Neujahrspretzel (New Year’s Pretzels)

Servings: 2
Ingredients:

2 c  Milk
1/2 c  Butter Or Margarine
2 pk Yeast; Active, Dry
2 t  Salt
1/2 c  Sugar
7 c  Flour; Unbleached
2 ea Eggs; Large
1 c  Confectioners' Sugar
1 x  ;Water
1 t  Vanilla Extract
1/4 c  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.