Fun and easy to make homemade soft pretzels with a classic salted chewy crust to enjoy as knots or buns. Perfect for dipping in hot melted cheese or slathering with mustard, also great for burger buns.
I'm not sure if its the chewy outer crust, soft center or that addictive salty flavor that makes these pretzel knots so special. But, I do know they're easy to make and a recipe that you'll definitely be saving.
Eat these soft pretzels plain or turn them into a sandwich bun. I'm thinking chicken salad, veggies with hummus, or a meat caramelized onion combo!! The possibilities are endless.
Ingredients for Homemade Pretzels
This homemade pretzel knot recipe is made up of four major parts– making and preparing the pretzel dough, shaping and boiling the knots, topping and baking them, and then choosing how to serve them.
- Active Dry Yeast - helps the dough rise and will first need to be activated.
- Granulated Sugar - helps to activate the yeast and add a touch of sweetness to the dough.
- Warm Water - must be between around 105 F (40.5 C) and 115 F (46 C ). This helps the yeast activate and binds the flour and other ingredients into a shapeable pretzel dough.
- All Purpose Flour - has less protein than Bread Flour and is the key for a softer pretzel dough texture. You can definitely use Bread Flour for this recipes, it will just create a chewier texture to the pretzel knots.
- Fine Grain Sea Salt - creates a nice flavor to the dough.
How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels
Shaping and Boiling the Pretzels
There are several methods to making homemade pretzels. Most commonly prepared by rolling the dough out to a long strand and forming into the traditional pretzel shape. The method used for this recipe creates a nice enclosed 'knot' that can be enjoyed for dipping or sliced for a sandwich.
Once your dough has risen, you will divide it into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball, then into a 10-12 inch rope. The 'knot' technique is similar to tying a basic show knot without the final bow. Simply making an over and under knot then connect the two ends back under the pretzel.
After a short rest, each pretzel is then boiled in a baking soda bath. This step ensures the pretzels will have that signature tasty, slightly chewy, and shiny crust.
Preparing Pretzel Knots for Baking
The next step in your homemade pretzel adventure involves a light coating of egg wash, a generous sprinkling of coarse sea salt, and about 20 minutes of baking in a hot oven. Golden brown pretzels, covered in salt, warm from the oven can't be beat!
Serving and Dipping Homemade Pretzels
The possibilities are really endless when it comes to enjoying a soft pretzel knot.
- Plain Pretzel Knots - serve and enjoy warm with a chewy salty crust.
- Mustard Dipped Pretzels - yellow, dijon, spicy, or full seed mustard varieties all add a great bitter contrast to the warm salty bread.
- Hot Cheese Dipped Pretzels - Yes, bread dipped in melted cheese is the ultimate treat. Extra sharp cheddar cheese dip is top on the list!
- Soft Pretzel Sandwich- just slice a pretzel knot and fill it with your favorite meats and cheeses. Breakfast sandwich with bacon and egg, chicken salad, or even a burger comes to mind.
Tips for Soft Pretzel Knots
- Weigh your flour with a kitchen scale. Baking bread is an exact science, so its best to measure perfectly.
- Cover the bowl filled with dough using a kitchen towel or with plastic wrap.
- Use a neutral oil for coating your bowl and work surface, I like to use safflower oil. But if you're in a pinch olive oil without a strong flavor will work too.
- Put just enough oil on your surface to keep it from being dry. You will want it to maintain a little grip for rolling the dough into balls before shaping.
- Use a large slotted spoon or spatula to carefully transport the dough knots into the hot baking soda bath.
- While baking, if you notice the knots are browning more on one side, rotate the pans in the oven halfway through baking time.
- Place the pan of baked pretzels on a wire cooling rack and let them cool about 5 minutes before enjoying warm.
How do to store Homemade Soft Pretzels?
Pretzels are considered a crusty bread and are best stored in an air tight brown paper bag for 2-3 days, at room temperature. Make sure pretzels are completely cooled before placing in the paper bag.
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Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups (375 ml) Warm Water, 110 F
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, warm not hot
- 4 ¾ cups (595 grams) all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Baking Soda Bath
- 10 cups (2500 ml) water
- ⅔ cup baking soda
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Topping
- course salt
- *olive oil for surfaces*
Instructions
- Combine sugar, yeast, and warm water into bowl of stand mixer. Gently stir. Let sit about 5 minutes until frothy.
- Meanwhile hand whisk together sifted flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Using dough attachment on mixer, start at a low speed. Add warm butter and then slowly spoon in flour mixture.
- Mix on medium speed until dough forms, letting go of the sides of bowl, wrapping around dough hook, but still attached to the bottom center of bowl.
- Once combined turn up to medium high for 3-5min. to knead the dough.
- Transfer dough to a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover bowl with kitchen towel and let sit for an hour in a warm location. Make sure dough has doubled in size.
- Meanwhile cover two pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with olive oil.
- In a large pot bring water and baking soda to a boil.
- Lightly rub oil onto a working surface and cut dough into 8 pieces. Make sure to weigh each piece to be accurate.
- Roll each piece into a 10-12 inch rope. Take rope and loop into a single knot. One end going through the center and the other end under and around to connect the pieces.
- Gently place each knot into the boiling water for 30 seconds using a spatula. Transfer to baking sheets.
- Brush knots gently with egg wash, using a soft pastry brush over top of pretzels. Sprinkle generously with coarse salt.
- Bake at 450F (230 C) for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
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Maria West
This recipe was so easy to follow and I feel so happy that I was able to make my first "bread"! My family was very impressed and the pretzels were so delicious. I was originally drawn in by the beautiful photography, but after making these and having such easy steps to follow, I will definitely make them again! Thank you!
Jenn
I'm so glad you liked them!!!
Laura King
These were the best pretzels! Recipe was easy to follow. They turned out perfect! My family loved them.
Megan M. Amabile
An amazing recipe; it's easy to follow, easy to make and the texture after you bake it? Like bitting into a cloud.
My mom and I, instead of adding sesame seeds, we went on and added everything-bagel seasoning, we both knew what we wanted with theese knotted pretzels; a sandwich.
❤❤❤ thank you so much for this recipe. Looking forward to make more
Megan M. Amabile
Sorry, I meant coarse salt, not sesame seeds* 😀
Jenn
Thanks Megan!! So glad you liked them!
Ameera
Really loved the soft pretzels, yummy yum thanks alot.
Jenn
I'm so glad you did!!
Rahaf
I made this recipes many times and I can’t believe how delicious these pretzels are. I’ve never made soft pretzels before and I’m glad I started with your recipe and now I’m in love. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe with us
Jenn
I love hearing that!! so glad you liked them!
Toria
So easy to follow and an out-of-this-world result! Simple ingredients too. What we didn't scarf down with a beer we turned into egg sandwiches the next morning - highly recommend. They were gone in 24 hours! Thank you for this recipe!
Jenn
Ahh that just makes me so happy to hear that you loved them! Thanks for trying the recipe 🙂
Jill Doyle
Great recipe - easy to follow and came out great. I made them with my 8 year old son, he loved it!
Jenn
Yay!! So glad you could make them together!
Kal
Would love to make this recipe, but don't have a stand mixer... Am I still able to make it using a hand mixer?
Jenn
Hi! The attachments on a hand mixer wont work the same as the dough hook attachment on the stand mixer. You can mix the initial ingredients with a spoon, and then knead the dough by hand for about 8 minutes.
Tiss
This recipe is spectacular! Follow it to the letter and you will not be disappointed! The first time I made the pretzel knots and they were gone in 24 hours (we had every intention of just tasting one and I would take the rest to my office-all pre Covid of course. No chance, they were too delicious and “pretzely.” The second time I made them as burger buns for a virtual burger challenge with foodie friends, and I won the challenge, because of the bun!!! Some of the buns were too big for burgers (my fault, I made six when I could have made eight or ten from the batch), but they were happily repurposed in to mini loaves of pretzel bread for charcuterie boards!!! The best part of this recipe is that it is so easy to follow and is a little over three hours start to finish. A lifetime keeper for sure! Thanks @twocupsflour !
cherise
I tried this recipe yesterday and made a home run. It was effortless to make and had delicious results. Add grilled sausages and a mustard cheese sauce with a cold beer? Perfect lunch. I'm definitely going to be trying out more recipes from your site.
Graves Jennifer
I’m guessing it wouldn’t be a problem to make it into the classic pretzel shape?
Amanda
Great recipe! I regularly make pretzels and wanted to try making a bun version. The regular recipe I use for pretzels uses bread flour and canola oil instead of butter, so these were softer and fluffier than a ballpark style pretzel. These are perfect for sandwiches. I'll definitely be making these again.
Jenn
Hi Amanda!! I'm so happy to hear! Thanks for trying the recipe:)
Dagmar
Can I keep the dough overnight in the fridge after it has risen,?
Lori
Made these on Sunday and WOW what a GREAT recipe!! So easy to follow and they came out perfectly!! Thank you!
Jenn
I'm so glad you liked them!! Thanks for the feedback!
Cheri
Simply Delicious! Great recipe and easy to follow. I do have one question. What is the best way to reheat them?
Kat
Did anybody else have the problem of them coming out completely burnt at 20 minutes!? The inside was perfect but they were SO dark. I checked the oven temp and it was spot on. So I’m so confused. 😩 should I lower the temp or bake for less time..?
marci
Can this recipe be doubled? I've made it before and they are great but I need more than 8 to give out to people.