Polish pretzels

Polish Pretzels: A Recipe You'll Fall in Love With

Today we have the chance to indulge in a delicacy that has captivated the hearts and taste buds of many: Polish pretzels. These pretzels are fluffy, golden, and aromatic, perfect for enjoying warm, straight from the oven. It’s a recipe that combines tradition with the joy of cooking, and each bite will take you into a world of delicious flavors and textures. Before we get started, let’s make sure we have everything we need!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Rising time: 1 hour
Baking time: 25-30 minutes
Total: 2 hours
Servings: 12 pretzels

Necessary ingredients:

For the dough:
- 550 g flour
- 10 g dry yeast
- 75 g sugar
- 250 ml lukewarm milk
- 100 g butter (melted and cooled)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Zest of one lemon
- A pinch of salt

For brushing the sheets:
- 50 g butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For brushing the pretzels:
- 1 egg yolk
- 2-3 tablespoons milk

For the syrup:
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 100 ml water

Step by step to perfect pretzels:

1. Preliminaries: Start by melting the butter and letting it cool. Then, warm the milk on the stove, just enough to become lukewarm - not hot, as we don’t want to kill the yeast.

2. Activating the yeast: In a small bowl, add the dry yeast, 4-5 tablespoons of lukewarm milk, and a tablespoon of flour. Mix gently and let the yeast rise for 5-10 minutes. You will notice a foam forming on top, indicating that the yeast is active and ready to use.

3. Preparing the dough: In a large bowl, sift the flour and add the salt, sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla. Mix the dry ingredients well. Add the risen yeast and lukewarm milk, then start kneading the dough. Gradually incorporate the melted butter, kneading until you obtain an elastic and non-sticky dough. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a little more flour.

4. Let the dough rise: Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until it doubles in volume.

5. Preparing the sheets: Once the dough has risen, pour it onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal parts. Take the first piece and roll it out into a rectangular sheet of appropriate thickness. Spread 50 g of melted butter over the entire surface of the sheet, then sprinkle the powdered sugar and vanilla mixture.

6. Cutting the strips: Fold the sheet in half, then cut strips about 2 cm wide. Each strip will be cut lengthwise, leaving one end uncut. Braid the two strips, taking care to form a small loop at the end, thus giving the pretzel shape.

7. Arranging the pretzels: Repeat these steps with the second half of the dough. Place the pretzels on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving enough space between them to expand.

8. Brushing the pretzels: Beat the egg yolk with 2-3 tablespoons of milk and brush each pretzel with this mixture. This step will give them a golden color and an appetizing shine.

9. Baking: Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake the pretzels for 25-30 minutes or until they become golden and fluffy. The aroma that will fill your kitchen is simply irresistible!

10. Preparing the syrup: While the pretzels are baking, put the water and honey in a small pot over low heat, stirring until the honey dissolves completely. This syrup will add a sweet and glossy touch to your pretzels.

11. Finalizing: Once the pretzels are ready, take them out of the oven and generously brush them with the honey syrup. If you are not serving them immediately, cover them with a thick towel to keep them soft.

Useful tips for a perfect result:

- Make sure the yeast is fresh. If you’re not sure, you can do a simple test: add the yeast to warm water with sugar. If it forms bubbles, it is active.
- When kneading the dough, don’t be afraid to work it a little more to develop the gluten, which will make the pretzels fluffier.
- You can experiment with different flavors by adding cinnamon to the sugar mixture for a more aromatic variant.

Frequently asked questions:

1. Can I use fresh yeast instead of dry yeast?
Yes, you can use fresh yeast. It provides a more intense flavor, but you will need to use about 30 g.

2. What can I do if I don’t have milk?
You can replace the milk with water or a plant-based alternative, such as almond milk or soy milk.

3. How can I store the pretzels?
The pretzels are best stored in an airtight container, but you can also freeze them for later use.

Serving suggestions:

Polish pretzels are delicious served warm, alongside a cup of tea or aromatic coffee. You can add a slice of butter or even a bit of fruit jam for an extra flavor boost. They are also perfect for a special breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Variations:

If you want to experiment, you can try adding various fillings: ground nuts, cocoa, or melted chocolate inside the strips before twisting and braiding them.

Now that you have all the necessary information, all that’s left is to get cooking. Polish pretzels are an excellent choice to impress family and friends. Enjoy!