A homemade soft pretzel is a delightful treat. A crisp, buttery, and salty crust surrounds a tender, chewy interior in this family-favorite pretzel recipe.
My family is a little obsessed with soft pretzels. My husband and I have loved them for years, and our son Sam fell in love with them during a trip to Walt Disney World. That first bite inspired us to recreate them at home.
My husband became our designated pretzel maker. Over several weeks he refined the recipe, testing and adjusting until he was satisfied. I was happy to be the official taste-tester—though I rarely managed to photograph them before they disappeared!
Making soft pretzels at home may seem intimidating, but the process is straightforward. The steps are simple and repeatable: prepare the dough, let it rise, shape the pretzels, give them a brief baking-soda bath, and bake until golden.
How to Make Soft Pretzels Step-by-Step
The easiest way to knead pretzel dough is with a dough hook on a stand mixer. Once the flour is incorporated, knead at medium speed for 7–10 minutes until the dough is smooth and tacky but not sticky. A well-kneaded, smooth dough makes shaping much easier.
If you prefer to knead by hand, that works well too—just add about 10 minutes to the kneading time.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly by hand, about five turns. Place the dough in a buttered bowl and cover. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, usually about 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on temperature and humidity.
After the dough has doubled, divide it into 8–12 equal pieces, depending on how large you want your pretzels.
Roll each piece into a long rope and shape into pretzels. Place them on parchment-lined baking sheets that have been lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
Prepare a baking-soda bath by bringing water and baking soda to a low simmer in a 4-quart saucepan. Add pretzels one at a time; they may sink briefly and then rise. Use a slotted spoon to lift each pretzel out and return it to the parchment-lined sheet to dry for about 5 minutes.
Once the pretzels are dry, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle generously with sea salt. Bake in a preheated 400º F oven for 10–12 minutes, until golden brown.
Serve warm and enjoy.
Below is the full recipe we follow. It yields soft, golden pretzels with a slightly crisp exterior and a tender interior—perfect for dipping or enjoying on their own.
Soft Pretzel Recipe
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 1/4 cups (284 g) water
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons (4 g) yeast
- 1/2 cup (99 g) granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (4 g) Kosher salt
- 4 – 4 1/2 cups (480-540 g) all-purpose flour
Water Bath and Finishes:
- 1/2 cup (115 g) baking soda
- 4 cups (908 g) water
- 1/4 cup (57 g) butter, melted
- sea salt
Instructions
Dough:
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Heat 1 1/4 cups water to 110º–120º F. Stir in 1 teaspoon granulated sugar until dissolved. Sprinkle yeast over the surface and let sit about 5 minutes to foam.
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In the mixing bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar, Kosher salt, and 3 cups of the flour.
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Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and stir until incorporated. Add another cup of flour and mix until combined.
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Using the dough hook, add additional flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough forms a ball and no longer sticks to the bottom of the bowl.
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Knead at medium speed for 7–10 minutes. The dough should be tacky but not sticky.
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Lightly butter a medium glass bowl. Remove the dough, give it 5–7 hand turns, form into a ball, and roll it in the butter so it is coated. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1–1 1/2 hours.
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Spray parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets with nonstick spray. Divide the risen dough into 8–12 pieces, roll each into approximately 24-inch ropes, and shape into pretzels. Place on prepared sheets.
Water Bath and Finishes:
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Add 1/2 cup baking soda to 4 cups water in a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Add pretzels one at a time; they may sink briefly and then rise. Remove with a slotted spoon and return to the parchment-lined sheet to dry about 5 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 400º F.
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Brush pretzels with melted butter, sprinkle with sea salt, and bake 10–12 minutes until golden brown.
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Allow pretzels to rest until cool enough to handle. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.
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Enjoy!
Robyn xo