National Pretzel Day

Pretzels date back to the year 610 AD. It is said that an Italian monk invented pretzels from leftover dough as a treat for children who learned their prayers. Today, more than $550 million worth of pretzels are sold in the United States annually. On New Year’s Day, German children wear pretzels around their neck to symbolize a new beginning. The largest pretzel in the world was 842 pounds, 26ft 10in long, and 10ft 2in wide!

April 26^th is National Pretzel Day. Here Is a recipe for to celebrate with a delicious but better-for-you pretzel recipe from Queen of Hearts!

This recipe from Queen of Hearts, an Oregon-based business, calls for hemp hearts and hemp seed oil, which offer a rich nutritional profile of vitamins and minerals with a range of health benefits including protecting the brain, heart, and skin. 

Hemp Pretzels

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water (lukewarm– no need to take temperature but around 100°F (38°C) is great)

2 and 1/4 teaspoons (7g) instant or active dry yeast (1 standard packet)

1 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon brown sugar 

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and slightly cool.

3 cups (469-500g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled), plus more for hands and work surface.

3/4-1 cup Queen of Hearts Hemp Protein Powder

1/4 cup Queen of Hearts Hemp Hearts for sprinkling

coarse salt or coarse sea salt for sprinkling

Baking Soda Bath (See Recipe Note)

1/2 cup (120g) baking soda

9 cups (2,160ml) water

Instructions

Whisk the yeast into warm water. Allow to sit for 1 minute. Whisk in salt, brown sugar, and melted butter. Slowly add 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix with a wooden spoon (or dough hook attached to a stand mixer) until the dough is thick. Add 3/4 cup more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. If it is still sticky, add 1/4 – 1/2 cup more, as needed. Poke the dough with your finger – if it bounces back, it is ready to knead.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for 3 minutes and shape into a ball. Cover lightly with a towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes. (Meanwhile, I like to get the water + baking soda boiling as instructed in step 6.)

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Silicone baking mats are highly recommended over parchment paper. If using parchment paper, lightly spray with nonstick spray or grease with butter. Set aside.

With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut dough into 1/3 cup sections.

Roll the dough into a 20-22 inch rope. Form a circle with the dough by bringing the two ends together at the top of the circle. Twist the ends together. Bring the twisted ends back down towards yourself and press them down to form a pretzel shape.

Bring baking soda and 9 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Drop 1-2 pretzels into the boiling water for 20-30 seconds. Any more than that and your pretzels will have a metallic taste. Using a slotted spatula, lift the pretzel out of the water and allow as much of the excess water to drip off. Place pretzel onto prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle each with coarse sea salt. Repeat with remaining pretzels. If desired, you can cover and refrigerate the boiled/unbaked pretzels for up to 24 hours before baking in step 7.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and serve warm with Queen of Hearts Zesty Caesar Superfood Dressing

Cover and store leftover pretzels at room temperature for up to 3 days. They lose a little softness over time. To reheat, microwave for a few seconds or bake at 350°F (177°C) for 5 minutes.  (Adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction)

MORE INFORMATION

Queen of Hearts superfood dressings are crafted with bold, fresh herbs & spices and 100% plant-based.

Made in Oregon, Queen of Hearts is a proud woman-owned business.

Queen of Hearts is committed to sustainability and regenerative farming, using hemp sourced from small farmers in the USA and a zero waste approach that sequesters carbon, renews soil, and creates feed for livestock.

Find Queen of Hearts superfood dressings at your local health food store. To learn more, visit https://queenofhearts.com.  Follow Queen of Hearts on social media @QueenOfHeartsSuperfoods