FOR DATES
A Pretzel Path to Connection
Get to know your co-pretzel maker better as you twist your way to a delicious snack
What you need
Included in box
- Stone-Milled Bread Flour (630g)
- Yeast
- Pretzel salt
- Basting brush
- Baking soda (36g)
Additional equipment
- Plastic wrap / towel
- Large bowl
- Slotted spoon or slotted spatula
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper (optional)
Additional ingredients
- Water (12oz.)
- Sugar (1 TBSP)
- Salt for the dough (kosher preferred)
- Butter (recommended)
- Egg (recommended)
Directions
STEP 1: SUMMON THE YEAST BEAST
Warm 12 ounces of water to 110°F to 115°F (usually about 1 minute in the microwave).
Combine the warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Then, add in the flour and salt.
Do your hair toss, check your nails, wash your hands, and get prepped for the next steps.
STEP 2: KNEAD TO KNOW BASIS
If you have a standing mixer, you could attach your dough hook, stick your dough in it and combine the ingredients on low speed, but it's more fun to get your hands dirty so we recommend tossing the mixer to the side, rolling up your sleeves and getting down and dirty.
Use your hands to combine the ingredients in your bowl. When you've got a handy clump, pluck it out and stick it on a clean counter. Get to kneading the dough into a smooth tight ball for the next 10 minutes.
At minute 2, it's going to feel like a long time. Keep going.
At minute 5, it's going to feel eternal. Keep going.
At minute 8, you'll want to give up. Keep going.
Think of it as nurturing a lifelong relationship with the dough.
STEP 3: TIME TO RISE AND SHINE
Use your brush to oil a bowl - this will help keep the dough from sticking and generally just make your life and cleanup a little easier.
Drop the dough into the bowl and cover it with a plastic wrap or a cloth.
Let it rise in a warm place for about 25 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. This provides a great window of opportunity for you to sit awkwardly on your couch, wondering who's going to make the next move.
Or, you could lean into the experience and choose the sidequest below.
While you wait: Make dough-rising time pass faster than a heartbeat at the end of a first goodnight kiss with the following sidequest.
Questions for dates
Get to know each other better; even if you think you couldn't possibly...
STEP 4: CHOP & ROLL
Divvy up the dough into 8 parts.
Roll each piece into a long rope.
You should end up with 8 - 10 skinny ropes that are about 16 - 20 inches each.
It's totally fine if they're not the perfect width throughout.
STEP 5: TIE THE KNOT
Choose one of the three adventures below to unlock pretzel twisting instructions. Remember: there's no such thing as pretzel-perfection and all shapes are ok.
Extra fun mode
Most fun option - it might take a wee longer to get the perfect twist together
Fun mode
Less challenging than "Extra fun mode". Still involves a blindfold
Easy mode
All the visual instructions you need to twist the perfect pretzel
STEP 6: PREHEAT YOUR FUTURE & DIP INTO THE DEEP END
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C for you Europes).
Grab a chilled beverage, it's about to get a bit steamy with the oven firing, water boiling, and hearts pounding.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly brush with oil. This is to ensure that your pretzels don't stick and require a crowbar to remove. No biggie if you don't have parchment paper, just oil up your baking sheet and you'll be fine.
In a large pot, bring the 6 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil.
Gently place each pretzel into the boiling water with a large spatula or slotted spoon. Give your pretzels a 30 second baptism in the boiling water, we're going for a nice moist pretzel, not a waterlogged therapy session. Repeat with the rest.
Meanwhile, your partner can skip to the next step so you're a team instead of a master and commander: unless you're into that, you do you.
STEP 7: INTIMATE EGG WASH
In a small bowl, whisk a 1 tablespoon water with a cracked egg.
Grab your brush and gently caress each pretzel with the egg wash. Be generous and attentive – remember, the key to a strong relationship is in the details.
Feel free to whisper sweet nothings to your pretzels, your partner or both, whatever your heart desires. "You're absolutely perfect just the way you are – irresistibly golden and wonderfully twisted" works for both.
If you don't have eggs or prefer not to use them, melted butter will get the job done.
STEP 8: LANDING THE KISS
Make sure the pretzels have a bit of room between them on the baking sheet. Channel your best salt bae and sprinkle your pretzels salt.
FINAL STEP: BAKING THE CONNECTION
Bake until golden brown for about 15 minutes, but give them a check at the 12-minute mark.
When done, remove them from the oven and let them briefly cool off. Then dig in!
While you wait: Didn't get through all the questions above? Now's a good time to pick through the rest.
Questions for dates
Get to know each other better; even if you think you couldn't possibly...
