Neujahrspretzel (New Year's Pretzels)

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 2 Pretzels

• 2 cups milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1 dash water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
• 7 cups flour, unbleached

Directions:

1. Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130°F).
2. Mix yeast, salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour.
3. Slowly beat into warm milk.
4. Beat for 2 minutes.
5. Add eggs and 1 cup of flour.
6. Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
7. Add enough flour to form a soft dough.
8. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
9. Place dough in a greased bowl.
10. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
11. Punch dough down and let rise again until doubled (1 hour more).
12. Divide dough in half.
13. Shape pretzel as follows: roll dough into a rope about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
14. Cross the ends leaving a large loop in the center.
15. Flip loop back onto crossed ends to form a pretzel.
16. Repeat with remaining dough.
17. Place pretzels on greased baking sheets.
18. Let rise 15 minutes more.
19. Bake at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
20. Cool on wire racks.
21. Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing.
22. Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds.
23. Makes 2 large pretzels.