Description
Delicious homemade soft pretzels with a buttery, salted crust that are perfect for sharing at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups bread flour (or strong all-purpose flour)
- 1 packet instant yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 105°F–110°F)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or olive oil for a lighter option)
- ⅔ cup baking soda
- Coarse sea salt or pretzel salt for finishing
- Optional: minced garlic, chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme), grated parmesan, or seeds for variations
Instructions
- Mix warm water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
- Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
- Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes with a stand mixer.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled, about 60-90 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) and prepare a baking soda bath with 6 cups of water and ⅔ cup baking soda.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 8-12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and shape into pretzels.
- Carefully lower each pretzel into the baking soda bath for 20-30 seconds, then drain on a wire rack.
- Place pretzels on a baking sheet, brush with melted butter or an egg wash, and sprinkle with salt.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Brush with butter again when they come out of the oven.
Notes
Use a kitchen scale for accurate shaping. You can add an egg wash for a shinier crust. Let pretzels cool on a rack to maintain crispness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pretzel
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: pretzels, soft pretzels, homemade, snack, baking