Neujahrspretzel (New Year's Pretzels)
german holiday special
2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 pkg yeast; active, dry
2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
7 cup flour; unbleached
2 each eggs; large
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 single ; water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup almonds; chopped
Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130 degrees F.). Mix yeast, salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour. Slowly beat into warm milk. Beat for 2 minutes. Add eggs and 1 cup of flour. Beat for an additional 2 minutes. Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Punch dough down and let rise again until doubled. (1 hour more). Divide dough in half. Shape pretzel as follows: Roll dough into a rope about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Cross the ends leaving a large loop in the center. Flip loop back onto crossed ends to form a pretzel. Repeat with remaining dough. Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Let rise 15 minutes more. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing. Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds.
Makes 2 large pretzels.
Yield: 2 servings