspoon yeast (same as one packet)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/8 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of bread flour

3 cups of regular flour

2 cups warm water

2 tablespoons baking soda

Coarse salt

4 tablespoons of (melted) butter

To make:

1) Sprinkle the yeast in the warm water in a mixing bowl; stir to dissolve.

2) Gradually add sugar, salt and stir again to dissolve.

3) Add the flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic

(This is the hard part. Get ready to get your hands dirty and your arms toned)

4) Let the dough rise for at least a half an hour

(Though the longer you can let it rise, the easier it will be to roll out later)

5) While the dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups of warm water and 2 tbsp of baking soda. Stir this mixture often.

6) After the dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll it into a long rope (the ideal size would be a 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape.

(I've never been able to roll it out thin (and I've made this recipe quite a few times), so don't worry if the dough is still pretty thick - it should be malleable enough to shape)

7) Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again for another half hour

8) Bake in 450 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until golden.

9) Dip the pretels in the butter and sprinkle with salt. Enjoy!

via: 1

Easy enough, right?

And, they're so delicious! 

Let me know if you get a chance to try them - I'd love to meet you and see your creation!