Pizza Dough Pretzels or Bavarian Bagels?

When you�re shopping, and get a sudden craving for homemade soft pretzels, there�s not a lot you can do to satisfy that yearning immediately. Sure, you can set some dough when you get home, and wait for it to rise, but by the time that�s done, how do you even know your still going to want pretzels?

Well, the solution to this probably not very common problem is store-bought pizza dough. While I don�t necessarily recommend it for making world-class pizza, if you�re willing to eat something that looks like a bagel, it works very well for making pretzels.

By the way, if you�re wondering exactly, specifically, and precisely what the difference is between bagels and pretzels, I�m not sure I�m the one to ask. I believe the doughs are slightly different, as well as the solution they�re boiled in, but above and beyond that, you should hit the search engines up for more details.

Normally, I would�ve done that before writing the post, but did I mention the pretzels and beer? Like I said in the video, if you do want to make your own pretzel dough, go for it, since the technique will work the same no matter where you�re dough comes from. Regardless of what you use, I really hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 6 homemade soft pretzels:

1 pound prepared pizza dough, plus all-purpose flour as needed, divided into six balls

6 cups water

1/3 cup baking soda

coarse salt

- Bake at 400 F. for about 20 minutes, or until beautifully browned, and stretch marks have formed. Exact times will depend the specific size and shape of your pretzel.

- Tip:  if you�re making rings, be sure to stretch them out, so your pretzels are not too thick. You don�t want them any fatter than I made, otherwise they become too bready. Larger, thinner dough rings we�ll give you a chewier pretzel, closer to the ones you get at the mall.