dsf's pretzel bread

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water - 100 to 110 degrees f (40 to 45 degrees c)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups bread flour, or more if needed
• 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
• cooking spray
• 5 tablespoons baking soda
• 3 tablespoons honey, or to taste (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted (optional)

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Ready Time: 2 hrs


• stir dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon honey, and yeast into warm water in a large bowl, dissolving sugar and yeast. let stand until a foamy layer forms on the water, about 10 minutes. stir 3 tablespoons melted butter, half-and-half, and salt into yeast mixture.
• beat 1 cup flour to wet ingredients, forming a wet, sloppy dough. turn dough out a floured work surface and gradually knead remaining 1 cup flour into dough until dough is only slightly sticky, about 10 more minutes. add more flour if dough is too wet. form dough into a ball.
• grease a large bowl with 1 teaspoon butter; place dough ball into bowl and turn to lightly coat with butter. cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm area until doubled, 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• preheat oven to 450 degrees f (230 degrees c). spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• stir baking soda and 3 tablespoons honey (if you like a sweeter crust) into a large pot of water and bring to a full rolling boil. punch down dough and divide in half. form each half into a small loaf. carefully drop a loaf into the boiling water and cook for 30 seconds on each side. dough should float. remove loaf gently and let excess water drip off; place loaf on prepared baking sheet. boil the second loaf, following same steps, and place baking sheet.
• sprinkle each loaf lightly with salt. use a sharp knife to cut an x shape into the top of each loaf.
• bake on a center rack in preheated oven for 10 minutes. reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees f (205 degrees c) and continue baking until crust is shiny and browned and loaves are done in the middle, 10 more minutes. for a softer crust, brush tops of loaves with melted butter.