Pretzel Focaccia

PRETZEL FOCACCIA

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

4 tablespoons melted butter

1 tablespoon baking soda

1/4 cup hot water

Flaked salt, caraway seed, poppyseed to taste

Combine flour, salt, yeast and 1 1/2 cups warm water in a large bowl, stirring until soft sticky dough forms.

Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

  OR

Add warm water, flour, yeast, salt and warm water to bread machine and process using DOUGH cycle.

Meanwhile, prepare a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.

Drizzle half of melted butter onto parchment paper in pan.

Turn dough into prepared pan and spread until it fills pan to corners.

Dimple top of dough gently with fingertips.

Combine baking soda and 1/4 cup hot water and dissolve thoroughly.

Brush mixture on top of dough in pan.

Let rise again for about 45 minutes.

While dough is rising, preheat oven to 475*.

Bake in oven for 10 minutes.

Lower oven temperature to 400*.

Remove pan and drizzle with remaining melted butter.

Sprinkle with flaked salt, caraway seed and poppyseed to taste.

Return to oven and continue baking at 400* for another 10 to 15 minutes, until bread is golden brown.

Cool slightly before serving.

About 12 pieces

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