If we ever happen to walk by a place that sells fresh soft pretzels, our kids beg us to stop by. They are little soft pretzels fiends, and can you blame them? There is something so delicious and satisfying about a freshly baked pretzel.
They are much easier than you would expect to make at home. The key lies in the baking soda bath. Once the dough is formed, you briefly boil the pretzels in baking soda water prior to cooking in the oven. This helps give the pretzels their characteristic chewy outside with a soft interior.
Soft and Chewy Pretzels
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Serves: 12 pretzels
Ingredients
- 1½ cups warm (not hot) water
- 2¼ teaspoons dry active yeast
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 3¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup baking soda
- 10 cups water
- Coarse or flaky sea salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, stir together yeast, water, and brown sugar. Allow to sit for about 1 minute, until yeast starts to bubble slightly. Add in salt and butter and mix to combine. Add flour, about 1 cup at a time, mixing with a dough hook until all the flour is incorporated. Dough should form a ball and be tacky but not sticky. Add additional flour, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, if needed until dough is right consistency.
- Mix on low-medium speed for about 3-5 minutes, until dough is feels soft but elastic. Let dough rest, covered with a tea towel, in a draft-free spot for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray to prevent any sticking.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring baking soda and water to a boil.
- While soda water comes to a boil, form pretzel shapes. Divided dough into 12 even pieces, and roll into ropes that are about 20 inches long. Twist into a pretzel shape by bringing the ends together in a circle, twisting then ends, then bringing the twist down through the middle of the circle.
- When baking soda water is boiling, drop formed dough into the water, a few at a time, and boil, flipping once, for about 10 seconds per side. Remove with a strainer or slotted spoon and place on prepared pan.
- Bake pretzels in preheated oven for about 11-14 minutes, until deeply golden browned on top. Remove from oven and cool before serving.
Notes
Adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction
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