Bill The Lizard's Ladder Bread

Description

Source: ALICE in WONDERLAND THE OFFICIAL COOKBOOK - ELENA CRAIG & S. T. BENDE

One good turn deserves another. And in cooking—as in home repair!—an enthusiastic partner can make the experience all the more enjoyable. This warm and doughy delicacy is perfect to prepare with a friend who has come over for a cuppa or perhaps even helped evict an oversize houseguest. As Bill the Lizard himself might say, “At your service, Governor!”

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water, about 110°F
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• 1 packet (¼ ounce) rapid-rise yeast
• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, divided
• 1 cup sparkling apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup baking soda
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

1. To make the pretzels: In a medium bowl, mix together the warm water, brown sugar, and yeast.
2. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes, until foamy.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment, mix together the flour and salt.
4. Cut 5 tablespoons of the butter into small pieces, and work it into the flour with a pastry cutter or your hands until it is crumbly.
5. Add the yeast mixture, and mix on low, stopping and scraping the bowl as necessary until all the liquid has been incorporated.
6. Set the mixer to low (or the manufacturer’s recommended setting for dough), and mix the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 4 to 6 minutes.
7. Remove the dough from the bowl, form it into a ball, and wrap it in plastic wrap.
8. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
9. Preheat the oven to 400°F, and line two baking sheets with parchment.
10. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a roughly 12-by-14-inch rectangle.
11. Cut dough into long strips about ½ inch wide.
12. Working with one strip at a time, cut the strip in half.
13. Roll the first half into a long rope, and place the rope on one of the prepared sheets in a snakelike pattern, creating at least three to four hills and valleys.
14. This creates the rungs of the ladder.
15. Roll the second half of the strip into another long rope, and cut this one in half.
16. Place each half on top of the rungs, creating the side rails of the ladder; press down gently to adhere.
17. Continue to make ladders until you have used half the dough.
18. Cover the remaining dough with a clean tea towel.
19. In a large, deep pot set over medium-high heat, bring 8 cups of water, the apple cider vinegar, and the baking soda to a simmer.
20. Gently lower one or two pretzels into the water bath, and simmer for about 30 seconds.
21. Gently hold the pretzels under the liquid, if necessary.
22. Use a large strainer or spider to remove the pretzels, and place them onto the second baking sheet.
23. Repeat with the remaining pretzels, and then bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
24. To make the cinnamon sugar: Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
25. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.
26. While the pretzels are baking, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
27. After baking, brush the pretzels with the butter and sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar.
28. Rotate the tray, and bake for another 5 to 6 minutes or until the pretzels are dark golden brown.
29. While the first batch of pretzels is baking, form more pretzels with the remaining dough.
30. Repeat the water bath and baking process.

Yield: About 18 pretzels