Weekend project: Homemade pretzels

There’s nothing like a really great pretzel. Freshly puffed and temptingly aromatic, they’re the ones with the deep brown sheen that — if you’re lucky — you get still warm, the large specks of salt catching the light just so as they’re slid out of the oven.

Chance upon a good bakery at the right time, and you might be able to snag one. But homemade? Until recently, I simply didn’t think it was possible. But I couldn’t shake the thought of trying. It took a little trial and error, but I’ve found the process is surprisingly easy (well, except for twisting them in the air — like flipping pizza dough, that takes practice).

Did I mention fun? It really is fun -- and, best of all, nothing beats the flavor of a homemade pretzel fresh out of the oven.

I did a story on homemade pretzels, including a bunch of recipes and tips:

Pretzels 101

Recipe: Soft pretzels

Recipe: Hard pretzels

Recipe: Pretzel rolls

Pretzel toppings from salt to chocolate

How to make various pretzel washes

Homemade mustard recipes? We got you covered

Sound interesting? Check out how to make pretzels in the step-by-step photo gallery. And you can find the recipe for warm soft pretzels below. They make a great weekend project.

Cooking is fun – at least it should be! No matter how long you’ve been in the kitchen, there is always something new to learn, whether it’s a simple twist on an old technique, or a handy tip to save time and energy. In this series of short videos, I demonstrate a variety of kitchen tips, including how to hold a chef’s knife for maximum control and using a spoon to peel fresh ginger. If you have any gadgets, kitchen tips or questions you’d like me to explore, leave a comment below or shoot me an email at noelle.carter@latimes.com.

SOFT PRETZELS

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes plus rising time | Serves 12

1 (1/4-ounce) package active-dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 3/4 cups warm water
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
5 cups (22.5 ounces) bread flour, divided
1/2 cup (2 ounces) rye flour
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted
Pretzel wash (see story)
Toppings, as desired (see story)

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water. Stir in the sugar and one-half cup of the bread flour. Set aside until the yeast begins to bubble, about 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining bread flour with the rye flour and salt.

3. Beat the melted butter into the large bowl with the yeast. Using the dough hook (if using a stand mixer), or a fork or wooden spoon (if mixing by hand), slowly mix in the remaining flour mixture, a spoonful at a time, until all the flour is added and a firm, thick dough is formed.

4. Move the dough to a lightly floured board. Knead until it is smooth and elastic, 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Remove the dough to a large, oiled bowl. Cover and set aside in a warm place until the dough is almost doubled in size, 45 minutes to an hour.

6. Meanwhile, prepare the pretzel wash and heat the oven to 450 degrees.

7. Divide the risen dough into 12 pieces, each weighing about 3 1/2 ounces. Form each piece into a ball, pinching the seams together at the base of each ball.

8. Slowly roll each ball out into a rope. Roll each out as far as it will go without springing back, then move to the next ball and start rolling it out, giving each rope time to relax. Eventually, roll each of the ropes out to a length of about 24 inches. Twist the ropes to form a pretzel shape, pressing each of the ends into the pretzel.

9. Dip each pretzel into the pretzel wash (wear rubber kitchen gloves and goggles if using lye) for 15 to 20 seconds, turning the pretzel over halfway to coat evenly. Remove the pretzel to a greased nonreactive baking sheet and top as desired (if using an aluminum baking sheet, line it with parchment before greasing).

10. Repeat until all the pretzels have been dipped and topped, allowing a few inches of space between each pretzel on the baking sheet.

11. Bake the pretzels, 1 sheet at a time, in the center of the oven until puffed and a rich golden brown (color will vary depending on the wash), 10 to 14 minutes. Rotate the sheet halfway through baking for even coloring.

12. Remove the baking sheet to a rack and set aside until the pretzels have cooled slightly before serving.

Each pretzel: 238 calories; 7 grams protein; 43 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 4 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 8 mg cholesterol; 1 gram sugar; 390 mg sodium.

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