Homemade Soft Pretzels: An Easy Recipe

Soft pretzels are one of the best ways to make game day special, but many people avoid them because they seem difficult to make from scratch. Luckily, homemade soft pretzels are easier than you think, and this recipe makes them even easier than that. All you need are about 30 minutes, some basic kitchen tools, and a few simple ingredients to make your own soft pretzels in your own home for your next party or tailgate. They’re sure to be a hit!

Before we get into the recipe, I like to know how the ingredients influence the pretzels! First of all, it's interesting, secondly, how else are we supposed to know which ingredients can be replaced! Here is a list of ingredients and how they help perfect these easy homemade soft pretzels!

1. Water

The first ingredient is water. Soft pretzels are made out of dough, which is basically flour and water mixed together. When making a soft pretzel, you want to use enough water to create a dough that can stay together, but doesn't stick to your hands.

2. Yeast

Yeast is what makes bread rise. If you don't have any yeast, then you won't get any rising action. To make sure you have enough yeast, you need to check the expiration date on the package. If the yeast is expired, then you'll need to buy fresh yeast.

3. Salt

Salt helps to draw moisture out of the dough. Without salt, the dough would dry out and become hard. Salt also enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.

4. Sugar

Sugar gives the dough its sweetness. You only need a small amount of sugar, just enough to balance out the salt.

5. Baking Soda

Putting the pretzels in a boiling pot of water with lots of baking soda is VITAL to giving the pretzels their chewy texture and their iconic pretzel flavor!

6. Butter

Butter keeps the dough moist and prevents it from drying out. Butter also adds a rich flavor that is perfect for a soft pretzel!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Flour

• 1 tbsp Melted Butter

• 1 - 3/2 tbsp White Sugar

• 1 - 3/2 tsp Salt (I use Table Salt, but any salt should work!)

• 3/2 cups Water

• 2 1/4 tsp Yeast (1 package)

Baking Soda Bath:

• 9 cups Water

• 1/2 cup Baking Soda

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.

2. In a large pot, put in the 9 cups of water and baking soda and bring it to a boil.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the 3/2 cups of water (make sure the water

is 100ºF - 110ºF), and yeast. Let this rest for at least at least a minute.

4. In the bowl with yeast, mix together the butter, sugar, salt, and add the flour one cup at a time.

5. Knead the dough into a ball and let it rest for at least 10 minutes.

6. Divide the dough into 12 equally sized portions.

7. Roll out each portion into a line that is anywhere from 20 to 24 inches long.

8. Take any strand of dough and tie the ends over each other to make the pretzel shape. Repeat this process for the remaining 11 pretzels.

9. Add in 1 to 2 pretzels at a time into the boiling water with baking soda, and let it sit there for 20 - 24 seconds. If the pretzels stay in there for too short of a period, they wont come out with as strong of a pretzel flavor and texture, and if they stay in the water for too long, they may have a metallic taste from the baking soda.

10. Put the pretzels onto a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for 12 - 15 minutes.

11. Let the pretzels rest for at least 5 minutes and enjoy!

Q&A

Can I use oil instead of butter?

Yes! You can use any kind of fat in baking (Generally, you should keep the butter to oil ratio 1:1 when substituting). Butter, shortening, oil, coconut oil, etc. All these fats have different melting points and will affect the texture of your baked goods differently. If you want to make sure your pretzels stay soft and chewy, go with a solid fat like butter.

If you're looking for a healthier alternative to butter, coconut oil is a great option. Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, but unlike regular butter, it contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT), which are easily metabolized by the body. MCT's are great for weight loss, since they don't store in the liver like long-chain fatty acids do.

How long can these pretzels be stored?

According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), homemade baked products may be stored at room temperature for 2 - 3 weeks, can be stored for up to 2 months in the refrigerator, and up to 12 months if stored in the freezer!

I hope you enjoyed this soft pretzel recipe, because I know I have!

Happy Baking!