Description
Soft, chewy, and irresistibly golden-brown, these Homemade Soft Pretzels are the perfect snack! With a few simple steps, you’ll enjoy fresh, buttery pretzels right from your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/4 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 package instant yeast
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (approximately 110˚F)
- 1/4 cup salted butter, melted
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 large egg yolk, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
- Pretzel salt, for topping
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, kosher salt, yeast, and flour.
- Add the warm water and melted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until combined, then increase to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the bowl, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the dough, wipe out the bowl, and coat with oil or cooking spray. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm area for 50-55 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 450˚F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and coat with cooking spray.
- In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil, then carefully add the baking soda.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled work surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 16-18 inch rope. Shape each rope into a pretzel by forming a “U,” twisting the ends, and pressing them down to the bottom.
- One by one, place each pretzel into the baking soda bath for 30 seconds. Using a large spatula, remove each pretzel and place on the prepared baking sheets.
- Brush each pretzel with the egg yolk mixture and sprinkle with pretzel salt.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer pretzels to a cooling rack for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Rising Tip: To help dough rise faster, preheat your oven to 200˚F, turn it off, then place the covered bowl inside.
- Make-Ahead Option: Freeze shaped pretzels before the baking soda bath for easy future baking. When ready, thaw, dip in the baking soda bath, and bake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-14 minutes