Gluten-Free Pretzels

Sometimes a craving hits and there is nothing that can stop it. Pizza. Brownies. PB&J sandwich. Pretzels. I don’t know if I saw a pretzel on TV or in print somewhere but last week I was hit with the mother of all cravings – soft, fresh-from-oven pretzels.

As it was obvious this craving wasn’t going to be heading away anytime soon, I spent a few hours researching gluten-free pretzel recipes. Seems everyone has a trick on how to create perfect pretzels but the reviews were mixed. A lot of complaints about the pretzels turning out dry or crispy, tough or tasteless.

I finally found a recipe that seemed to make the most sense and with high hopes, I printed it out and set out to make it today. A slight revision was necessary as I’m using Tom Sawyer gluten-free flour and the recipe called for their own blend.

This was one of the few recipes I found that included an egg. I’m a big egg fan when it comes to replicating “normal” food. A single egg can work wonders.

The recipe calls for Jules Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour. I substituted just shy of 1 1/2 cups of Tom Sawyer Flour. The dough came out perfect – not too sticky, not too tough. I was able to roll them out without using extra flour.

After proofing, you’re supposed to dip into boiling water for 25 seconds. I found that this was just too long. The dough started to fall apart and the surface of the pretzel was pitted and odd looking. For the final 3, I dipped for approx 5-10 seconds each. Just enough time to plop it in, turn it over, pull it out.

The scent of fresh-baked pretzels filled the house. Yum. I let them sit just 2 minutes before I pulled the first one off and devoured it on the spot. Amazingly delicious. Chewy, soft, what I recall pretzels tasting like. Glorious.

These are supposed to be good hot from the oven but even an hour later, they’re still delicious, soft and chewy. After eating 3, I think it’s time to call it a day. I’ll be wrapping the remainder up to freeze them for a later date.

Gluten-free pretzels. Not only a possibility but a delicious and easy success.