Years ago, Kevin had a craving for soft pretzels. He was so intent on having those billowy, soft morsels that he decided to make a special trip to the grocery store to find some. He came home empty-handed. Since the store was out of soft pretzels, so he proceeded to eat other things to satisfy his cravings, which everyone knows won’t work. And that’s how this Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe was created.
How the recipe came to be
I decided I would try to make Soft Pretzels instead so the next time Kevin acquired a craving, there would be no special trips required. And better yet, no disappointments if the store was out. This little, soft pretzels recipe is not only perfect to satisfy my husband’s cravings, but this also makes an abundance of the bite-sized pretzels too.
For years now, we have been making this Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe – whether in pretzel form or bite form – and enjoying them on lazy, weekend days. The Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe has become perfect for football season games and parties, the holidays, New Year’s or any other gathering where you’re serving a crowd. Or anytime we had a craving.
Ingredients for the Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe
Making soft pretzels may seem intimidating. However, it’s not as difficult as it seems. It requires just a few ingredients and most of them, you. probably have at home right now.
The main ingredients are flour, water, butter, salt and a bit of sugar. The one thing that you might not have at home is yeast. I don’t use yeast a lot in baking recipes but this one calls for one package of yeast. I use Flleischmann’s Active Dry Yeast. You can buy it in package form and you can buy it in jars. To make it simple for the Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe, I suggest buying it in the packets.
Baked fresh
Like most baked goods you want to make these and eat them the same day. They are best when warm and freshly baked. Even eating these a few hours later will not be the best if you leave them sitting out.
If you’re not going to eat them all fairly soon after making then let them cool completely and wrap them individually in plastic wrap. You can keep them at room temperature for about 24 hours and you can freeze them for several weeks. To reheat them, remove the plastic wrap and put them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes. If they’re frozen, it can take about 10 minutes.
Also, like most baked goods, this recipe is easiest if you have a free-standing mixer. If you follow me on Instagram at my account under my name @rachelquenzer (You can find the farmhouse IG account HERE.) then you know that I generally don’t break out my free-standing mixer and tend to use the hand mixer a lot. I do this because:
- The free-standing is heavy as can be.
- It’s a pain to get out because it’s so heavy.
- No. 1 and No.2 make me lazy.
However, that’s the way I make these. I use the red Kitchenaid Mixer {HERE} that I bought during prime days. I also love this blue steel color {HERE} if you’re more of a neutral person and of course, this white one {HERE}.
An important step
The baking soda and water bath is vital. Dipping them in the alkaline water before baking them kind of gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel and keeps it from exploding in size in the oven while baking.
This also helps to form that pretzel crust and gives them their unique pretzel flavor. This is essentially the step that makes them pretzels and not bread in the shape of pretzels.
Thank you so much for visiting, friends! I hope you enjoy this Homemade Soft Pretzel recipe and hope you will come back again. You can find the full, printable recipe below.
Homemade Soft Pretzel recipe
Equipment
- Stand mixer
Ingredients
Pretzel Ingredients
- 4.5 cups flour
- 1.5 cups warm water
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 2.5 tsp. Kosher salt
- 1 package dry active yeast
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Additional Ingredients
- Spray cooking oil (vegetable or olive oil)
- 10 cups of water
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 3 Tbsp. water
- Additional Kosher salt or pretzel salt for topping pretzel salt.
Instructions
- To make the pretzel dough, combine 1 ½ cups water, sugar and salt in the mixing bowl and then sprinkle the yeast on top
- Allow this to stand for five minutes to allow the yeast to consume the sugar and begin to foam.
- Add butter and flour and let the mixer mix on low speed until everything is well combined.
- Once combined, increase the speed to medium for 5 minutes. The dough will begin to ball and no longer stick to the sides of the bowl.
- Remove dough, wipe the bowl and then use your 1 Tbsp. of vegetable oil to wipe down the inside of the bowl.
- Put the dough back in the bowl and tightly cover it with plastic wrap. Sit it on a window sill or in another warm spot for at least 1 hour.
- Once the hour is up preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Line the baking sheets with the parchment paper and spray them with the cooking oil or wipe down with your choice of oil. You want to make sure that they are well oiled, so your pretzels don’t stick.
- Boil 10 cups of water and baking soda. While that begins to boil, remove the dough from the mixing bowl and begin to roll it out with your hands.
- Once it’s rolled, break off about 2-inch pieces and roll them into a ball if you want to make pretzel bites. Add these to your parchment paper.
- If you want to make a more normal pretzel shape then cut about a 4 inch strip of dough and continue to roll between your hands until it's large enough to make the pretzels.
- After you have all the soft pretzels laid out, mix together egg yolk and 3 Tbsp. of water. Set near your boiling water.
- Use a slotted spoon to lower the dough into the boiling water and baking soda. Let them boil in there for 30 seconds. They will start to float when you should take them out. Do these in batch if you need to. I did mine in two or three batches at a time.
- Add them back to parchment paper and brush with the egg wash. Then sprinkle with additional salt.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Keep in mind oven times will vary so you just want to make sure they are brown on the top before pulling them out, but don’t over bake.
- Let cool for 5 minutes and then serve.
What about the recipe for the cheese dip for the pretzels?
Ooo yes please, we just love soft pretzels. I will be trying this for sure. They look incredible!
Those pretzels look amazing and finally learning all the secrets to a pretzel i could make at home is such a great idea. This could be my next baking project.
I haven’t made homemade pretzels in so long, looking forward to trying this.
These look so yummy. My boys will love these for a snack so I need to make them.
Sounds so yummy! Can’t wait to try making them!
I would like to make these soft pretzels. Never baked them before, so it’ll be my first baking voage into pretzels.
I love soft pretzels. I need to make these soon. My girls would definitely help me too. I’ll be saving this to try them soon. Yum!
Ok I am definitely giving this recipe a try! We love pretzels over here!
this look really good!
Those pretzels looks so amazing!
It seems so moist. I love pretzels, thanks for sharing.
I bet it’s a really moist and delicious version of pretzel. Thanks for sharing.
Looks awesome. I bet it will taste great with any dip. I would love the cheese dip but my kid will definitely love chocolate.
Oooh I am so trying this!
we are huge pretzel fans! Hot pretzels are a fun treat. thanks for the easy recipe can’t wait to try them
I’ve always wanted to make pretzels but I’ve been intimated by the recipes I’ve checked out. You make it look so simple! Can’t wait to try them.
I have never made big soft pretzels before. I have only ever made the soft pretzel bites and they were amazing. I will be trying this. Serving them with hot cream cheese is the best!!
These look yummy though I have to admit, I’ve never thought of making pretzels. Thanks for the recipe which looks simple to follow. I’m looking forward to trying these soon.
Yummmm. I too get cravings for soft delicious pretzels (with a side of cheese). This recipe is sooo good!
These look gorgeous and aren’t too difficult to make at all. I’ll have to get my husband to agree to make these as a valentines day activity.
This is so delicious and even my kids love it.
I am going to save this recipe, thanks!
I have not tried preparing pretzel here at home. I’d like to give it a try. Thanks for the recipe!
These look fantastic. We’ve never tried to make pretzels before. I do want to give these a go myself.
This is my kind of snack! I would like to make them at home! Sounds a lot of fun!
I’ve tried these soft pretzel and they are our new favorite recipe.
I love soft pretzels… and these look delicious. You sure did a great job making them.
Yummy in the tummy. this looks fabulous.
These Homemade Soft Pretzels are scrumptious! My son really loved it and he keeps asking for more.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have always wanted to make pretzels but didn’t know-how. Now seeing your post, I think I can do this.
these look so amazing.. definitely trying this out..
These look so good. I’ll have to make them.
It has been ages since I made pretzels! I can smell the nostalgia!
Umm I cannot wait to try making these! They look DELISH!
My son asked me if I could buy him some at the store, and I rather make this delicious recipe
These look so delicious. My hubby loves pretzels especially soft ones, im gonna try this recipe soon.
My kids love this kind of pretzel from the store. It would be great to be able to make them at home too! We will have to give these a try.
I love big soft pretzels like this but don’t have a lot of experience working with yeast, so I’ve never made them. Looking at your photos is making me hungry, though, and I just got some yeast to start playing around with, so I think this is going on this list!
My family and I really enjoy soft pretzels. Our Philly roots must be showing. I like this recipe so th at we can make them at home.
Homemade foods are the best! Those pretzels look so so pretty and yummy 😍 Thanks for sharing the recipe and tips 🙂
Looks so yummy! Will be trying this for sure – and I want to try your carrot fries recipe!!
I’m going to try these and do a cinnamon sugar coating on the outside.
Just made these a few days ago. They were perfect. How do you store them?
Amazing! The Food recipe looks super easy. I would try it this weekend.
I just love soft pretzels. I have never tried to make them on my own but I really should. Yum!
It’s a wonderful recipe to try and make it unique with your own herbs and flavors. I’ll experiment!
Oh, these look so fluffy. I can’t wait to make them this weekend with the kids!
These look so good. I love soft pretzels. I’ll have to make some of these. My kids will love them.
This pretzel recipe looks delicious! And it’s perfect for Superbowl Sunday coming up.
I lovelovelove pretzels and these look amazing!
I can just smell them now! Served with hot butter and some flaky salt.
The bite sized pretzels you showed reminded me of ones my husband and I have eaten when we have went out to dinner years ago. I will have to try my hand at these so we can have them at home. Thank you for a great recipe!
Oh my! This is such a really amazing recipe! It look so good! I know my family would love this so much!
That looks absolutely delicious and tasty! I would really love to try this recipe!
We have bought this kind of pretzel before, but have never tried to make them ourselves. I’ll have to try out your recipe with the kids.
Easy-to-make soft pretzels have never been easier than this to make at home! Great menu idea for the big game.
OH my goodness. This would be so good.
We love soft pretzels, but they are not easy to come by in our area. I’ll have to make these soon!
Soft Pretzels are my favorite!
I love soft pretzels and just so happen that I have all the ingredients. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I am going to make these! So good!
Crossing my fingers I can perfect this recipe and turn it as beautiful as yours. Will take note of all your tips.
I tried to make my own pretzels before and they didn’t turn out so great. I will try this one, hoping for a soft pretzel this time! 🙂
My kids love soft pretzels, I can’t wait to try this recipe at home!
I always enjoy a good pretzel. Those pretzels look delish!
I love eating pretzels with cinnamon dip or cream cheese.
This was my first attempt at pretzels and I’m so glad I chose your recipe! They were super easy and tasted so good! Now to find a good cheese dip or two for tailgating or parties. Thank you!