Description
This recipe for homemade soft pretzels guides you through making deliciously soft, chewy pretzels from scratch with a classic baking soda bath and a perfect golden crust. Ideal for snacking and serving with various dips, these pretzels are simple to prepare and great for both beginners and seasoned bakers.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 and a 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 and a 1/2 cups warm water
- 4 and a 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp salt
Boiling & Topping
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk until combined and let sit for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture is foamy and bubbly, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: Add the flour, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. Using the kneading attachment, knead the dough on low speed for about five minutes until a smooth ball forms that springs back when pressed. Alternatively, knead by hand if a stand mixer is unavailable.
- First Rise: Remove the dough, drizzle with olive oil, then place it back in the bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and set it in a warm spot to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Divide Dough: Punch down the risen dough and transfer it to a floured surface. Divide into 12 equal pieces using a bench scraper or sharp knife.
- Shape Pretzels: Roll each piece into an 18-24 inch rope. Form each rope into a classic pretzel shape by folding and twisting. Watching a tutorial video can be helpful for shaping.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 450°F (232°C) to preheat while preparing the pretzels for baking.
- Prepare Baking Soda Bath: In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water and 2 tablespoons baking soda to a boil. Dip each pretzel in the boiling solution for 15-30 seconds, then remove and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Apply Egg Wash and Toppings: Immediately brush each pretzel with beaten egg to achieve a golden crust and sprinkle with coarse salt and everything but the bagel seasoning or other toppings of choice.
- Bake Pretzels: Bake the pretzels in the preheated oven for 10-11 minutes until they turn golden brown and develop a chewy, soft texture.
- Cool Pretzels: Remove pretzels from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
- Serve: Enjoy your homemade soft pretzels warm, preferably with your favorite dips such as cheese sauce.
Notes
- You can customize toppings with options like garlic parmesan, jalapeno cheddar, or even chocolate for a sweet twist.
- Store pretzels in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days to retain freshness.
- For longer storage, pretzels freeze well for up to 12 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pretzel
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
