PRETZEL KNOT RECIPES

Steps:

• Dough:.
• Place 1/2 cup warm water in medium bowl. Stir in yeast; let stand until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add buttermilk, both sugars, and vegetable oil; mix well.
• Mix flour and salt in processor. With motor running, add yeast mixture and process 2 minutes. Spray large bowl with nonstick spray. Scrape dough into bowl (dough will be very sticky). Spray sheet of plastic wrap with nonstick spray; cover bowl with plastic, sprayed side down. Refrigerate dough until slightly puffed and light, about 1 hour.
• Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, then spray parchment with nonstick spray. Transfer dough to lightly floured surface. Spray hands with nonstick spray. Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Working with 1 portion at a time, roll into 8- to 9-inch ling rope. Tie in knot, leaving 1/2 inch of 1 end sticking up through center. Tuck other end under, if needed (each pretzel will be about 2 3/4 inches in diameter). Transfer pretzels to prepared baking sheets, knob side up. Cover pretzels with plastic wrap sprayed with nonstick spray. Refrigerate until puffed and light, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Poaching Liquid:.
• Meanwhile, place 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 450°F Bring 8 cups water, beer, baking soda, and brown sugar to simmer in large wide pot (liquid should reach depth of at least 1 1/2 inches).
• Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick spray. Cut parchment paper between pretzels so each rests on its own square. Using paper to lift pretzels from baking sheet and working with 2 pretzels at a time, carefully invert each pretzel into liquid in pot, allowing to slide off paper. Poach 10 seconds. Using skimmer or slotted spoon, turn pretzels over; poach 10 seconds longer. Lift from poaching liquid, allowing pretzel to drain well. Transfer to prepared sheets. Brush with vegetable oil and sprinkle with pretzel salt.
• Bake pretzels 15 minutes, until pretzels are deep brown. (Rotate baking sheets halfway through baking time.) Transfer pretzels to rack; let cool to room temperature.
• Can be made 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Steps:

• PRETZEL KNOTS: Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and spray parchment with cooking spray.
• Place pizza dough on lightly floured work surface. Cut into 24 equal pieces. Roll each into 5-inch-long rope, then tie into loose pretzel knot as shown in photo. Place on prepared baking sheets. Cover with clean dish towels; set aside.
• Bring 12 cups (3 qt.) water to boil in Dutch oven. Add baking soda; whisk until blended. Cover additional baking sheet with paper towels.
• Add dough, in small batches, to boiling water; cook 30 sec. to 1 min. or until dough floats to surface. Use slotted spoon to transfer dough to paper towel-covered baking sheet; let stand 1 min. to drain before returning to parchment-covered baking sheets, placing pretzel knots 2 inches apart.
• Beat egg with 1 tablespoon. water until blended; brush onto dough. Sprinkle with salt. Bake 18 to 22 min. or until pretzel knots are golden brown. Transfer to wire racks.
• BEER QUESO: Microwave queso ingredients in microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 3 min.; stir. Continue to microwave and stir in 1-min. intervals until VELVEETA is completely melted and queso is well blended.
• Serve warm beer queso with pretzel knots for dipping.