How to make soft pretzels like a PRO

When it comes to the kitchen, you have things you have to make and things you want to make. Dinner? That one you have to make. Dessert? That one you want to make! Which is why I am going to show you how to make soft pretzels like a PRO! Now you may have already checked out how to create Easy Baked Homemade Pretzels and that recipe is delicious. But there are a variety of different ways and this one is just as good!

I wanted to share with you another fantastic way on how to make soft pretzels because every person has to decide which recipe is best for them. I am confident you will be putting these buttery soft pretzels on your menu from this point forward, so lets get started on that recipe!

How to make soft pretzels like a PRO

I hate to break it to you but the fall season is coming up. And that means desserts, baking and get together’s come into play for months. Because of that, I wanted to share with you a totally fun recipe that just screams for you to have guests over for the upcoming football game, showing off your baking skills and your home all at the same time. Soft pretzels…you know the kind. The kind you smell walking through the mall that just beg you to stop and indulge?

The kind that are so delicious covered in big chunks of salt or layered in cinnamon and sugar.

Or the kind that you can dip easily into mustard, chocolate, caramel or icing!

They all start with one thing- the perfect dough.

Let’s get down to how to make your soft pretzels like a pro – first you need a fantastic pretzel recipe.

This recipe was adapted from King Arthur Flour. A printable version is located below.

• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 tbs unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour + up to 3/4 cup more if needed
• 2 cups water
• 4 tbs baking soda
• 1 tbs coarse salt, for sprinkling on top
• 6 tbs salted butter, melted

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 475 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine yeast with warm water and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with hook attachment (you can also mix and knead by hand). Once mixture becomes “frothy” your yeast is ready.

Stir in salt and melted butter and 1 cup of flour. Continue adding flour a cup at a time until a dough forms and is no longer sticky. You may need more or less depending on temperature differences. Knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth and pliable. Form dough into a ball and place it back into the bowl to rest for 15 minutes.

While the dough is rising, prepare baking soda bath.

In a medium sized pot, boil 2 cups of water with 4 tbs of baking soda. Once the baking soda is mostly dissolved, take mixture off heat and allow it to come down to a lukewarm temperature. Pour into a 9×9 baking dish once cooled down.

After 15 minutes take dough out of the bowl and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Cut dough into 8 sections (think pizza). Roll each section into a long rope, about 20 inches long. Shape dough into pretzel shape and place in baking soda bath for 2 minutes, then carefully place on baking sheet. Sprinkle the pretzel with coarse salt while still wet (optional). Repeat these steps with the rest of the pretzel sections.

Bake pretzels for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown.

Immediately remove from the oven, brush with melted butter.

3.5 from 2 votes

Print

How to make soft pretzels like a PRO

What You Need

• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast 1 standard packet
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 tbs unsalted butter melted
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour + up to 3/4 cup more if needed
• 2 cups water
• 4 tbs baking soda
• 1 tbs coarse salt for sprinkling on top
• 6 tbs salted butter melted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine yeast with warm water and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with hook attachment (you can also mix and knead by hand). Once mixture becomes "frothy" your yeast is ready.
3. Stir in salt and melted butter and 1 cup of flour. Continue adding flour a cup at a time until a dough forms and is no longer sticky. You may need more or less depending on temperature differences. Knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth and pliable. Form dough into a ball and place it back into the bowl to rest for 15 minutes.
4. While the dough is rising, prepare baking soda bath.
5. In a medium sized pot, boil 2 cups of water with 4 tbs of baking soda. Once the baking soda is mostly dissolved, take mixture off heat and allow it to come down to a lukewarm temperature. Pour into a 9x9 baking dish once cooled down.
6. After 15 minutes take dough out of the bowl and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Cut dough into 8 sections (think pizza). Roll each section into a long rope, about 20 inches long. Shape dough into pretzel shape and place in baking soda bath for 2 minutes, then carefully place on baking sheet. Sprinkle the pretzel with coarse salt while still wet (optional). Repeat these steps with the rest of the pretzel sections.
7. Bake pretzels for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from the oven, brush with melted butter.

Love this recipe but want to try another one? Head over and try out these Easy Baked Homemade Pretzels too!