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    Home » Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe

    Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe

    Published: Jan 26, 2022 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    The best homemade soft pretzel recipe! Learn how to make soft pretzels that are irresistibly buttery, salty and slightly sweet. They are better than mall pretzels and easy to make with only 8 ingredients.

    3 homemade soft pretzels with sea salt and cheese sauce on the side

    In my opinion, homemade soft pretzels with cheese sauce is the ultimate comfort food combination. I craved it during each of my six pregnancies, so I can promise you that this is the best soft pretzel recipe you'll ever make or eat because I had a lot of time to get it just right.

    In this post, you will learn how to make soft pretzels that are irresistibly buttery, salty and slightly sweet. They are better than mall pretzels and relatively easy to make with only 8 ingredients.

    3 homemade soft pretzels with sea salt and cheese sauce on the side

    Soft Pretzel Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

    ingredients in this Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe
    • Dark brown sugar. Light brown sugar can be used instead of dark with great results.
    •  Whole Milk. 2% milk, half and half or heavy cream can all be used in place of whole milk, if necessary.
    • All-purpose flour. Bread flour is a great substitution, and the only one I recommend in this soft pretzel recipe.
    • Salted butter. Unsalted works well, and you don't really need to alter the amount of salt if you choose to use it.
    a homemade soft pretzel being dipped into cheese sauce

    How to make soft pretzels

    This recipe is fairly simple to make, there are a few unique steps (like twisting the pretzels and a boiling the pretzels in a baking soda/water bath). So make sure to read through my instructions on how to make pretzels thoroughly, and don't forget to watch the video.

    Make the soft pretzel dough

    Begin by proofing the yeast. To do this, combine yeast, water, and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook (or in a large bowl and mix by hand with a wooden spoon). Let mixture rest for 5-10 minutes (until foamy).

    two overhead photos showing how to make this soft pretzel recipe - proofing the yeast

    One the yeast is proofed, add the melted butter and milk to the yeast and stir to combine.

    two overhead photos showing how to make this soft pretzel recipe - adding the wet ingredients

    Next, add the flour and sea salt and stir until a ball is formed (either by hand or with the dough hook). The dough should form a slightly tacky, but firm ball.

    two overhead photos showing how to make this soft pretzel recipe  adding the try ingredients and forming a ball

    Place the dough a large, lightly greased bowl and cover it with a damp towel to rise for 30 -60 minutes until doubled in size.

    To make in advance

    You can make the dough and store it in the refrigerator overnight or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    When you're ready to make the pretzels, remove the dough from the fridge or freezer and let it come to room temperature and rise. Then continue on with the recipe including the baking soda bath, baking, etc.

    two overhead photos showing how to make this soft pretzel recipe - dough before and after rising

    Form the pretzels

    Once the dough has doubled in size, preheat the oven and grease two large baking sheets.

    Then, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces (weigh it using a food scale, divide the total by 8).

    Next, roll each piece of dough into a 25-30” rope.

    two photos showing how to make soft pretzels - measuring dough and rolling it into a rope

    To do this, lay the rope into a “U” shape. Then cross the ends over each other once.

    two photos showing how to make soft pretzels - folding the dough

    Then, twist the ends once at the place where they meet (see below).

    Then hold the portion of the pretzel dough that has been twisted and fold it down to the bottom of the “U” shape. Press the ends firmly but gently into the bottom of the pretzel.

    two photos showing how to make soft pretzels - forming the pretzel

    Prepare the baking soda bath

    Once you’ve formed half the pretzels, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, slowly add the baking soda.

    two photos showing how to make the water bath for this soft pretzel recipe

    Boil & Salt

    Once the baking soda bath is boiling, boil the soft pretzels one at a time in the soda bath for 30 seconds.

    Use a slotted spoon to remove it from the bath and place it on the prepared baking sheet.

    Immediately sprinkle the soft pretzel with coarse sea salt, then repeat with remaining pretzels.

    two photos showing how to boil a soft pretzel in a water bath and then the pretzels on a baking sheet sprinkled with salt

    Bake the soft pretzels

    I like to bake the pretzels in batches of 4. So I boil/salt 4 soft pretzels and then bake them while I'm boiling/salting the remaining 4.

    Bake the soft pretzels at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes until dark brown. Then, remove them from the oven and immediately brush each pretzel with melted butter.

    Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly, then serve warm.

    two photos showing how to make soft pretzels - baked on the baking sheet brushing butter on the top

    Serve

    Serve warm as a side to your favorite main dish recipes. We love dipping homemade soft pretzels it in this homemade cheese sauce or slathering it with honey butter.

    a homemade soft pretzel being dipped in cheese sauce

    Store

    You can store homemade soft pretzels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5. I suggest reheating them before eating it to restore it's fresh-from-the-oven texture.

    Freeze

    You can also freeze homemade pretzels. Let them cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap and put them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the oven set to warm covered in foil or in a dutch oven.

    overhead view of four homemade soft pretzels with salt and cheese sauce on the side

    Recipe FAQs

    Why do you boil soft pretzels before baking?

    Boiling in the soda bath gives the soft pretzels their dark brown, chewy exterior and soft interior. It's what differentiates a pretzel from other breads.

    What gives soft pretzels their flavor?

    In this homemade soft pretzel recipe the flavor comes from a few sources: the butter in the dough and brushed on the exterior, the brown sugar and the baking soda bath.

    Do you have to boil soft pretzels?

    Yes. The baking soda bath is what differentiates a pretzel from other breads.

    What salt goes on soft pretzels?

    We use coarse sea salt on our soft pretzels.

    How much baking soda do you put in water for pretzels?

    In this recipe you boil 4 quarts of water and ½ cup baking soda.

    Can I boil pretzels without baking soda?

    No. Baking soda is necessary to making the best soft pretzels.

    up close photo of one homemade soft pretzel

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Homemade Soft Pretzels

    Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe

    Laura
    The best homemade soft pretzel recipe! Learn how to make soft pretzels that are irresistibly buttery, salty and slightly sweet. Chewy on the outside and soft on the inside, they are better than mall pretzels and they’re easy to make with only 8 ingredients.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Rising 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, bread, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 pretzels
    Calories 252 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • baking sheet
    • skimmer spoon
    • 5 Quart Sauce Pan

    Ingredients
      

    Pretzels

    • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
    • 1 cup warm water 105-110 degrees F
    • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons whole milk room temperature.
    • ¼ cup salted butter melted
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour

    Baking Soda bath

    • 4 quarts water
    • ½ cup baking soda

    Topping

    • 3 tablespoons salted butter melted
    • Coarse sea salt to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Make the pretzel dough

    • Combine yeast, water, and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook. (or in a large bowl, mix by hand with a wooden spoon). Let mixture rest for 5-10 minutes (until foamy).
    • One the yeast is proofed, add the melted butter and milk to the yeast and stir to combine.
    • Add flour and sea salt and stir until a ball is formed (either by hand or with the dough hook).
    • The dough should form a slightly tacky, but firm ball.
    • Lightly grease a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and cover with a damp towel to rise for 30 -60 minutes until doubled in size.
    • Once dough is doubled:

    Form pretzels:

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, grease two large baking sheets.
    • Divide dough into 8 equal pieces (weigh it, divide the total by 8).
    • Roll each piece of dough into a 25-30” rope.
    • Lay the rope into a “U” shape. Then cross the ends over each other once, then twist them once at the place where they meet (see the photos in the recipe post).
    • Then hold the portion of the pretzel dough that has been twisted and fold it down to the bottom of the “U” shape. Press the ends firmly but gently into the bottom of the pretzel.
    • Repeat with remaining dough.

    Prepare the baking soda bath:

    • Once you’ve formed half the pretzels, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, slowly add the baking soda.
    • Boil pretzels one at a time in the soda bath for 30 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to remove it from the bath and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
    • Immediately sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
    • Repeat with remaining pretzels.

    Bake

    • Bake pretzels at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes until dark brown.
    • Remove from oven, immediately brush each pretzel with melted butter.
    • Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly, then serve warm.

    Video

    Notes

    To make in advance

    You can make the dough and store it in the refrigerator overnight or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
    When you're ready to make the pretzels, remove the dough from the fridge or freezer to let it come to room temperature and rise. Then continue on with the recipe including the baking soda bath, baking, etc.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Dark brown sugar. Light brown sugar can be used instead of dark with great results.
    •  Whole Milk. 2% milk, half and half or heavy cream can all be used in place of whole milk, if necessary.
    • All-purpose flour. Bread flour is a great substitution, and the only one I recommend in this soft pretzel recipe.
    • Salted butter. Unsalted works well, and you don't really need to alter the amount of salt if you choose to use it.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1soft pretzelCalories: 252kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 6gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 2424mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 183IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    Did you make this recipe?

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dana

      March 29, 2022 at 11:38 am

      5 stars
      Yummy pretzels. Very good and easy recipe! Thank you

      Reply
      • Camila

        September 03, 2022 at 5:00 pm

        5 stars
        They are very tasty, but even with parchment paper they got stuck on the oven sheet 😔

        Reply
        • Laura

          September 04, 2022 at 7:23 am

          I suggest trying a silicone baking mat next time. Or grease/butter your parchment paper.

        • Elizabeth

          January 15, 2023 at 9:37 am

          Do the pretzels keep well? I have found that pretzels such as Auntie Ann's get very hard after a day or so. I have not made your recipe yet. I will wait for your reply before I make them. Thanks.

        • Laura

          January 15, 2023 at 2:40 pm

          Yes, I store them in an airtight bag (silicone stasher bag or plastic bag) and they stay fresh.

      • Diane

        December 03, 2022 at 5:31 pm

        5 stars
        Another great recipe by "The Pancake Lady," as my husband calls you (ever since I made your delicious Greek yogurt pancakes with Aldi coconut yogurt cups!) Delicious fresh yeast taste and so good with the salt and butter! Great with cinnamon and butter too! Definitely want to make again!

        Our toddlers had a blast making them with us! Thanks so much!

        Reply
        • Laura

          December 04, 2022 at 6:49 am

          Your comment made my day, Diane! I'll totally take the nickname "pancake lady" any day! I'm so glad you all love this recipe too, it's truly one of our all-time favorites!

    2. Pimmy

      January 28, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      Never in my life did I think I could make a soft pretzel… Let alone one as delicious as these turned out! To say I’m a skeptic is a understatement and these were truly fabulous – my entire family loved them!

      Reply

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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