Skip the mall pretzels, homemade soft pretzels are delicous. Crispy and golden brown on the outside and fluffy and chewy on the inside.
Made with ingredients you likely have in your pantry, this pretzel recipe is easy. Roll the dough into ropes, twist into pretzels, give them a quick dip and then bake.
Sprinkle them with salt and serve them warm, or enjoy them with melted cheese or mustard. Try serving them with a cold beer, German style.
Oven Baked Soft Pretzels
- It’s always fun to recreate street fair favorites at home.
- Homemade soft pretzels are made with a handful of ingredients you likely have (and no preservatives).
- They’re budget-friendly since they use just a few pantry ingredients.
- Swap out the salt and try different toppings (like cinnamon sugar or everything bagel seasoning).
- Soft pretzels can be baked and frozen as an anytime snack or appetizer.
- Experiment with different shapes like breadsticks, pretzel bites, knots, or hearts.
Ingredients for Soft Pretzels
Flour – Since it has more gluten, bread flour is best for soft, stretchy pretzels, but all-purpose flour can also be used.
Yeast – Use active dry yeast, equal to 2 ½ teaspoons, and make sure to check the expiration date. To “proof” the yeast, dissolve it in water and sugar and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy. If it doesn’t foam, discard it.
Baking Soda Bath – Before baking, dip the pretzels into a boiling water and baking soda bath to give the exterior a perfect chewy texture and color.
Egg Wash – Use an egg wash to give the pretzels a shiny golden brown exterior and help the salt (or seasonings) stick better.
Salt (& other toppings) – Use kosher salt or coarse salt or, try cinnamon sugar, jalapeno cheese, everything bagel seasoning, or sesame seeds. Make them to order to please every palate!
How to Make Soft Pretzels
These easy steps will have your family in pretzel heaven in no time!
- Prepare The Pretzel Dough: This is a typical yeast dough and can be made in a stand mixer.
- Shape Dough: Roll into ropes and shape into pretzels (how to fold pretzels below).
- Baking Soda Bath: Gently lower into boiling water for several seconds.
- Bake: Remove, drain and brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with topping. Bake until toasty brown
How to Fold a Pretzel
- Roll each piece into a 24-inch rope.
- Form the dough into a “U” shape.
- Cross the two ends over each other.
- Fold the ends down to the bottom of the U shape to form a pretzel.
Storing Soft Pretzels
- Homemade oven baked soft pretzels will keep in the refrigerator for up 1 week, and in the freezer for up to three months.
- Thaw at room temperature. This soft pretzel recipe is best served warm. To reheat, wrap in foil to prevent over-browning the exterior. Warming or thawing in the microwave will toughen them and is not recommended.
Once the pretzel is formed, it is lowered into boiling and baking soda for a few seconds. This changes the pH of the outside and gives it that beautiful brown color.
This also gives the flavor we love in pretzels and starts the crust formation which finishes in the oven.
The egg wash helps all those tasty toppings adhere to the curved surface of the pretzels. In addition, the egg and water wash will give pretzels a golden brown sheen and satisfying crunch.
What to Dip Soft Pretzels In
The only thing better than a soft pretzel is a soft pretzel in a great dip! Keep it simply with grainy mustard or
Did you make these homemade soft pretzels? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Oven Baked Soft Pretzel
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 ½ cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 pkg)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 oz butter melted
Water Bath
- 10 cups water
- ⅔ cup baking soda
Topping
- 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
- kosher salt
Instructions
- In a stand mixer, combine water, sugar, salt, and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes or until foamy.
- Add 2 cups flour and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix on low with a dough hook. Gradually add more until the dough is combined.
- Knead the dough with a dough hook in the mixer until the dough is smooth, about 5 minutes or knead by hand on the counter for 10 minutes.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and set in a warm place to rise for 60 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F and line baking pans with parchment paper. In a large pot, bring water and baking soda to a boil.
- Divide dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece into a 24-inch rope. Shape each rope into a pretzel by forming a "U" shape and crossing the two ends over each other, then folding them down to the bottom of the "U". Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Gently place the pretzels on a large spatula and lower them into the boiling water. Boil for 10-15 seconds, then gently lift them out of the water and let excess drip off. Place the pretzels on the prepared baking pans, leaving at least 2-inches between them.
- Brush the pretzels with the egg wash, then sprinkle with kosher salt (or toppings as desired).
- Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the pretzels are golden.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Bread, Party Food, Snack
Cuisine American, German© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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Anxious to try these pretzels. How would you store these? I don’t want to ruin them after making them.
Hi Shery, they disappear quickly in my house but I usually store them in an airtight container or zippered bag once they have cooled.
These came out perfect! Great and super easy to follow recipe!
These were super delicious and easy to follow! Great recipe!
Thanks for the daily recipes:)
Happy you enjoy them Kathy! :)
Oh my goodness! These turned out so amazing. I definitely needed the pictures to help with how to fold them but they turned out so good.
So glad you loved them Samantha!
I just made these and they are easy and fabulous! I highly recommend you all try this recipe.
Easy to make, especially with kids! Delicious even without the egg wash (no egg due to allergy)! Thanks for a great recipe to make!
Not good at all look just like picture but had funny taste and my wife didn’t like either through all away did not eat a full one dark brown color when done but doughey in spots
Sorry to hear that Gene, other readers have had great success with this recipe.
Was wondering if these could be made into a sweet pretzel like with cinnamon sugar or something similar
Oh my Winnie! That sounds like a terrific idea, if you try it out let us know how they turn out.
What is the water for? I did not see instruction for the water included in the recipe.
The water is used in step 7.
This looks AMAZING!!! I’m going to try it this weekend! Can’t wait!!! Thx for the recepie :)
Enjoy! Have a great weekend Chloe!
Can you use the “dough” cycle of a bread machine to make these? I am going to try it and see if it works tonight.. They look delicious and I love pretzels.. Thank you for the recipe!
When a recipe calls for flour does this mean plain or self rising?
This recipe uses all purpose flour.
Omg these are so good!!! I was running low on flour so I used 1 cup bread flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour mixed in with the other 2 cups, I will be making these again, thanks for sharing such an awesome recipe!!
Just Thank You!!
I tried them today. Mine just doesnt get that brown like yours. But it isnt necessary^^
They taste like a pretzel anyway =D and my family loved them..
I realy have to bake them again.
This recipe will definitely come on the top of my favorite list ;-D
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
I tried these over the weekend that they were exact. I did not use a mixer, I used my hands and it worked out perfectly. The only thing I altered was the preparation of the yeast, I added all of the above that was noted as well as 2 tbsp of flour from the required 4 cups and the yeast came out nice and fluffy. Excellent recipe!
So glad you enjoyed them!
What if I don’t have either mixer?
How many tablespoons of butter equals 2 oz of melted butter?
It’s approx 4 tablespoons.
Is there an alternative method to using a stand mixer? I do not own one but would love to make these pretzels!
you can use a hand mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer
Call me crazy but a whisk and a wooden spoon work real good.
I was wondering if I could repost your recipes, and wanted your ok before I did a lot..
Thank you,
Cheri
Please send me a PM on Facebook Cheri.