Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe: Chewy, Golden & Easy

There's nothing quite like a freshly baked soft pretzel with a deep golden crust, a chewy center, and a sprinkle of coarse salt. These homemade pretzels bring classic bakery-style flavor into your kitchen using simple ingredients and an easy shaping technique.

This pretzel recipe combines yeast, flour, warm water, a touch of sugar, and melted butter to create a soft, pliable dough. After a short rest, the dough is shaped into traditional pretzels, briefly dipped in a baking soda bath, and baked until beautifully golden.

The baking soda bath is the secret to that distinctive pretzel flavor, rich brown exterior, and satisfying crust. Serve the pretzels warm with cheese dip or mustard, or brush them with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar for a sweet variation.

Whether you're preparing an afternoon snack, a party appetizer, or a homemade treat for the family, these soft pretzels are fun to make and delicious to share.

Timing varies with the dough's resting period and how quickly you shape the pretzels.

Why You'll Love This Pretzel Recipe

Chewy centers and golden crusts: The baking soda bath helps develop the classic pretzel exterior, while the inside stays soft and satisfying.

Simple pantry ingredients: You only need flour, yeast, sugar, water, butter, salt, and baking soda.

Fun to shape: Twisting the dough into traditional pretzel shapes is an enjoyable activity for home bakers.

Ready in about an hour: There's no need for a long overnight fermentation or complicated dough preparation.

Easy to customize: Add coarse salt, brush with butter, or experiment with cinnamon sugar, cheese, herbs, and other toppings.

Perfect for dipping: Serve these pretzels with mustard, cheese sauce, or your favorite sweet or savory dip.

Pretzel Recipe

Guiseppe

Servings

12

Prep Time

25 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Calories

200

Cuisine

German-American

Category

Bread, Snack

Bake golden, chewy, and buttery Homemade Soft Pretzels in just 40 minutes! This easy recipe gives you bakery-quality pretzels with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Dough

• 2¼ tsp (7g) instant or active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar or granulated sugar
• 1½ cups (360ml) warm water (about 100°F / 38°C)
• 1 Tbsp (14g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp salt
• 3¾–4 cups (469–500g) all-purpose flour

Baking Soda Bath

• ½ cup (120g) baking soda
• 9 cups (2.13L) water

Topping

• Coarse salt (for sprinkling)

Directions

1. Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, whisk yeast and sugar into warm water. Let sit for 1 minute to bloom.

2. Mix the Dough: Stir in melted butter and salt. Gradually add 3 cups of flour, mixing with a spoon or dough hook until combined. Add the remaining ¾ cup flour until dough pulls away from the bowl and feels tacky but not sticky.

3. Knead the Dough: Knead by hand or in a mixer for 3–5 minutes until soft and elastic. The dough should slowly bounce back when poked.

4. Rest the Dough: Shape the dough into a ball, cover, and let rest for 10–30 minutes.

5. Preheat the Oven: Heat oven to 400°F (204°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

6. Shape the Pretzels: Divide dough into 12 pieces (about 75g each). Roll each into a 20–22-inch rope, twist into a pretzel shape, and set aside.

7. Boil in Baking Soda Bath: Boil water and baking soda in a large pot. Dip each pretzel in the boiling water for 20–30 seconds, then transfer to the baking sheet.

8. Bake Until Golden: Sprinkle with coarse salt and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until deep golden brown.

9. Serve Warm: Enjoy plain or with cheese dip, mustard, or butter!