Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe brings the authentic taste of freshly baked soft pretzels right into your kitchen. The boiling step in baking soda gives them their signature texture and deep golden color, while the egg wash adds a beautiful shine. They’re easy to make with just a handful of ingredients and perfect for snacking, game nights, or serving as a side to soups and dips.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

1 ½ cups warm water (110°F)
1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
For the baking soda bath:
- 9 cups water
- ⅔ cup baking soda
For the egg wash:
- 1 large egg yolk + 1 tablespoon water
Coarse salt for topping

Directions

1. Activate Yeast

In a mixing bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes, until foamy.

2. Make the Dough

Add salt and sugar to the yeast mixture.
Gradually mix in flour until a dough forms.
Knead the dough for 5–7 minutes, until smooth and elastic.

3. Let the Dough Rise

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

4. Shape the Pretzels

Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
Punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces.
Roll each piece into a long rope (about 18 inches).
Twist into a pretzel shape by crossing the ends, twisting once, and pressing down.

5. Baking Soda Bath

In a large pot, bring 9 cups of water to a boil.
Add ⅔ cup baking soda and stir.
Using a slotted spoon, dip each pretzel into the boiling water for 30 seconds.
Remove and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

6. Egg Wash & Salt

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water.
Brush the pretzels with the egg wash.
Sprinkle with coarse salt.

7. Bake

Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown.

8. Serve & Enjoy

Serve warm with cheese dip, mustard, or enjoy plain!

Servings and Timing

Servings: 8 pretzels
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Rising time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Variations

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels: Skip the salt and brush the pretzels with melted butter after baking. Roll in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
Cheesy Pretzels: Sprinkle shredded cheese on top before baking.
Garlic Butter Pretzels: Brush with melted garlic butter after baking for a savory twist.
Stuffed Pretzels: Fill with cream cheese or Nutella before shaping for a surprise filling.

Storage/Reheating

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Reheating: Warm in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes or microwave for 15 seconds.
Freezing: Freeze baked pretzels for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven before serving.

FAQs

Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?

Yes! You can substitute instant yeast and skip the activation step—just mix it directly with the dry ingredients.

Why do I need to boil the pretzels in baking soda water?

The baking soda bath gives pretzels their distinctive chewy texture and deep brown crust when baked.

Can I make pretzel bites instead?

Absolutely! Cut the dough into small pieces, boil, and bake as directed for bite-sized pretzel nuggets.

What can I dip my pretzels in?

Try cheese sauce, mustard, honey mustard, ranch, Nutella, or caramel sauce.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! Let the dough rise, then cover and refrigerate overnight. Shape, boil, and bake the next day.

How do I prevent my pretzels from being too dense?

Make sure your yeast is fresh, knead the dough properly, and allow it to rise fully before shaping.

Can I use whole wheat flour?

Yes, but the texture may be denser. Try using half whole wheat, half all-purpose flour for best results.

How do I get a deep brown color on my pretzels?

Make sure your baking soda bath is at a full boil before dipping the pretzels, and don’t skip the egg wash.

Can I add toppings other than salt?

Of course! Try sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or shredded cheese before baking.

Can I make gluten-free pretzels?

Yes! Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and check that your baking soda is gluten-free.

Conclusion

Homemade Soft Pretzels are the perfect balance of chewy, golden, and flavorful. Whether you make them classic, sweet, or savory, they’re a fun and delicious treat to bake at home. Serve them warm with your favorite dips and enjoy the fresh-baked goodness!

Homemade Soft Pretzels

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Author: Julia
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These Homemade Soft Pretzels are golden, chewy, and irresistibly delicious! Made with simple ingredients, boiled in a baking soda bath for authentic texture, and baked to perfection, these pretzels are great for snacking, game nights, or dipping in cheese sauce.

Instructions

Activate Yeast: In a mixing bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Make Dough: Add salt and sugar to the yeast mixture, then gradually mix in flour until a dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth.
Let Dough Rise: Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Shape Pretzels: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Punch down dough, divide into 8 equal pieces, roll each into an 18-inch rope, and shape into pretzels.
Boil in Baking Soda Bath: Boil 9 cups water, add ⅔ cup baking soda, and dip each pretzel for 30 seconds. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Egg Wash & Salt: Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt.
Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serve: Enjoy warm with cheese dip, mustard, or plain!

Notes

Cinnamon Sugar Version: Skip salt, brush with melted butter, and roll in cinnamon-sugar.
Cheesy Pretzels: Sprinkle shredded cheese before baking.
Garlic Butter Pretzels: Brush with melted garlic butter after baking.
Stuffed Pretzels: Fill with cream cheese or Nutella before shaping.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Snack
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American