Description
These homemade soft pretzels are golden brown, soft, and chewy, with a perfect salty crust. Made from simple ingredients, they’re easy to prepare and perfect for a fun family activity or game-day snack! Serve them with mustard or cheese dip for the ultimate treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F/43°C)
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 10 cups water (for boiling)
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the melted butter and the yeast mixture. Stir to combine, then knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. You can knead by hand or use a stand mixer with a dough hook.
- Let the Dough Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Preheat the Oven: While the dough rises, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Shape the Pretzels: Punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope (about 24 inches long). Shape each rope into a pretzel by forming a U-shape, crossing the ends over each other, and folding them down toward the bottom of the U to form the classic pretzel shape.
- Boil the Pretzels: In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil. Add the baking soda to the water. Carefully drop each pretzel into the boiling water (1-2 at a time) for about 30 seconds. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the Pretzels: Brush each pretzel with the beaten egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve: Let the pretzels cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy with mustard, cheese dip, or just on their own!
Notes
- If you prefer larger pretzels, you can divide the dough into 6 pieces instead of 8.
- For a sweeter version, you can brush the pretzels with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar after baking.
- Make sure to boil the pretzels before baking to achieve that classic chewy texture.
- These pretzels are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days or frozen for later use.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pretzel
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 40mg