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Homemade Soft Pretzels
Table of Contents
- Homemade Soft Pretzels Ingredients
- Substitutions and Additions for Homemade Soft Pretzels
- How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels
- How To Serve Homemade Soft Pretzels
- When to Serve This Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe
- What to Serve with Homemade Soft Pretzels
- Storage Tips for Soft Pretzels
- More Recipes You’ll Love
- JUMP TO RECIPE
These homemade soft pretzels have a chewy, buttery, and salty exterior that gives way to a soft and warm inside that melts in your mouth when you take a bite. You can eat them on their own or dunk them in cheese sauce or another favorite dipping sauce for a fun snack.
Homemade Soft Pretzels Ingredients
You’ll need these simple ingredients:
For the Pretzels
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4¼ cups bread flour, divided into 4 cups and ¼ cup
- 1 (¼-ounce) packet of instant yeast (also known as Rapid-Rise)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
For the Hot Water Bath
- ⅓ cup baking soda
- 4 cups very hot water (not boiling~around 150 to 160°F)
For the Topping
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons pretzel salt
Substitutions and Additions for Homemade Soft Pretzels
FLOUR: You can use whole wheat flour. Keep in mind that it can make the pretzels denser, so you might want to use a blend of half all-purpose and half whole wheat.
SALT: For a different flavor profile, try using pink Himalayan salt, garlic salt, or onion salt. These can add a savory twist to your pretzels. Use them in the same quantity as regular salt.
WATER: To infuse more flavor into the pretzels, try boiling them in beer instead of water. This gives a unique taste, perfect for adult gatherings.
BROWN SUGAR: Try adding a tablespoon of brown sugar to the boiling water can deepen the color and add a subtle sweetness to the crust.
YEAST: This recipe calls for instant yeast. Doublecheck the packaging as active dry yeast is also very common.
Active refers to any type of dry yeast that requires activation before being used.
Instant dry yeast is a kind of dry yeast that is immediately ready for use as soon as you open the package.
TOPPINGS: For a different topping, try sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or everything bagel seasoning. These add a delightful crunch and flavor variety.
You could also make them sweet pretzels instead of savory by adding a cinnamon sugar coating.
Some recipes call for an egg wash, but we skip that in this simple homemade pretzel recipe.
How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels
You’ll combine basic ingredients and allow the dough to rise for these buttery soft pretzels. Let’s get started with these step-by-step instructions:
STEP ONE: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, combine the warm water, honey, and salt.
With a spoon, stir the water around to dissolve the honey and salt.
You could also use your bread machine to make the dough if you wish. Once the dough cycle is complete, you can proceed with the rest of our soft pretzel recipe.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
If you do not have a stand mixer, you can mix the dough with a wooden spoon and knead the dough by hand.
STEP TWO: Add the four cups of flour and the instant yeast to the water mixture.
Turn the mixer on very low speed and slowly drizzle the melted and cooled butter into the flour mixture.
Allow the butter to fully incorporate and mix for two minutes, then increase the speed of the mixer to medium-low.
Continue to mix for an additional five minutes. Your dough should form a ball and be smooth but still slightly sticky.
STEP THREE: Remove the bowl of your stand mixer and the dough hook, and cover it loosely with plastic wrap.
Let the dough rest and rise on the counter at room temperature for one hour, or until your dough has doubled in size.
For best results, you’ll want your dough to be resting in a warm place. It will rise up the sides of the bowl during this time.
STEP FOUR: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Prepare a rimmed, large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat, and set it aside. You could also use nonstick spray.
STEP FIVE: On a clean surface such as a counter or large cutting board, sprinkle your remaining quarter cup of flour. Turn out your dough onto your work surface.
Gently press out your dough into an 8 x 20-inch rectangle that will be cut into long strips.
STEP SIX: With a very sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut eight 20-inch long, equal pieces of dough.
Gently shape each piece of dough into a 20-inch long rope, being very careful not to overwork the dough.
STEP SEVEN: To make the pretzel shape, take the ends of one dough rope and cross them, making a large circle with about two inches of the ends overhanging.
Take those two overhanging ends of the rope and cross them again.
Holding both already-twisted ends, bring them forward to meet the bottom of the circle.
Repeat this with the remaining seven dough ropes and place them on your prepared sheet tray to rest and rise while preparing your water bath.
PRO TIP:
If you are struggling with forming the classic pretzel shape, feel free to shape the pieces of dough however you wish.
You can just fold the thin ropes in half and twist them.
You can make a heart shape with them or even bite-size pieces.
There are several tutorial videos online that show you how to properly shape a pretzel if you are having trouble.
STEP EIGHT: In a medium-sized baking dish, with two-inch high sides, place your baking soda and very hot water.
Stir it around with a spoon until all of the baking soda dissolves.
STEP NINE: Gently place one pretzel into the pretzel water bath for 30 seconds, then flip it over for another 30 seconds.
Very carefully remove the pretzel using an extra-large slotted spoon or a spider, allowing the excess water to drip off.
Then place them back onto your prepared baking sheet.
Repeat this until all of your pretzels are done.
STEP TEN: Bake your pretzels for 15 minutes or until the top of each pretzel is golden brown.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your pretzels as the suggested baking time approaches.
STEP ELEVEN: While the pretzels are baking, melt the quarter cup of butter for the topping in a microwave-safe cup for 30 seconds.
STEP TWELVE: When you remove your pretzels from the oven, immediately brush the top of each pretzel with the melted butter and sprinkle them with salt, or other desired toppings.
How To Serve Homemade Soft Pretzels
Serve your buttery pretzels alongside a tasty dipping sauce. Ranch, honey mustard, marinara, crack dip, or spicy mustard are popular choices. Carolina mustard barbecue sauce or our beer cheese dip are classics as well.
If you love these pretzels, check out our soft pretzel bites.
Serve with our crockpot chili and a refreshing glass of iced tea for a complete meal.
When to Serve This Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe
Homemade soft pretzels are versatile and can be served on a variety of occasions.
Here are some ideas for when you might want to serve them:
Game Night Snack: Serve warm pretzels during a game night with friends or family. They’re great for munching while playing board games or watching sports.
Movie Night: Soft pretzels can be a delightful change from popcorn on movie nights. Serve with various dips to add more fun.
Children’s Parties: Kids love pretzels. Serve them as a snack at birthday parties or other children’s gatherings. You can make them in fun shapes to add to the excitement.
Oktoberfest Celebrations: If you’re hosting or attending an Oktoberfest-themed party, homemade soft pretzels are a must. They pair wonderfully with beer and traditional German fare.
Appetizer for Dinner Parties: Offer freshly baked pretzels as a warm appetizer before the main course. Serve with mustard, cheese sauce, or other dips.
Brunch: Include soft pretzels in your brunch spread. They can be a savory option alongside sweeter brunch items. They’re great with cream cheese!
Holiday Treats: Soft pretzels can be twisted into shapes like hearts for Valentine’s Day, wreaths for Christmas, or letters for personalized gifts.
Picnics and Barbecues: Pretzels are easy to transport and don’t need to be served hot, making them perfect for outdoor gatherings.
Bake Sale or Fundraiser: Homemade soft pretzels are a unique and popular item for bake sales and fundraisers.
After-School Snack: A great snack for kids to enjoy after school, especially when served warm with their favorite dips. Make a double batch during the weekend to last all week long.
Game Day: Perfect for football season or watching a basketball game, these are a hearty snack that guests will love.
Remember, you can customize the toppings and dips according to the occasion and your guests’ preferences to make the experience even more special.
What to Serve with Homemade Soft Pretzels
Homemade soft pretzels are delicious on their own, but pairing them with the right accompaniments can elevate them to a whole new level.
Here are some serving suggestions:
Dips:
- Classic Mustard: A variety of mustards, from spicy brown to sweet honey mustard.
- Cheese Sauce: A warm, creamy cheese sauce or a sharp beer cheese dip.
- Garlic Herb Butter: Melted butter mixed with garlic and herbs for dipping.
- Marinara Sauce: A tangy tomato sauce, perfect for a pizza-style pretzel.
- Caramel Sauce: For a sweet twist, especially good on cinnamon sugar pretzels.
- Hummus: Various flavors of hummus can complement the soft texture of pretzels.
Proteins:
- Sausages and Bratwurst: Serve grilled or boiled sausages alongside the pretzels.
- Smoked Salmon: With cream cheese for a bagel-like experience.
- Pulled Pork: As a topping or for stuffing into a pretzel sandwich.
Cheeses:
- Soft Cheeses: Such as brie or camembert, which can be spread on warm pretzels.
- Assorted Cheese Platter: A variety of cheeses for a pretzel and cheese tasting experience.
Beverages:
- Craft Beers: Especially German styles like lagers or wheat beers.
- Apple Cider: Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions pair well. Adults will love our spiked apple cider.
- Coffee or Hot Chocolate: For a cozy snack on a cold day. Try our spiked hot chocolate as well.
Salads:
- German Potato Salad: A hearty side that complements the savory pretzels.
- Coleslaw: For a refreshing and crunchy contrast.
Soups:
- Beer Cheese Soup: For an indulgent, comforting meal.
- Classic Tomato Soup: Especially great with pretzels topped with cheese.
Sweets:
- Chocolate Fondue: Dip pretzels in melted chocolate for a sweet treat.
- Fruit Preserves: Serve with sweet dips like raspberry jam or blueberry butter.
Others:
- Roasted Nuts: For a simple, crunchy side.
- Pickled Recipes: A tangy accompaniment to balance the soft, warm pretzels. Try olives, refrigerator pickles, and pickled mushrooms.
These accompaniments can help turn your homemade soft pretzels into a complete snack or meal, suitable for various occasions and tastes.
MORE PRETZEL RECIPES
Storage Tips for Soft Pretzels
ON THE COUNTER: This soft pretzel recipe should be enjoyed right away but can be stored, in an airtight container, on the counter for up to three days. You can reheat them in the microwave for 30 seconds.
IN THE FREEZER: Baked and cooled pretzels freeze well for up to two months.
To reheat, bake frozen pretzels at 350°F for 20 minutes or until warmed through or microwave until warm. You could also reheat in your air fryer at 350°F for eight minutes.
MAKE-AHEAD: The prepared pretzel dough can be refrigerated for up to one day or frozen in an airtight container for two to three months.
Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight. The refrigerated dough can be shaped into pretzels while still cold. Allow some extra time for the pretzels to puff up before the baking soda bath and baking.
Close your eyes, take a bite, and you will be transported to the amusement park with these delicious homemade soft pretzels. Salty and chewy on the outside and soft on the inside, they will be a huge hit with everyone who tries them.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are there flavor variations of these homemade pretzels that I can make?
There are so many flavors that work well with pretzels. Cinnamon sugar is a popular flavor. To make these, simply sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top after brushing the pretzels with melted butter.
Can I substitute coarse salt for pretzel salt?
Coarse sea salt is a good alternative to pretzel salt, as is kosher salt or bagel salt.
Can I use all-purpose flour for this pretzel recipe?
We would recommend using bread flour for this recipe. You can use all-purpose flour in place of bread flour, but the lower protein content in all-purpose flour means it may yield a slightly wetter dough and make the pretzel dough harder to work with.
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Homemade Soft Pretzels
Buttery homemade soft pretzels are fun to make and just as fun to eat!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 8 pretzels
Ingredients
Pretzels
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4¼ cups bread flour, divided into 4 cups and ¼ cup
- ¼ ounce instant yeast (also known as Rapid-Rise)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Hot Water Bath
- ⅓ cup baking soda
- 4 cups very hot water, (not boiling but around 150 to 160°F)
Topping
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons pretzel salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the warm water, honey, and salt. With a spoon, stir the water around to dissolve the honey and salt.
- Add the 4 cups of bread flour and instant yeast. Turn the mixer on very low speed (setting 1, or stir, on a standard mixer) and slowly drizzle the melted and cooled butter into the flour mixture. Allow the butter to fully incorporate and mix for 2 minutes. Then increase the speed of the mixer to medium-low (or setting 3) and continue to mix for an additional 5 minutes. Your dough should form a ball and be smooth but still slightly sticky.
- Remove the bowl of your stand mixer and the dough hook and cover it loosely with plastic wrap allowing the dough to rest and rise on the counter for 1 hour, or until your dough has doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat, and set it aside.
- On a clean counter or large cutting board, sprinkle your remaining ¼ cup of flour and turn out your dough. Gently press out your dough into an 8 x 20-inch rectangle.
- With a very sharp knife (or a pizza cutter works great also), cut eight 1 x 20-inch long strips of dough. Gently shape your strips of dough into 20-inch long ropes, being very careful not to overwork the dough.
- To shape your pretzels, take the ends of 1 dough rope and cross them, making a large circle with about 2 inches of the ends overhanging. Take those two overhanging ends and cross them again. Holding both ends (already twisted), bring them forward to meet the bottom of the circle. Repeat this with the remaining seven dough ropes and place them on your prepared sheet tray to rest and rise while preparing your water bath.
- In a medium-sized baking dish, with 2-inch high sides, place your baking soda and very hot water. Stir it around with a spoon until all of the baking soda dissolves.
- Gently place 1 to 2 pretzels (depending on the size of your dish) into the water bath for 30 seconds, then flip them over for another 30 seconds. Very carefully remove the pretzels using an extra-large slotted spoon or a spider, allowing the excess water to drip off and place them back onto your prepared baking sheet. Repeat this until all of your pretzels are done.
- Bake your pretzels for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- While the pretzels are baking, melt the ¼ cup butter for your topping in a microwave-safe cup for 30 seconds.
- When you remove your pretzels from the oven, immediately brush them with the melted butter and sprinkle them with the salt.
Video
Notes
- If you do not have a stand mixer, you can mix the dough with a wooden spoon and knead the dough by hand.
- If you are struggling with forming the shape of a pretzel in a traditional shape, feel free to shape the pieces of dough however you wish. You can just fold the thin ropes in half and twist them. You can make a heart shape with them or even bite-size pieces. There are several tutorial videos online that show you how to properly shape a pretzel if you are having trouble.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your pretzels as the suggested baking time approaches.
Nutrition
Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 3341mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 222IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
EILEEN MEYERS says
Just love the cheese sauce & so easy to make, goes well with other foods too.
Tara M says
These were great! First time trying a homemade recipe, and wasnโt sure what to expect. I followed the recipe to a T and they turned out great!
Cherise says
Mmmm, if I donโt have a mixer how long should I knead the bread for?
Layne Kangas says
Oh goodness, I’m not sure! I’ve only made it with a mixer!
Jan says
I didnโt have a mixer and kneaded around 5 minutes. They turned out great. They didnโt look like the pretzels in the picture but that was my fault. Lol!
Paul says
The printed recipe leaves out the boiling step.
Layne Kangas says
Whoops, thanks for letting us know! ๐
Gloria says
These are the best!!!!
Lisa H says
I used the bread machine for my pretzels. The dough was easy to handle, the recipe had clear instructions. Pretzels turned out perfectly, nice hard exterior, chewy and soft on the inside.. tasty! We had ours with garlic sauce .. Will be making these again!
Sierra67 says
Am about to try this recipe but I plan to turn them into pizza pretzels! So excited
Colleen G says
These are so easy to make and my family loves them!