instructables

How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels

by andimadethings

Making homemade soft pretzels is easy and tasty! With just a few pantry staples, you'll be in yeasty, buttery pretzel
heaven in just a few easy steps!

To make pretzels at home, you will need:

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or 1 packet of active dry yeast)
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose our (+ up to 3/4 cup more, if needed)

Baking Soda Bath:

4 tablespoons baking soda

2 cups of water

Toppings:

melted butter
coarse sea salt

Supplies:

You'll also need:

Baking sheets
Parchment paper

How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels: Page 1

 Measuring spoons/cups
Stand mixer with dough hook (or you can knead by hand)

Step 1: Prep for Pretzels!

To begin, preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Parchment paper is a must,
these pretzels will stick like the dickens otherwise, even if they are non-stick baking sheets!

Step 2: Bloom the Yeast

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Add 1 cup of warm water, yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar to the mixing bowl. Let this mixture sit until foamy, about 10
minutes.

Note: If your yeast does not get foamy, you'll need to get new yeast and start over.

Step 3: Make the Dough

Once the yeast is ready, add the melted butter and salt. Add our, one 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is no longer sticky.
You may need to add more or less our depending on the humidity in your area. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes
until a smooth dough forms. Cover with a clean tea towel and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels: Page 3

Step 4: Prepare Baking Soda Bath

While the dough is resting, you can prepare the baking
soda bath. Add 2 cups of water to a medium sized pot.
Add 4 tablespoons of baking soda and whisk. Heat until
the baking soda is dissolved then remove from the heat
and allow it to cool slightly.
what gives the pretzels their shiny brown crust and
distinctive avor. It also helps the interior of the dough
pu up more aiding in the chewy texture you expect
from a soft pretzel. Don't skip this step, I promise it's
worth the extra e ort!

Baking soda is important in pretzel making because it is

Step 5: Shape the Pretzels

How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels: Page 4

After the dough has rested for 15 minutes, cut it into 8 the top of the U shape. Press the overlapping pieces
equal pieces. I nd cutting the dough like a pizza helps down slightly to form the classic pretzel shape.
keep the pieces rather equal. Complete for all 8 pieces of dough.

Roll each piece of dough out into a long rope, about 15
inches long.
To form a pretzel, make a U shape. Twist the ends of the
dough over each other, then bring the ends up and over
Feel free to get creative with your pretzel shapes! You
can make pretzel bites, buns, braids and more. This step
is especially enjoyable if you're making this recipe with
kids, let them have fun and experiment!

Step 6: Time for a Baking Soda Bath!

Place each pretzel into the baking soda bath. The bath should be lukewarm by now. Let each pretzel soak for a minute
then carefully move it to the prepared baking sheet. You may need to readjust your shape slightly. Sprinkle with coarse
sea salt while the pretzel is wet. Repeat for remaining pretzels.

How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels: Page 5

Step 7: Bake!

Bake pretzels in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes
until browned. Immediately after removing from oven,
brush pretzels with melted butter. Serve immediately!
If you'd like a sweet pretzel, skip the salt in the previous
step, bake the pretzels then brush with melted butter
and cover with cinnamon sugar! Shake o excess sugar.
Serve immediately, yum!
These are best if served fresh, but you may also store
them in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room
temperature. Reheat them in microwave for about 40
seconds before serving.

How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels: Page 6

Amazing! Thank you for sharing this recipe!

Thank you! I hope you give them a try!

I have a recipe from All Recipes that I've made before, looks a lot like this one, thanks for sharing,
I know I love the one I do. We usually make them tight, thick pretzel shapes and use them as
pretzel rolls for sandwiches and burgers.
This is one my friend gave me a long, long time ago! I have tried a few other recipes, but I go
back to this one again and again because it's so easy and I always seem to have these basic
ingredients on hand. I love making pretzel buns, so tasty!
These turned out great :)

Thank you <3

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