Pretzel Rolls

We needed bread for my hubby's lunches, and I happened across this recipe on Ezra Pound Cake. These are relatively quick to make, less than an hour total of rising time and 25 minutes for baking time. That means you could get them done within 2 hours, which is fast for how delicious they are. They shall be our supper tonight topped with chicken, BBQ sauce and bacon. Yummmmm ....

Pretzel Rolls

2 3/4 cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 to 1 tsp. celery seeds
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons hot water (125°F to 130°F)
8 cups water
1/4 cup baking soda
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 egg white, beaten
Coarse salt 

Combine bread flour, yeast, salt, sugar and celery seeds in food processor, and blend. With machine running, slowly pour hot water through feed tube, adding enough water to form smooth elastic dough. Process 1 minute to knead. Place the dough into an oiled bowl. Cover, and let dough rise in warm area until doubled in size, about 35 minutes.

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or Silipat, and set aside. Punch dough down, and knead on lightly floured countertop until smooth. Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Form each dough piece into ball. Place dough balls on prepared sheet, flattening each slightly. Using a serrated knife or kitchen shears, cut an X in top center of each dough ball. Cover with towel, and let dough balls rise until almost doubled in volume, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F.

Cover a second baking sheet with a Silipat and set aside. Bring 8 cups water to boil in large saucepan. Add baking soda and 2 Tbsp. sugar. (The water will foam a lot.) Add 4 rolls, and cook 30 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the rolls to the prepared sheet, arranging X side up. Repeat with remaining rolls.

Brush rolls with egg white glaze, and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake rolls until brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer to racks, and cool 10 minutes. Serve rolls warm or room temperature. To rewarm, place them in a 375°F oven for 10 minutes. Makes 8 rolls. Easily devoured in one day.