Homemade Pretzel Bread (Pretzel Rolls)
Posted Dec 20, 2017, Updated Nov 05, 2024
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The best Homemade Pretzel Bread (or Pretzel Rolls) recipe. Once you make this you will never be able to eat store-bought pretzel bread again! It’s dense, soft, chewy, buttery, salty and irresistibly delicious.
This Homemade Pretzel Bread is the best bread you will ever eat in your life. I am not exaggerating either.
It is one of my most requested recipes and everyone who tries it asks for the recipe. It’s dense, soft, chewy, buttery, salty and unbelievably delicious. Serve it with a side of this homemade cheese sauce and you’ll be in heaven!
I know making homemade bread can seem intimidating, but don’t worry! Follow our step-by-step photos and watch the video to learn how to make pretzel bread perfectly every single time! And if there’s a recipe that’s worth conquering your kitchen fears for, this is definitely it.
I have also included instructions for how to make pretzel rolls. Pretzel rolls are a great smaller serving size option. They also make delicious hamburger buns for homemade burgers.
Homemade Pretzel Bread: Ingredient Substitutions
As always I recommend making this recipe exactly as written, however here are a few possible substitutions!
- Whole Milk. 2% milk works well. I do this often with great results! Half & half or cream also work well!
- All-purpose flour. Bread flour is the only other flour I have used to make this recipe and it produces an incredibly delicious final product!
- Dark brown sugar. Light brown sugar works equally well in this recipe.
That’s it! I really don’t recommend tinkering with this recipe any more!
How to Make Homemade Pretzel Bread
If making homemade bread sounds intimidating to you…your’e in luck! There are two ways to make the dough.
- The first is to simply toss all the ingredients in a bread machine and set it to the “dough cycle.” Even the most sheepish bread-makers can do that, right?
- The other method involves mixing and kneading the dough using a standing mixer or your hands.
I like to do the latter because I can be sure every step of the process is going exactly the way it should be. However, I have used my bread machine with the same delicious results.
Make the Pretzel Bread Dough
To make the dough by hand, begin by proofing the yeast.
Then, add the rest of the wet ingredients and stir to combine.
Next, add the dry ingredients (flour and salt) and knead with the dough hook until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky.
Then, transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a damp tea towel to rise until doubled.
NOTE: Only 1 rise
Many breads call for two rises, but not this pretzel bread. There is only one rise. After this rise, the dough is formed into a loaf and then goes immediately into the baking soda bath.
Prepare a Baking Soda Bath
When the dough has risen, prepare a baking soda water batch. To do this, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, slowly add the baking soda.
Boil the Pretzel Bread Loaves
Once the baking soda bath is ready. degas the dough and form it into the size and shape you want. This recipe makes 2 large loaves, 4 small loaves, or 8-10 rolls/buns.
Boil the pretzel bread one portion a time in the soda bath for 60 seconds on each side. Use a slotted spoon to remove it from the bath and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
(Note: I use a skimmer spoon like this to take the dough out of the boiling baking soda bath and remove excess water).
Bake
Once the dough is removed from the boiling baking soda bath and formed into loaves or buns, immediately place it on a greased baking sheet, cut an X in the top and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Next, bake until the loaves are a deep golden brown and they sound hollow inside when hit with a wooden spoon (or until the internal temperature in the center of the loaves reaches 185 degrees Fahrenheit).
Then, remove the pretzel bread from the oven and brush the outside of the loaves with melted butter. Then, transfer the loaves to a cooling rack to cool just enough to eat.
Serve
This pretzel bread is best served warm and eaten the day it’s made! However, it does reheat well and makes a delicious sandwich bread for recipes like turkey cranberry sandwich, BLTs, hamburgers, chicken salad, etc.
Or serve it as a side to your favorite main dish recipes, soups, etc. We love dipping it in this homemade cheese sauce or slathering it with honey butter.
How to Make Pretzel Rolls
This recipe makes the best pretzel rolls. To make pretzel rolls, follow the recipe exactly, except make a few slight changes:
- Divide dough into eight equal pieces.
- Boil each dough ball for 30 seconds on each side, remove from the water, transfer to a baking sheet, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet once halfway through.
That’s it! then brush each of the pretzel rolls with melted butter and enjoy as rolls or hamburger buns with the best burger recipe (YUM)!.
To Prepare 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 bake the pretzel bread, 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.
Store
You can store homemade pretzel bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I suggest reheating it before eating it to restore it’s fresh-from-the-oven texture.
Freeze
You can also freeze baked loaves of pretzel bread. Let them cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap and foil 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.
Pretzel Bread Recipe FAQs
Yes, I often double this recipe to make 4 loaves when we have company, or to make 16 pretzel rolls.
Yes, the baking soda bath is necessary to create the outer pretzel crust.
A lot of people wonder how a soft pretzel is different from bread! The answer is that the dough is boiled before it is baked! Boiling the dough in the baking soda & water bath is the step in this recipe that gives this Homemade Pretzel Bread it’s pretzel-y identity!
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Homemade Pretzel Bread (Pretzel Rolls)
Ingredients
Pretzel Bread Dough
- 1 cup warm water (105-110 degrees F)
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter (melted)
- 2 Tablespoons whole milk
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Baking Soda Bath
- 4 quarts water
- ½ cup baking soda
Topping
- 1-2 Tablespoons coarse sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter (melted)
Instructions
Make the Dough
- Combine water, and brown sugar and yeast in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook. Let stand for 5 minutes (until foamy). (Or put it in a large bowl and mix by hand).
- Once yeast is proofed, add melted butter and milk to the yeast mixture and mix on low speed with dough hook until just combined.
- Add flour and salt and mix with dough hook until flour is fully incorporated.
- Knead in a mixer until the dough forms a slightly tacky, but firm ball.
- Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, cover with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place for one hour or until doubled in size.
Prepare a Water Bath
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, lightly oil or grease a large baking sheet, or line it with a silicone baking mat (do not use parchment paper).
- Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.
- When the water is boiling, slowly add the baking soda a little bit at a time (Be careful not to add too much at once or the mixture will overflow).
Boil & Bake
- Remove the dough from the bowl and gently press out the air bubbles.
- Make two balls of dough the same size (note: The total weight of the dough comes out to be about 800 g, so each loaf should weigh about 400 g), forming them into the shape you want (Do not let it rise here).
- Carefully place one of the balls into the boiling baking soda water. Boil for 60-90 seconds on each side, turning it once to guarantee both sides covered. Drain the excess water from the dough and place it on an oiled baking sheet.
- Immediately sprinkle coarse sea salt over the bread to your specific tastes, and use a knife to cut a small "X" on the top of the bread.
- Repeat with second ball of dough. (Do not let it rise at all here! Straight from boiling into the oven).
- Bake the bread for 22-25 minutes, rotating the baking sheet once halfway through. You know the bread is done when the outside is deep golden brown, the loaf sounds hollow when hit with a wooden spoon, or the internal temperature is 185 degrees F).
- Once removed from the oven, immediately brush the melted butter over the loaves to guarantee a soft crust. Transfer to a wire rack to cool just enough to enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Divide dough into eight equal pieces.
- Boil each dough ball for 30 seconds on each side, remove from the water, transfer to a baking sheet, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet once halfway through.
- Whole Milk. 2% milk works well! I do this often with great results! Half & half or cream also work well!
- All-purpose flour. Bread flour is the only other flour I have used to make this recipe and it produces an incredibly delicious final product!
- Dark brown sugar. Light brown sugar works equally well in this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ritch absolutely adores this bread, and since it’s one of his favorite recipes of all time I thought I’d let him share his thoughts about it with you:
“My wife’s pretzel bread is one of the most amazing things that I have ever eaten. The only thing better than a loaf of this homemade pretzel bread is MORE loaves of pretzel bread! Sometimes when we have friends over to dinner— and Laura asks for meal ideas—I am torn as to whether or not to suggest this bread, simply because I can’t handle watching other people eat MY FAVORITE BREAD. (I smile, and politely pass the bowl, but secretly…I’m watching every movement…praying that they leave more for ME!) Fresh out of the oven, this bread beats any other meal that comes out of my home (IMHO), and a loaf of this stuff literally makes the “top 3 list” of things I would want with me on a deserted island. So basically, I HIGHLY recommend this recipe. -Husband”
(<-he signed it that way, not me! LOL!)There you have it folks, this Pretzel Bread is definitely husband approved! And I can attest to the fact that he will eat an entire loaf by himself if he doesn’t have to share.
Pretzel bread turned out real yummy. I made a few mistakes that made my bread look a little crazy, but the flavor and texture were good. I am going to try it again and see if I can have them look more presentable. I would really like to try and make the smaller pretzel rolls also, both the rolls and the hamburger buns. Could you please reply and let me know the baking times for both the pretzel rolls and hamburger buns?
I was skeptical about not needing a second rise, and a little intimidated by the boiling process, but this recipe turned out so well for me. I just mention these things in case anyone else has the same thoughts and is hesitant to try. Just do it! Much easier than I expected and really fun to watch it come together. My picky little boy DEVOURED this loaf and said I can make it any time I want—the ultimate compliment. ☺️ We shared our second loaf with a neighbor and they said it’s the best thing they’ve eaten in weeks—I totally agree! I already have plans to make again soon so I can share with more friends.
Could the dough be refrigerated and allow to rise on the next day? Thank you
Yes!
Hi there, I just made the recipe using bread flour and did one small loaf and 4 buns and they turned out amazing! I am wondering in terms of making these into actual pretzels, if you think it would work? I have a separate preztel recipe I normally use but I want another loaf of this and a friend wants some pretzels so if this recipe could do both well that would be ideal!
Hey Ashley! Testing this recipe as pretzels is on my to-do list soon! I will make sure to report back ASAP when we try it!
I have made this recipe 4 times now and its come out great every time. So easy with great instructions. I have always made it into 8 dinner rolls by cutting the risen dough in half, each half in half and then each of those in half and they come out very uniform! These rolls are amazing and I have a hard time sharing them 🙂
Thank you so much Meg!!!
How long in the oven do you cook the rolls? I’ll try this Sunday. Thanks!
Thank you for this recipe! It is fantastic!
I made it yesterday for the first time almost exactly as is: I had to use powdered milk (mixed with water first) because that’s all I had. I also used the bread machine on the dough setting instead of a mixer (which I don’t have.) And I halved the recipe to make just one loaf.
Before I put the dough in the water bath, it was a perfectly round ball. After it was done (90 seconds on each side), it was flat. The bread turned into a deep brown color as it baked and tasted amazing. My question is: do you know why it flattened and how I can prevent that from happening again?
It sounds like maybe the powdered milk could effect it! Or maybe you need just a touch more flour!
I did some googling and most other websites only recommend putting pretzels in the water bath for no more than 30 seconds total. I’m going to try that next time and see what happens. Thank you for replying!
Hello 🙂
What should the baking time be for the 8 rolls? I’m excited to make this recipe!!
I do 8 rolls for 20 min 🙂
Do you form balls for buns then boil or boil ten form buns?
Yes, I am working on a post showing how to make this recipe into buns! 🙂 But divide the dough into 8 equal portions, roll into balls. Then boil the balls and follow the recipe as written, you will need to decrease the baking time!
Fantastic recipe. Worked the first time and I will definitely make it again.
Thank you Antionette!!! So glad you enjoyed this as much as we do!
These pretzel bread are amazing! and so easy! Thank you for sharing a great recipe!
Can you make these into rolls? The bread looks good… but rolls allow a litle more portion control
Yes absolutely!
Any suggestions on making this using sourdough starter instead of yeast? Thanks!
Hey! I’m sorry I do not have any experience making sourdough (gasp)!