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The cinnamon sugar topping is being made for the soft pretzel hearts to be coated with.
Elizabeth

Easy Soft Pretzel Hearts

Soft pretzel hearts are a delicious treat for Valentines Day- or any day. The soft dough is formed into a heart shape, baked until golden brown, and then topped with butter and cinnamon and sugar. Delicious as a snack or a dessert.
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Prep Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Snack
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Tbsp Salted Butter (Melted) *Note: You will also need 4Tbsp melted butter to brush the tops of the baked pretzels with - (see * below).
  • 4 cups Bread Flour (Spooned and leveled)
  • 1 1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar (Packed)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 1/4 cups Warm Water

Method
 

  1. In a small microwave safe bowl, melt the butter. Set aside.
  2. Warm the water. Add the sugar to the warm water and stir. Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the water. (Allow yeast mixture to sit for ten minutes- until the yeast mixture is activated and bubbly.)
  3. In a large mixing bowl, measure the bread flour and add the salt. Stir the dry ingredients to combine.
  4. Pour the activated yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and stir to combine (making a shaggy dough).
  5. On a lightly floured work surface, knead the pretzel dough for 8-10 minutes (or until elastic and smooth).
  6. Grease a large bowl and add the kneaded pretzel dough. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm area. The dough will double in size after 2 hours.
  7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet (you can grease this to ensure the baked pretzels do not stick if desired.)
  8. In a large pot, add 8-10 cups of boiling water and 1/4 cup of baking soda.
  9. Take your pretzel dough and divide it into 8 even sections (110 grams each). Roll out each divided section into a long rope and cut in half. (This will give you two snakelike pieces that are about 8- 10 inches long each).
  10. Take the two pieces and form them into the top of the heart shape, slightly overlapping in the center (this is an "m" shape.) Twist the two center pieces together.
  11. Then curve the top pieces around- until you complete the heart shape at the bottom. Twist the end pieces shut. (See blog post for photographs).
  12. Using a metal spatula, gently lower the pretzel hearts into the boiling water. Boil each side for 30 seconds, flipping in between.
  13. Carefully remove the pretzel from the water and place on the lined baking sheet. Once all pretzels have been boiled, place them in the oven to bake. (Place each pretzel a few inches apart as they will rise some in the oven).
  14. Bake the soft pretzel hearts until they are golden brown (about 20 minutes.)
  15. *For the cinnamon sugar topping: Melt 4 tablespoons of salted butter. In a medium mixing bowl and set aside. Mix 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 1/3 tsp of cinnamon. Stir together.
    Using a pastry brush, brush each baked pretzel with the melted butter and then coat with the cinnamon-sugar mixture,
  16. Remove the pretzels from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before adding the melted butter and cinnamon sugar.
  17. Now, the pretzels are ready to be served.

Notes

*Pretzels can be served as a savory snack by omitting the cinnamon-sugar and adding salt or any seasoning you prefer.
*The pretzels can also be formed into the traditional pretzel shape or into a breadstick shape (in leu of the heart shape).
*Pretzels are best eaten the first day as the butter can make them soft after several hours.