Prepper recipes: How to make artisan pretzel bread

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Baking is a great skill for a prepper, especially if you want to become more self-sufficient as you prepare for different emergencies. If your family loves pretzels and freshly baked bread, try this recipe for artisan pretzel bread. (h/t to OffgridSurvival.com)

This recipe also has a unique twist: It uses milk instead of water.

Dough ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour (add more as needed)

1 cup milk

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

3 Tablespoons butter or margarine

2 teaspoons salt

1 envelope Fleischmann's^® Active Yeast

Boiling solution:

3 quarts water

3/4 cup baking soda

Steps:

Heat the milk and butter until warm, ideally between 100 to 110 F. It's fine if the butter doesn't completely melt. In a large mixer bowl, combine the milk and butter mixture with the undissolved brown sugar and yeast. Make sure the liquid is not too hot because this will kill the yeast. Check below for instructions on how to proof yeast.

Stir in the salt and two cups of flour, then beat the mixture for at least three minutes. Slowly add some of the remaining flour until you have a soft dough.

Move the dough to a floured surface, then knead it until it becomes smooth and elastic. This may take about eight to ten minutes. Alternatively, you can save time by using a dough hook in a mixer.

Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl then cover it. Set it aside and let it rise for about 1 ½ hours or until it has doubled in size.

Preheat your oven to 350 F.

While the dough is rising, prepare the boiling solution. Combine three quarts of water with 3/4 cup of baking soda and bring the mixture to a boil.

After the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and divide it into eight equal pieces. Roll each piece into a tight, smooth ball.

Boil each dough ball in the boiling solution for two minutes. Turn each ball after one minute.

After the dough balls are boiled, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the pot. Place the loaves on a greased baking sheet.

Bake the loaves for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F or continue baking until the loaves are evenly browned.

Once done, remove the loaves from the pan and set them aside to cool on a wire rack. (Related: 3 Easy meals-in-jars canning recipes.)

Adding milk instead of water produces bread with a richer taste and texture.

How to proof yeast for the recipe

Proofing yeast refers to the process of activating the dormant yeast cells, which need to be alive for the dough. This step is essential for achieving bread with the perfect rise and texture.

Follow the steps below to proof yeast:

Ingredients for proofing yeast:

One envelope of active yeast

Warm water or milk (Must be at least 110 F.)

3 tablespoons of brown sugar

Keep the water between 100 and 110 F. Using water that's too hot can kill the yeast, and water that's too cold won't activate it properly.

Use a kitchen thermometer to check the water temperature.

Steps:

Dissolve the yeast in the warm liquid mix.

Gently stir to allow the warm water to moisten all the yeast granules. Stirring also helps dissolve any clumps.

Wait for bubbles to form. Set aside the yeast and let it rest for at least five to ten minutes. You will notice the yeast start to activate as tiny bubbles form on the surface. At this point, the mixture will also become frothy and have a yeasty aroma.

After five to ten minutes, check the yeast mixture. The yeast is proofed if the mixture has turned frothy and is filled with bubbles. If you don't see any activity, it's possible that the yeast has expired or the water temperature was not within the optimal range.

After the yeast is proofed, continue with the rest of the pretzel bread recipe. Using the active yeast will help the dough rise and produce pretzel bread with perfect texture and flavor.

Where to get more supplies for your baking needs

The Health Ranger Store is committed to helping you prepare while you learn various recipes for emergencies.

That's why we're proud to introduce an assortment of many clean, lab-verified and healthy food options such as Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries, Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Raspberries and Freeze-Dried Organic Strawberry Pieces. Add these berries to various baked goods, or snack on them as is.

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Also called "Nature's candy," raspberries are small, sweet, juicy and slightly tart superfruits that are produced by the Rubus idaeus plant. These delectable berries offer several health benefits, such as supporting your overall well-being, especially when accompanied by a well-balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

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Choose Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Strawberry Pieces if you're looking for an ingredient that is great for baking or a tasty and healthy snack that your family can enjoy all year round.

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Visit Food.news to browse more prepping recipes that you can try making at home. You can also visit Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store for more clean food supplies for your prepping needs.

Click on this link to learn how to make delicious Chocolate Raspberry Cake Pops.

Watch this clip about how Organic Whole Blueberries can help support good health.

This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.