We just love pretzels in my house. They are actually fairly easy to make and universally popular. This great recipe is perfect for gatherings and game days, or an afternoon snack.
Feel free to customize your pretzels with various herbs and spices. For example, garlic and rosemary is one of my favorite combos. Or, when they come out of the oven and are brushed with melted butter, roll them in some cinnamon and sugar for a sweet treat.
I have made this recipe exactly as written, however, you may need to add an additional 2 tablespoons or so of flour. It just depends, go by feel and look when kneading, not length of time. The texture should be soft, pliable, a bit dense, and will spring back when finger touched. Pretzels are a dense bread, so it doesn’t require a long rise time.
Homemade Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
For the pretzel dough:
- 3 cups AP flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)
- 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the water bath:
- 2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon salt (for topping)
Additionally for brushing on finished pretzels:
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 475.
- Line baking sheet(s) with parchment, spray with non stick oil as well.
- Add sugar to water. Heat water to 110-115 degrees (use thermometer).
- Sprinkle yeast on top of sugar water. Allow 5-10 minutes to activate (become frothy).
- Add the yeast and sugar water to bowl of stand mixer.
- Add butter and salt and 1 cup of flour.
- Using dough hook attachment, mix gradually on low speed, then add the 2 more remaining cups of flour, one cup at a time.
- Increase mixer speed to medium high and allow hook to knead the dough until it is soft and pliable, slightly tacky, approximately 5 minutes. The dough will sweep the sides of the bowl mostly clean.
- Remove dough hook and allow dough ball to rest, covered in the bowl, about 15 minutes.
- While dough is resting, prepare the water bath. Bring 2 cups of water and 4 tablespoons baking soda to a simmer, allow baking soda to dissolve. When dissolved, pour into 9×9 or similar baking dish. Allow to cool to lukewarm. Set aside.
- Take dough out of bowl, and using a pizza cutter, cut in half, then in half again, until 8 equal sections have been cut.
- Roll pieces of dough into 18"-20" pieces, form into pretzel shape.
- Place each pretzel in soda water bath for 2 minutes. I do this is batches of 3 or 4. Place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with desired amount of salt (or other herbs).
- Bake at 475 for about 8 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately brush with melted butter.
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