These homemade soft pretzels are buttery and fluffy with a chewy and salty exterior! A favorite with kids and adults, they are easy to make from scratch with no rising time.
My mini pretzel bites recipe is so popular I thought I’d make a recipe for the regular-sized version, too! We also love these cinnamon sugar pretzels.
Table of Contents
Buttery Homemade Soft Pretzels
In my opinion, there is nothing quite like a hot, buttery and salted pretzel. It’s pure comfort food, especially paired with a creamy cheese sauce. And instead of giving into mall pretzels while you’re out, try making fresh homemade soft pretzels at home!
If you’re new to working with yeast, these homemade pretzels are great for beginners because unlike my bagel recipe there is no rise time. Just shape, boil, bake them and they are ready in under an hour.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Best texture and flavor: These homemade soft pretzels are soft, fluffy and chewy all at the same time.
- Crowd-pleasing: We love making these for game day or a Sunday evening snack. Freeze any leftovers to pull out the next time you need a quick and easy snack!
Ingredients
All in you need is 5 simple ingredients to make these delicious homemade soft pretzels. I bet you already have everything in your pantry.
- Warm water: Your water temp needs to be around 105°-115°F to activate the yeast.
- Active dry yeast: This is either one packet or 2 1/4 teaspoons. This is what will help the dough rise.
- Salt: Fine salt is used in the pretzel dough then if you would like coarse salt sprinkled on tops of the pretzels before baking.
- Granulated sugar: Just a small amount helps feed the yeast.
- All-purpose flour: Adds structure and strength to the dough.
- Baking soda: This is for the baking soda bath which gives homemade soft pretzels their classic taste.
Flavoring Variations
Instead of using coarse salt to sprinkle on the pretzels try some of these fun and delicious variations!
- Cinnamon sugar: An Auntie Anne’s mall favorite! After baking, brush with melted butter than sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Cheese: While pretzels are still wet from the baking soda bath sprinkle with cheese. Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese or Asiago would all be great.
- Everything but the bagel seasoning: After brushing with melted butter add some seasoning!
- Garlic herb: Brush with garlic herb butter and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels
First mix and knead the dough. In a small bowl, add warm water and yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes or until it foams up. Add salt and sugar and stir. In a large bowl, add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with dough hook in your stand mixer or by hand for about 3-5 minutes.
Next, separate dough into 12 sections. Using your hands roll the dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Then form the rope into a circle and twist the top ends together.
Next bring the twisted ends down the center of the circle and pinch together with the bottom to form the pretzel shape.
You may wonder if you really need to do the boil with baking soda, but it is an important step. This is what will help give the dough that classic pretzel texture, flavor and color. All you’re going to do is boil about 8 cups of water in a large pot. Then once it has started boiling, add in the baking soda.
Place the pretzel dough into the water for about 20 seconds, then remove it with a slotted spoon and place on a lined baking sheet. Sprinkle salt on top.
Once you’ve given all of the pretzels the baking soda boil, it’s time to bake them. Let them bake until they’re golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Sometimes I’ll broil them during the last minute of cooking to help brown the tops even more.
Serving Suggestions
It’s no secret that soft pretzels taste amazing with cheese sauce. Our favorite pretzel cheese sauce is below, but I also listed a few other options that would taste delicious as well.
Storage
- Store: These are best fresh but can be stored at room temperature for a day.
- To freeze: Once pretzels have cooled completely, transfer to a freezer bag or container and store in freezer for up to 2 months.
- Reheat in oven: Preheat oven to 300°F and bake until warm throughout, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Reheat in microwave: Let thaw, then cook in microwave for about 30 seconds.
Ready to make more bread recipes? These easy breadsticks, sourdough bread recipe or easy Dutch oven bread.
More Homemade Bread Recipes
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Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 packet active yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 1/2-4 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup baking soda (for boiling water)
Optional: Melted Butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, add warm water and yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes or until it foams up. Add salt and sugar and stir.
- In a large bowl, add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with bread hook in your mixer or by hand for about 3-5 minutes.
- Separate dough into 12 sections. Roll dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Then form rope into a circle and twist the top ends together. Then bring the twisted ends down the center of the circle and pinch together with the bottom to form the pretzels.
- In a large pan, bring about 8 cups water + 1/3 cup baking soda to a boil. Once water is boiling, place a piece of dough into the water for about 20 seconds. Remove immediately with slotted spoon and place onto baking sheet. Sprinkle salt on top. Repeat until all pretzels have been boiled.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. You can turn the oven to broil for the last minute to brown the tops if desired. Remove pretzels to a cooling rack and brush tops with melted butter if desired.
- Enjoy homemade pretzels with your favorite cheese sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Bread, Freezer-Friendly, Mini appetizers, Yeast Bread
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Thank you for another great recipe. My husband and I have been making your bread for a long time and wouldn’t think of buying bread anymore . can’t wait to make your pretzels.
Hi Joyce! Thanks for stopping by the recipe! I hope you enjoy the pretzels as much as I do :)
Seriously delicious, came out perfectly. Whole family was raving! Adding this recipe to our family cookbook.
It makes me so happy that your family enjoyed the pretzels Lauren! Thanks for the review :)
Made these on a whim, and they’re perfection. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them :)
I love “MALL PRETZELS” this looks similar. I’m excited to make them.
Hope you enjoy :D
My 10 yr old son made these and two younger siblings helped to roll them out! All five kids and my husband gobbled them up as soon as they were gone, they wanted to make more!
I love that your kids are spending time in the kitchen together! So glad everyone enjoyed the pretzels :)
I did not make yet, but will tomorrow.
I hope you enjoy! :)
Made this with my kiddos as a special Monday treat for the last week of school. They said they were way better than the ones in “the mall!” Thanks for making our quarantine days a little brighter and a lot yummier.
I’m so glad they were a hit! Thanks for your comment and review Kestin! :)
These were amazing!! Made them with my kids….so easy to make and everyone loved them!! Thanks for the great recipes!
I’m so glad everyone loved them! Thanks for leaving a comment Lauren! :)
oh my god!! yummmm
Stay safe!
Beijinhos Jessy
We love soft pretzels! This is a great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I’m a sucker for soft pretzels! I loved this homemade recipe and I’m so excited to make these all the time!