Whole Wheat Pretzels

Everyone loves a warm, doughy, soft pretzel. Making whole wheat soft pretzels from scratch isn't hard and your preschooler can help out with all the steps - mixing the ingredients, kneading the dough, rolling ropes and, finally, creating pretzel twists (or whatever fun shape comes to mind).

1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 - 3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp honey
Coarse salt

1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add 2 cups of the flour, oil, and honey. Stir until smooth. Mix in small amounts of the remaining flour until a dough is formed that is not too wet to handle.

2. Place dough on a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes.

3. Place dough in a greased bowl and let stand in a warm place for about 1 hour.

4. Heat oven to 400 degress F. Punch down dough (Preschoolers will love to do this!)

5. Divide dough into twelve equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope, about 18 inches long.

6. Twist each rope into a pretzel shape (or other fun shape) and place on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt.

7. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Serve warm or cool!

Yield: 12 pretzels

Special Additions

- Sprinkle each pretzel with cinnamon and sugar before baking

- Push small pieces of dried fruit into each pretzel before baking

- Sprinkle sunflower seeds over each pretzel and pat slightly into the dough before baking

- For a special 'twist,' shape the ropes into letters: your preschooler's initials, M-O-M-M-Y for Mother's Day or D-A-D-D-Y for Father's Day.

by Kati Chevaux

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