Soft Pretzel Rolls

Directions

1. 1
   In a saucepan over medium-low heat, heat milk and butter together until the mixture reaches 110 F. Combine this with the yeast and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Stir in salt and 2/3 of the flour. Beat this on low in your stand mixer for 3 minutes.
2. 2
   Now, slowly add the remaining 1/3 of the flour. Once combined, dump it out onto a well floured surface. Knead this until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
3. 3
   Next, place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise for 90 minutes. The dough will have significantly risen.
4. 4
   Make a boiling solution by combining the water and baking soda together in a large pot. Bring this to a boil while you're shaping your dough. To do this, punch the dough down and divide it into 8 equal pieces. It's really important to form each piece into a tight, smooth ball. Check out the related link to see how to form perfect dough balls!
5. 5
   Boil each dough ball for 1 minute and then flip it over and boil the other side for another minute. Remove from the boiling solution with a slotted spoon and set aside. Repeat this process with each pretzel dough ball!
6. 6
   Preheat an oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat. Place the pretzel dough balls onto the lined baking sheet and brush the tops with a mixture of melted butter and garlic powder. Then cut a cross in the top of each roll. You can sprinkle these with a pinch of coarse salt, too, if you like!
7. 7
   Now bake these for 10 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 350 F and bake for an additional 8 - 12 minutes. The soft pretzel rolls should be nicely browned on top and fluffy in the middle! Remove these from the oven and immediately let them cool on a wire cooling rack.