Vanilla Bean Pretzels

Slightly sweet with a great flavor from vanilla beans, these pretzels are perfect treat for home or as a DIY gift for your foodie friends!

  • Medium
  • 140 mins
  • 12 servings
Ingredients
  • 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
  • 5 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Rodelle Vanilla Beans, split and scraped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 4 cups hot water
  • 1/4 cup vanilla sugar (see note)
Uses
Directions

To Make Vanilla Sugar

  1. Pour 1 cup Demerara sugar into a pint size mason jar.
  2. Split a Rodelle Vanilla Bean, leaving seeds intact.
  3. Bury the bean in the sugar and shake the jar occasionally.
  4. Add the split and scraped beans to the jar from other recipes.
  5. Refill the jar with sugar as needed.
  6. Use the sugar in coffee or tea - there are lots of uses for vanilla sugar so get creative!

To Make the Pretzels

  1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar in the 1 1/4 cups warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together the flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and salt.
  3. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture and oil. Mix and form into a dough.
  4. If the mixture is too dry, add one or two tablespoons of water.
  5. Knead the dough with a hook attachment until smooth, about 5 minutes, or by hand, about 7-8 minutes.
  6. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, turn to coat the dough with the oil, then cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
  7. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease 2 baking sheets.
  8. In a large bowl, dissolve the baking soda in 4 cups of hot water, set aside.
  9. When dough has risen, turn out onto a floured surface.
  10. Divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope, about 12-14 inches and twist into a pretzel shape.
  11. Once all of the dough is shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda water solution and place on the baking sheets.
  12. Sprinkle with vanilla sugar.
  13. Bake in oven until browned, about 8 minutes.
  14. Serve plain or with flavored cream cheese, melted chocolate, frosting...and enjoy!