Who doesn’t love a delicious, homemade soft pretzel? Not only are they great for snacks, but now you can make them from scratch, easily from the comfort of your home! Whip up a batch with this simple recipe and add fun toppings like an everything bagel seasoning to give your pretzels some extra flavor. Whether you’re making after-school treats for the kids or crunchy snacks for game night, this is sure to be a hit.
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Everything Soft Pretzels from Scratch
Making soft pretzels from scratch is a fun and rewarding experience. Not only do you get to enjoy the process of making something from start to finish, but you also get to enjoy the delicious results.
This easy everything soft pretzel recipe is not only deliciously homemade, it’s also a fun, tasty snack. And since we’re using instant yeast, the rise time is cut in half.
Why We Love This Recipe
Simple Ingredients: Making pretzels from scratch is a great way to enjoy a delicious treat without breaking the bank. With just flour, salt, yeast, and water you can make your own soft pretzels. Not only will you be able to save money on store-bought pretzels, but making them yourself allows for endless customization.
Customizable: The dough recipe is very basic and versatile allowing for the addition of other flavors to suit your tastes. For example adding garlic, cheese, oregano or any other spices will give your homemade pretzel an extra kick of flavor. Try our Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels!
Fun to Shape: Pretzels are also incredibly easy to shape into different designs such as a traditional pretzel shape or into soft pretzel bites. Whether you want your pretzel twisted into a knot or shaped into a heart for somebody special, each one can be as unique as you’d like it to be.
What is Everything Bagel Seasoning?
Everything bagel seasoning is a blend of ingredients commonly found on an everything bagel, such as salt, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion and garlic. It has quickly become an incredibly popular flavor for all sorts of dishes from pizza to pasta to popcorn and more!
Not only does it have a pleasant flavor combo, it’s also great for adding texture and crunch. Sprinkle it over fresh avocado toast or roasted vegetables, stir it into hummus or cream cheese, use it to top a homemade pizza crust or add some zing to your favorite salad. Or follow our lead and sprinkle it over your homemade soft pretzels! We use Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel blend but there are many other options out there.
Active Dry Yeast vs. Instant Dry Yeast.
When it comes to baking, active dry yeast and instant dry yeast are both popular choices for leavening. For a foolproof soft pretzel, we use instant dry yeast in this recipe. But what’s the difference between the two?
Active dry yeast is the most common type of yeast used in home baking and is known for its slow but steady action. It consists of granules that need to be “activated” in warm liquid (water, milk, etc) before use. After dissolving, this type of yeast needs to stand until it foams which indicates that the active ingredients are ready for use. This step is important because you need to make sure the yeast is still alive. Active dry yeast can be unstable so it’s possible for it to no longer be active even before the expiration date has arrived.
Instant dry yeast on the other hand is a much faster-working variant of active dry yeast and does not require the activation process. It consists of finer granules that are smaller than those found in active dry yeast so they disperse more easily into doughs and batters with less effort. This makes it easy to combine instant dry yeast into dough mix without any extra preparation.
Ingredients Needed to Make Everything Soft Pretzels
For exact measurements and weights, please see the recipe card. Note: For best results weigh your ingredients on a kitchen scale.
For the Pretzel Dough
- bread flour or all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar – You can also use brown sugar
- instant dry yeast
- kosher salt
- melted unsalted butter – For a vegan pretzel, use a plant-based butter.
- warm water
For Baking Soda Bath
- water
- baking soda
For Finishing
- one egg – To make this vegan, use aquafaba as your egg wash. Aquafaba is the liquid from canned chickpeas.
- water
- everything bagel seasoning
How to Make Everything Soft Pretzels
Weigh all of your dry ingredients using a kitchen scale.
Make the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add flour, sugar, yeast and salt. With the dough hook attachment on medium low, combine dry mixture for one minute.
Add melted butter and water. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together, about 3-4 minutes. On medium speed, continue to mix until the dough is smooth, about 5 more minutes. If dough is very sticky, add a little more flour.
Proof the dough: Grease a large bowl with avocado oil or olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour. We rise in our oven with the oven light turned on.
Prep the pretzels: Once risen, turn dough out on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. If possible, use a kitchen scale to be sure all pieces are the same in weight. Ours came out to 83g each.
Line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment paper. You will more than likely need two baking trays.
Shape the pretzels: Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll the dough into a long rope, 22-24 in long. To shape the pretzel, hold the two ends of the rope in your hands, making a “U” shape. Twist the strands around each other once and then twist again. Fold over the ends down to the rounded part of the dough. Press the ends to seal.
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Make the baking soda bath: Bring water to a boil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add baking soda to boiling water. Be careful as the baking soda will initially cause a bubbling reaction. Reduce heat to low. Working in batches, add the pretzel dough to the baking soda water and for about 30 seconds on each side. You’ll want to flip halfway through using a slotted spoon or spatula.
Add pretzel dough back to the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1/2″ around each piece.
Top the pretzels: In a small bowl, whisk egg with water until combined. Brush egg wash onto to each pretzel. Generously sprinkle each piece with everything bagel seasoning. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pretzels are golden brown. Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes. Serving with your chosen dipping sauce and enjoy!
Get Creative With Topping Your Soft Pretzels
The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to topping your pretzel creations. Some classic options include sprinkling them with a little coarse sea salt, adding melted butter, drizzling on some honey or dipping in cinnamon sugar. All of these toppings can really make your pretzels shine and give them that perfect crunchy texture you crave.
Whichever topping combinations you choose, there’s no denying that freshly baked pretzels are always a crowd pleaser! So don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun experimenting with different flavor combinations. Who knows–you might just discover a new favorite snack in the process!
What dipping sauces should I serve with soft pretzels?
When it comes to finding perfect dipping sauces for soft pretzels, you are really only limited by your imagination. You can go traditional with melted butter, a cheese sauce or classic mustard, or try something unconventional like hot sauce or balsamic vinegar glaze.
Cheese Sauce
Cheese sauce is one of the most popular accompaniments for soft pretzels; it’s creamy and rich flavor pairs perfectly with the savory nature of a freshly-baked pretzel. If you want to get creative, try adding in your favorite herbs or spices to amp up the flavor even further.
Mustard
Mustard is another classic option that pairs perfectly with soft pretzels. From spicy brown mustard to dijon varieties and everything in between, choosing a mustard dipping sauce will bring out the intricate flavors of your fresh-baked pretzel. For something slightly sweet and tangy, try honey mustard. It adds just enough sweetness without overpowering the overall taste.
Honey Butter
Honey butter makes an excellent choice for those looking for something more on the sweeter side. This simple yet delicious dip combines melted butter with honey that can be whisked together until smooth and creamy; its light sweetness creates a nice contrast against the saltiness of the pretzel itself.
Garlic Butter
Another great option is garlic butter; this crowd-pleaser combines melted butter with minced garlic and other herbs like parsley and oregano before being served alongside hot, fresh-baked pretzels. The result is an indulgent treat that’s sure to please any palate!
Other Suggestions
The possibilities don’t stop here – you could also consider trying ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, onion dip or even hummus! The best part about serving different types of dipping sauces alongside soft pretzels is that there’s no wrong answer – simply choose whatever suits your taste buds best!
Everything Soft Pretzels from scratch are a delicious and rewarding creation. Not only do they taste amazing, but they create a feeling of accomplishment. If you’re looking for an easy way to make homemade pretzels, follow our step-by-step instructions. Get creative and add a variety of toppings to customize your soft pretzels. And don’t forget the dipping sauce! Let us know in the comments your favorite soft baked pretzel toppings and dipping sauces.
More Easy Snack Recipes
Everything Soft Pretzels From Scratch
Posted by DeeIngredients
For Pretzel Dough
- 5 cups bread flour or all purpose flour, 600g
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 25g
- 1 packet instant dry yeast
- 1 tsp kosher salt, 12g
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1½ cups warm water, 110 degrees
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
For Baking Soda Bath
- 12 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
For Finishing
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp cold water
- everything bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Weigh all of your dry ingredients using a kitchen scale.
- Make the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add flour, sugar, yeast and salt. With the dough hook attachment on medium low, combine dry mixture for one minute.
- Add melted butter and water. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together, about 3-4 minutes. On medium speed, continue to mix until the dough is smooth, about 5 more minutes. If dough is very sticky, add a little more flour.
- Proof the dough: Grease a large bowl with avocado oil or olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour. We rise in our oven with the oven light turned on.
- Prep the pretzels: Once risen, turn dough out on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. If possible, use a kitchen scale to be sure all pieces are the same in weight. Ours came out to 83g each.
- Line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment paper. You will more than likely need two baking trays.
- Shape the pretzels: Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll the dough into a long rope, 22-24 in long. To shape the pretzel, hold the two ends of the rope in your hands, making a “U” shape. Twist the strands around each other once and then twist again. Fold over the ends down to the rounded part of the dough. Press the ends to seal.
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Make the baking soda bath: Bring water to a boil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add baking soda to boiling water. Be careful as the baking soda will initially cause a bubbling reaction. Reduce heat to low. Working in batches, add the pretzel dough to the baking soda water and for about 30 seconds on each side. You’ll want to flip halfway through using a slotted spoon or spatula.
- Add pretzel dough back to the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1/2″ around each piece.
- Top the pretzels: In a small bowl, whisk egg with water until combined. Brush egg wash onto to each pretzel. Generously sprinkle each piece with everything bagel seasoning. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pretzels are golden brown. Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes. Serving with your chosen dipping sauce and enjoy!
5 Responses
I love, love, love everything bagel seasoning!! YUM
I love everything bagel seasoning. I always have a jar in the freezer. I find it keeps fresher that way. I made a half batch and it came out perfect for two people to with a bowl of clam chowder. Thanks!
Love soft pretzels and love everything seasoning! Great recipe!
Made these with garlic butter as suggested. So fabulous!
Yum! Those pretzels turned out perfectly! Thanks for this delicious and easy to make recipe!