I’m all twisted up over these yummy homemade soft pretzels! They feature a deeply golden brown exterior, a soft, chewy middle, and an authentic pretzel-like flavor! Give them a go because nothing screams October like the iconic, salty twisted German bread!
Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe
These yummy pretzels are surprisingly easy to make! I used a stand mixer to knead the dough. However, if you don’t have one, mix and knead your pretzel dough with your hands.
What I love most about these little pieces of bread is no fancy ingredients are required! The recipe uses baking staples that you probably already have in your pantry: all-purpose flour, brown sugar, instant or active dry yeast, baking soda, fine salt, sea salt, butter, and lukewarm warm! Speaking of which, it’s important to use lukewarm (43 C or less); otherwise, you may kill your yeast.
Last, but not least, it’s also necessary to use the baking soda bath, for it gives the pretzels their iconic, authentic pretzel-like flavor. However, if you prefer to skip this step, you may brush your pretzels with egg yolk before sprinkling them with sea salt and baking them in the oven.
Shaping the Pretzels
Don’t be intimidated! There’s nothing easier than shaping these little yummies! Here’s how you can easily shape your pretzels in three steps:
- First, cut your dough into 12 sections using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife.
- Second, roll each dough into ropes, about 20-24 inches long in size.
- Third, create a “U” with the rope, twisting the ends at the top and looping them back down to make the classic pretzel shape. Et voila!
Soft Pretzel Dip Ideas
I personally enjoy eating pretzels on their own! However, here are a few ideas of what you may pair your homemade soft pretzels with:
- Mustard cheese dip
- Dijon mustard
- Spicy cheese dip
- Honey mustard
Enjoy!!
Homemade Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
- 1 – 1/2 cup lukewarm water
- 2 – 1/4 tsp instant yeast
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 – 1/2 Tbsp melted unsalted butter (slightly cooled)
- 3 – 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- Coarse sea salt for sprinkling
Baking Soda Bath
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 10 cups boiling water
Instructions
Making the dough
- In the stand mixer bowl, mix the lukewarm water with the yeast and brown sugar and let them rest for 5 minutes. Next, add the salt and flour, one cup at a time, and mix with a spatula until it's all combined. Finally, knead your dough on medium for 2-3 minutes or until the dough is soft to the touch and no longer sticky. Cover and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
Shaping the Pretzels
- Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut your dough into 12 separate sections. Roll each dough into ropes, about 20-24 inches long in size. Next, create a "U" with the rope, twisting the ends at the top and looping them back down to make the classic pretzel shape.
Baking Soda Bath
- In a deep, wide pot, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop the pretzels in batches in the soda bath for 20-25 seconds using a slotted spatula. (I drop 2-3 pretzels at a time). Remove the pretzels and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Next, sprinkle some coarse sea salt over the top, and repeat with the remaining dough.
Baking the Pretzels
- Bake your pretzels in the middle rack of a preheated 400 F oven for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serving Pretzels
- Enjoy your pretzels on their own, or pair them with mustard, honey mustard, or mustard cheese dip. Yum!
Notes
- You may mix and knead the dough with your hands if a stand mixer isn’t available.
- The dough is ready when it bounces back when poked with a finger.
- The baking soda bath is necessary because it gives the pretzels their iconic, authentic flavor. However, if you want to skip this step, you may brush your pretzels with an egg yolk and sprinkle some sea salt over the top before baking.
- Store your leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze them for three months. To reheat your pretzels in a preheated 350 F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Looking for more bread ideas? Look no more. Here is a delicious Moroccan brioche recipe!
Did you make these homemade soft pretzels? Tag @petitapron on Instagram and show us how they turned out for you!
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