Description
Delicious homemade soft pretzels that are chewy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfect for snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup baking soda
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Coarse salt, for topping
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (optional, for brushing)
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy. This is always my favorite quiet moment in bread-making—the promise that something good is about to happen.
- Form the Dough: Add the salt and flour gradually, mixing until a soft dough forms. Turn it onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5–7 minutes. The dough should feel smooth and slightly elastic. If it sticks too much, add a small sprinkle of flour.
- Let It Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. During this time, your kitchen will start to carry that subtle, comforting scent of yeast.
- Shape the Pretzels: Preheat your oven to 450°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope, about 18–20 inches. Form a U-shape, cross the ends over each other, and press them onto the bottom of the U to create the classic pretzel twist.
- The Baking Soda Bath: Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil and carefully add the baking soda. This step gives Homemade Soft Pretzels their signature chewy crust. Dip each pretzel into the water for about 20–30 seconds, then place it on the prepared baking sheet.
- Add Toppings and Bake: Brush each pretzel with the beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until deeply golden brown.
- Finish and Enjoy: Brush with melted butter if desired. Serve warm and watch them disappear within minutes.
Notes
- This recipe yields delicious, soft pretzels that can be served with mustard or cheese sauce.
- For a sweeter version, try sprinkling with cinnamon sugar instead of coarse salt.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pretzel
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 35mg