Soft Cheddar Pretzel Bread

Cheddar Pretzel Bread

Pretzel Bread

If you’re a multi-tasker, then this Recipe has you written all over it!  You can simply make just about anything with this simple dough recipe; Pretzels, Pretzel-Dogs, Burger Buns, Kolaches, Sliders, Soup Bowls. . . . . . . .  the list goes on and on…..

Get creative!  Baking Bread is awesome and So Easy…..  Makes your house smell great, pleases appetites and keeps for days (if it does go stale, then you can make Bread Pudding, Stuffing, Breading…..   once again, endless)  Needless to say that your money is well spent on this Recipe of all Recipes!

Many Movie Theaters use the smell of Freshly Baked Bread to sell Popcorn!  Restaurants have always been tempting appetites with a properly placed bakery…  Homes feel loving, clean and friendly when they smell like Momma’s been Baking In That Oven!  Ironically, few people actually bake bread without a bread maker!  Once you realize how easy this is, you’ll save your money for a pair of shoes!

The Classic Soft Cheddar Pretzel!

Start with the Base Recipe and then hit the Variations Below:

Base Recipe:

1 1/2  Cups          Flour

2  tsp                     Baking Powder

1/2  tsp                 Salt

1  tsp                     Sugar

2  Tbsp                 Butter or Margarine

1/2  Cup               Cheddar Cheese, shredded  (I use 2 ounces of Mild Cheddar)

2/3  Cup               Milk

1                             Egg, beaten

1 1/2  tsp             Coarse Salt (Kosher or Sea Salt works great)

Preperation:

Combine the Flour, Baking Powder, Salt and Sugar in a Medium Bowl.  Cut in Butter/Margarine with a Pastry Blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

Tip:  If you don’t have a Pastry Blender, hold two Butter Knives together and ‘Cut’ through the Solids until they resemble coarse meal!

Add the Cheese and Milk, stirring until the dry ingredients are just moistened.  Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead about 12 times.

Divide your dough in half and roll each half in to a 12X8 rectangle.  Cut the dough lengthwise in to eight 1-inch strips.

Twist each strip in to a Pretzel Shape!  Brush with the beaten Egg and sprinkle with Coarse Salt.

Place on a lightly greased baking sheet and Bake at 400 Degrees (F) for 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool Pretzels for a few minutes on wire racks and Serve Warm.

Makes about 16 Soft Cheddar Pretzels.

Super Easy Cheddar Pretzels!!!

Variations:

This part of the creative process is not an exact science!  If you want Boring Perfection, you can achieve that as well….  Still continue cooking at 400 Degrees (F), but the cooking times will vary to get them golden brown depending upon the sizes…

Pretzel Bread:

Pretzel Bread

After dividing your dough in half, form them in to Two Loaves and slice them a few times with a sharp knife before brushing with the Egg and sprinkling with Salt.  Your Baking Time here will usually be about 25 – 35 minutes….  Bake them on a lightly greased baking sheet and Not in a Loaf Pan to get that Artisan Look and awesome crust!

Pretzel Bowls for Soup:

Pretzel Bread is a Top Choice for sturdy Soup Bowls. . .

Divide your dough in to four parts and shape them by hand in to round loaves.  Brush with the Egg and sprinkle with the Salt…  Baking time is usually around 15-25 minutes.  Let them cool completely.  Using a knife, cut the tops off and hollow out the centers.  Fill with your favorite soup and serve along with the Tops!  Always a Favorite!

Pretzel Dogs:

Pretzel Dogs! Yummy!

After cutting the two halves in to strips, wrap your ‘Dogs’ with the strips and Brush with the Egg and sprinkle with the Salt.  I use ‘All-Beef’ franks for this since they seem to be less greasy than the Processed Meat Franks!  It’s just my preference!  Baking time is 15-25 minutes….

Burger/Sandwich Buns:

Sandwich Buns!

Follow the steps for the Soup Bowls, but this dough makes Eight Buns and baking time is reduced to 10-20 minutes!  Once cooled, slice in to two halves and serve up some grilled Burgers, Chicken or Barbeque!!!

Maple Bacon Breakfast Pretzel

Don't use Salt when baking with Bacon!

After making your Pretzel Shapes, brush with the Beaten Egg but Do Not sprinkle with the Coarse Salt!  Rather, top them with pieces of ‘par-cooked’ Bacon and pop them in to the oven using the cooking times for the Pretzel Recipe!  The Bacon flavors these Pretzels, and when served with warm Maple Syrup, they are just too good!!!

Enjoy!!!

Enjoy this Multi-Tasker from JW8!!!