Vanilla Pretzels

Subject: Vanilla Pretzels Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:03 pm

Vanilla Pretzels

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

5 egg yolks

1 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond extract

1 cup butter

3-3/4 cups sifted regular flour

Vanilla Sugar

Preheat oven to moderate 350

Beat egg yolks until light

Beat in sugar, 2 tbsp at a time, beating well after each addition, continue beating 2 to 3 minutes longer

Beat in vanilla and almond extract

Cut butter into flour until mixture resembles fine crumbs

Add to egg mixture and blend with a wooden spoon, then knead dough with hands until it is smooth

Pinch off dough, about 1 tbsp at a time, and with floured hands, roll into strips about 1/2 inch thick and 6 inches long

Place on ungreased cookie sheets, twist into pretzel shapes

Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until light golden

Cool on a cookie sheets about 3 minutes

Then, handling cookies carefully, dredge in Vanilla Sugar

Cool completely, dredge in sugar again

Note if your kitchen is warm, work with about a third of the dough at a time, keeping remainder chilled until you're ready for it

Vanilla Sugar

Sift 1 pkg (1 pound) confectioner’s sugar into an airtight container

Split a vanilla bean lengthwise and cut into pieces, add to the sugar container

Cover tightly let stand at least 2 to 3 days

The sugar will keep indefinitely