Auntie Anne's

There are two actually, one at the Burlington Mall and one at the mall in Peabody!

*flails*

They came out pretty good, actually.  I only had trouble trying to make them a uniform size, even though they started out as identical strips!  I ended up doing half of them salt, half cinnamon and sugar and using an egg white wash to make it stick.  It's a low-fat recipe too, which is good for my waistline 

Those look delicious!!!!!!!!!

Those look good Elliejean!

*flails*

Next time I go, I"ll have some for you.

There's a Chick-fil-A in MA??  When I lived in Boston, the only one I knew of whatsoever was in the Science building at Harvard - and that closed in June 2003.

I've been trying out various recipes over the past week or so - Belita's, the one posted here on this thread, and two others I found online - and I think I may have cracked this.  Here's the recipe I put together to make the ones in the photo (just need to work on making thinner ropes of dough!):

2 c warm water
1 tbsp yeast
4 tbsp melted butter (unsalted)
3 tbsp dark brown sugar
1.5 tsp table salt
1.5 c strong white bread flour
4 c all-purpose flour

2 c warm water
2 tbsp baking soda

melted butter, coarse salt, and/or cinnamon sugar, for topping

Mix yeast in warm water until dissolved.
Add butter, salt and brown sugar; mix until dissolved.
Add flour; mix until incorporated.
Cover with tea towel and let rise in warm room for one hour.
On floured surface, roll dough into long strips approx. 18" in length.
Twist into pretzel shape and set aside onto greased surface.
Prepare baking soda and water mixture by adding soda to warm water and whisking until dissolved. 
Dip each pretzel into soda water mixture then place on greased baking sheet; sprinkle with salt.
Let rise for thirty minutes, then bake for 4-6 minutes at 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
Brush hot pretzels with melted butter and add more salt, if desired, or cinnamon sugar.

Let me know if you try it and have any suggestions!

I did your recipe this morning, Meg. My DH wants to know if you'd marry him now. Really excellent!

I did your recipe this morning, Meg. My DH wants to know if you'd marry him now. Really excellent!

Excellent!!    *preens*

Grrrr. I actually went out and got some strong flour. Only to come home and realise my yeast is out of date. Very out of date.  :\\\'( 

Well.... I used the expired yeast and stuck the bowl somewhere REALLY warm.... And it worked.

Meg, you're my hero. Those are SO good!!!

Mine came out looking a bit... wonky. I need a bit of practice at rolling them thin enough and twisting them properly, but I'll definitely make them again!!!

When I want to make them in a hurry and don't want to bother with shaping, I just roll them out and cut them into pretzel bites. I assure you, they taste just as yummy this way.

When I want to make them in a hurry and don't want to bother with shaping, I just roll them out and cut them into pretzel bites. I assure you, they taste just as yummy this way.

Ooh, have you made the ones with peanut butter inside?

There's an Auntie Anne's at Fulham Broadway in London   The other weekend I dedicated an entire post in my LJ to how happy it made me to be within walking distance of a cinnamon sugar pretzel!

Ooh, have you made the ones with peanut butter inside?

No! I feel really silly now cause it never occured to me to stuff the dough with anything. I'm not a huge fan of peanut butter and DH is slightly intolerant, but I'm going on a cupboard rummage next time I make them for another possibility.


Thanks, Ellie!

Ooh, have you made the ones with peanut butter inside?

You are a genius.

Well.... I used the expired yeast and stuck the bowl somewhere REALLY warm.... And it worked.

Meg, you're my hero. Those are SO good!!!

Mine came out looking a bit... wonky. I need a bit of practice at rolling them thin enough and twisting them properly, but I'll definitely make them again!!!

YAY!  

I'm going to have to make some more tomorrow....