Cinnamon Soft Pretzel

This is a very tasteful and pleasing soft pretzel to either make as a breakfast dish, or share with friends at parties. I like to make these for breakfast becuase they are basically replacing a morning cinnamon roll. This recipe, you may notice, is nearly identical to a cinnamon roll recipe, they taste very similar.

Soft Pretzels
(makes between 18-30 pretzels)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. warm water
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
3 tbsp active yeast
2 beaten eggs (*or 2 egg whites)
1 1/2 tsp salt
5 1/4 c. flour

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
1. Set warm water in mixer and evenly sprinkle the yeast and sugar over the water. Let that proof for about 10 min in the mixer.
2. Mix the remaining ingredients adding flour last. Mix for 10 min.
3. Take dough and place on a well oiled surface, then cover the dough with a towel. Let rest for 10 min.
4. Divide dough in half, and then half again. Take one of the quarters of dough and separate it into small round dough balls.
5. Roll one of the small dough balls out on a counter top covered with cinnamon sugar. Roll the dough into a long thin snake.
6. Fold into the shape of a twisty pretzel. Sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar and place on baking sheet.
7. Bake at 400 Degrees for 7-15 min. The time may vary depending on the size of your pretzels, so be watchful.
8. Place pretzels on a cooling rack and then generously coat with glaze. Enjoy!

**nutrition: If you make 13 large soft pretzels there is 8.6 grams of fat in each one. If you make 20 pretzels then there is 5.6 grams of fat in each one. If you make 32 small pretzels there is only 3.5 grams of fat in each one.**


Photographs are © Copyright to me (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on blogs, websites, or in other media without advance written permission from me.

Versatile Sugar Cookies

Here are some pictures of different-looking sugar cookies that I have made. I used the basic sugar cookie recipe and then altered it to create a unique cookie. Some cookies appear hard to make, but are really quite simple. Here is the sugar cookie recipe I use.


Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies
2 c. flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
½ c. sugar
Cut In:
½ c. butter
Blend in:
1 egg
2tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Combine above ingredients going down the list. Cut in butter, and then mix in the remaining ingredients.
2. Roll out flat onto a floured surface, to desired thickness then cut with cookie cutter (any shape you want).
3. Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 min.

The above is called a Thumbprint Jam Cookie. Instead of rolling the dough out flat on the counter, you roll the dough into small balls. Then you take your thumb and make a small indentation in the cookie. Fill this indentation with your favorite jam or jelly and bake for 5-7 min (depending on the size of your cookie).

This cookie is a two-tones pink valentines day sugar cookie. I took half of the finished dough and dyed it pink. You then take both colors and roll them together, creating a unique mix of pink and white. Frost these cookies with your favorite frosting and cover with heart sprinkles!

I made this cookie for Christmas this year. It's called a Cinnamon Roll Cookie (yes, I came up with the name). Divide the prepared sugar cookie dough in half. Take one of the halves and add:
1/2 c brown sugar, well packed
2-3 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 c. finely chopped walnuts (*optional*)

1. Then you roll both doughs out on a floured surface, separately. Once you have them both rolled out, cover them with plastic wrap, and place them in the refrigerator to cool for 30 min.
2. Remove the dough and place them on top of each other, press them together firmly and then roll them together. Make the roll as tight as you can. If the ends are not sticking together you can get your fingers wet and slide them along the edge of the dough.
3. You may want to cut the sugar cookie log in half and then cover both logs with plastic wrap and store in the freezer for 1 hour.
4. Once they are frozen remove them from the oven and immediately cut them into thin slices.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 min.

For the icing I just mixed together 2 tbs milk, 1 tsp of vanilla and 1 cup powdered sugar.


Photographs are © Copyright to me (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on blogs, websites, or in other media without advance written permission from me.