Description
These buttery soft pretzels are golden brown on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and brushed with melted butter for the ultimate snack! They’re easy to make and perfect for dipping in cheese sauce or mustard.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Dough:
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
For the Baking Soda Bath:
- 10 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
For Topping:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted, for brushing)
- Coarse salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions
1. Activate the Yeast:
- In a small bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
2. Make the Dough:
- In a large bowl, mix flour and salt.
- Add the yeast mixture and melted butter. Stir until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise for 1 hour (until doubled in size).
3. Shape the Pretzels:
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces.
- Roll each piece into a 24-inch rope, then twist into a pretzel shape.
4. Baking Soda Bath (Essential for Pretzel Texture!):
- Bring 10 cups of water to a boil.
- Stir in ½ cup baking soda (be careful, it will foam up).
- Dip each pretzel in the baking soda bath for 20-30 seconds, then place on the baking sheet.
5. Bake & Butter the Pretzels:
- Sprinkle pretzels with coarse salt and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Brush warm pretzels with melted butter for that soft, buttery finish.
6. Serve & Enjoy:
- Best served warm with cheese dip, mustard, or cinnamon sugar for a sweet version!
Notes
- Baking soda bath is key! It gives pretzels their signature chewy texture and golden color.
- For cinnamon sugar pretzels, skip the salt and brush with butter, then coat in a cinnamon-sugar mix.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for later!
Nutrition
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 10mg