Super Soft Pretzels with a salty crust that are easy to make and better than the ones you’ll buy at the mall or a ballpark.

A wooden try filled with soft pretzels and a small white dish of cheese sauce.

Constantly Craving a Soft Pretzel

Homemade pretzels have been on my baking bucket list for years. I love a great soft pretzel with a side of mustard or cheese sauce for dipping. It’s one of those snacks that I constantly crave and have always just relied on the mall or ballpark to get one. Why oh why have I waited this long?!

A hand holding a pretzel that has just been dipped in cheese sauce. A plate full of soft pretzels with a small dish of cheese sauce is in the background.

It’s Pretzels with Cheese Dip for Me!

I could eat a big soft pretzel just by itself, but I’m a dipper so I usually get a side of mustard or cheese sauce to dip it in. M’m! M’m!

It’s a lot easier than you’d think to make homemade pretzels. And it’s pretty fun too! Don’t dare fear the yeast. Yeast is a wonderful thing and once you’ve got it down, you’re baking will only get better.

A pile of homemade pretzel son a white serving plate. A bite is taken out of the top pretzel.

Quick Tip: Give it Time

Although this pretzel recipe is very easy, the dough takes about an hour to rise, so make sure you factor that into your planning.

Love at First Bite

Big, warm, soft, salty homemade pretzels that are love at first sight and most certainly bite! Your house will smell of the most intoxicating pretzel aroma and you’ll pull the most beautiful golden soft pretzels out of your oven. Once you’ve baked them once and tasted how amazing they are, you’ll want to bake them again and again and again.

A close up of five homemade pretzels on a sheet of parchment paper.

What Do I Need to Make Soft Pretzels?

(see recipe card for measurements and details)

  • Active dry yeast
  • Granulated sugar
  • Warm water
  • Unsalted butter
  • Bread flour or all-purpose flour
  • Kosher salt
  • Baking soda
  • Egg
  • Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
  • Baking sheets
  • Wire cooling rack
  • Parchment paper
All the ingredients needed to make pretzels in small glass dishes on a white counter.

Did You Know?

The key to a great soft pretzel is dipping it in a hot baking soda solution. That’s what helps create that slightly crisp golden crust that makes biting into a pretzel so enjoyable!

How to Make Soft Pretzels

  • In a large bowl, add the yeast and sugar. Gently pour the warm water over it and let proof until foamy, about 5 minutes.
  • Whisk in the melted butter and then stir in the flour and salt until well combined. Using well-floured hands, form dough into a moist ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  • Bring 7 cups water and 1/3 cup baking soda to a slight boil in a large pot. Reduce heat to medium low.
  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Cover one baking sheet with parchment paper. Set a wire rack over another baking sheet.
Steps to make Soft Pretzels.
  • Once the dough has doubled in size, divide into 12 equal portions, about 1/4 cup each. Place portions of dough back into the greased bowl and cover with the damp cloth while you work with one portion at a time.
  • Roll and stretch a portion of dough into a 22-inch rope with your hands, working from the center to the ends.
  • Twist the rope into a pretzel shape.
  • Gently dip the pretzel into the hot baking soda solution, for about 30 seconds.
Steps to Make Soft Pretzels.
  • Transfer to the wire rack. Repeat process with 5 more portions of dough, as you’ll just want to bake 6 pretzels at a time.
Six uncooked soft pretzels on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
  • Transfer the dipped pretzels to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Whisk together the egg and 1 teaspoon water. Brush the egg wash all over the tops and sides of each pretzel and immediately sprinkle generously with coarse salt.
Six uncooked soft pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and bake the pretzels until golden, 12-14 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through the baking time.
  • While the first batch of pretzels are baking, prepare the other 6 pretzels so they’re ready to go in the oven when the first batch comes out.
Six homemade pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bonus: How to Make Cheese Sauce

What you need:

  • Unsalted butter
  • All-purpose flour
  • Milk
  • American cheese slices

How to make the sauce:

  • First, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  • Then whisk in the flour and then slowly whisk in the milk. Continue whisking until it comes to a slight simmer. Reduce the heat to low.
  • Add in the cheese and stir frequently until melted.
  • Serve immediately or keep warm over low heat so it stays melty until you’re ready to serve it. Whisk in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the cheese sauce starts to thicken.
A hand dipping a soft pretzel into cheese sauce.

More Winning Recipes for Football Season

You’ll score big with my Winning Recipes for Football Season! I’ve rounded up our favorite game day recipes that are sure to win everyone over at your football watch party!

Touchdown brownies, mini potato skins, baked chicken wings and football whoopee pies.

How to Store Soft Pretzels

To store soft pretzels, let them cool completely and then store in a sealed container or baggie at room temperature for up to 3 days.

To freeze soft pretzels, let the pretzels cool completely and then wrap each pretzel in plastic wrap before placing in a freezer-safe baggie or container in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, let the frozen pretzels defrost, loosely covered to release the moisture, at room temperature for a few hours.

To reheat soft pretzels, place them on a parchment-lined sheet pan on the middle rack in a 350°F oven or toaster oven for about 5 minutes until glistening and warm. Or heat in the microwave for about 15-30 seconds until warm.

Six soft pretzels on a parchment covered aluminum rimmed baking sheet.

If you make these Soft Pretzels, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see.  I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,

Maegan's signature
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
A wooden tray filled with soft pretzels and a small white dish of cheese sauce.

Soft Pretzels

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Maegan – The BakerMama
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Rising Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 14 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 34 mins
  • Yield: 12
  • Category: snacks

Description

Super soft pretzels with a salty crust that are easy to make and better than the ones you’ll buy at the mall or a ballpark.


Ingredients

Dough:

  • 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 and 1/4 teaspoons)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 cup warm water (110°F)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted & slightly cooled
  • 2 and 1/2 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Other Ingredients:

  • 7 cups water
  • 1/3 cup baking soda
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add the yeast and sugar. Gently pour the warm water over it and let proof until foamy, about 5 minutes.
  2. Whisk in the melted butter and then stir in the flour and salt until well combined. Using well-floured hands, form dough into a moist ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  3. Bring 7 cups water and 1/3 cup baking soda to a slight boil in a large pot. Reduce heat to medium low.
  4. Preheat oven to 425°F. Cover one baking sheet with parchment paper. Set a wire rack over another baking sheet.
  5. Once dough has doubled in size, divide into 12 equal portions, about 1/4 cup each. Place portions of dough back into the greased bowl and cover with the damp cloth while you work with one portion at a time.
  6. Roll and stretch a portion of dough into a 22-inch rope with your hands, working from the center to the ends. Twist the rope into a pretzel shape.
  7. Gently dip the pretzel into the hot baking soda solution, for about 30 seconds, and then transfer to the wire rack. Repeat process with 5 more portions of dough, as you’ll just want to bake 6 at a time.
  8. Transfer pretzels to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Whisk together the egg and 1 teaspoon water. Brush the egg wash all over the tops and sides of each pretzel and immediately sprinkle generously with coarse salt.
  9. Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and bake the pretzels until golden, 12-14 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through baking time.
  10. While the first batch of pretzels are baking, prepare the other 6 pretzels so they’re ready to go in the oven when the first batch comes out.
  11. Serve with mustard or cheese sauce. Enjoy!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce by The BakerMama

Cheese Sauce

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: The BakerMama
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups

Description

Pretzels + Cheese Sauce — there’s nothing like it! This cheese sauce is the perfect companion for soft pretzels and pretzel bites!


Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup milk, plus more if needed
  • 8 ounces deluxe American cheese slices, cut into smaller pieces

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and then slowly whisk in the milk. Continue whisking until it comes to a slight simmer. Reduce the heat to low. Add in the cheese and stir frequently until melted.
  2. Serve immediately or keep warm over low heat so it stays melty until you’re ready to serve it. Whisk in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the cheese sauce starts to thicken.

About The BakerMama

Maegan is the author of her best-selling Beautiful Boards, Spectacular Spreads and Brilliant Bites cookbooks. She started blogging in 2012 and features hundreds of original recipes on The BakerMama. She truly enjoys sharing her easy, family-friendly recipes, creative meal ideas, food board creations, and entertaining spreads to encourage others to get in the kitchen and make something memorable for their loved ones to enjoy together. Learn More

Follow us on social media:

Related

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. This was such an easy recipe to follow and the pretzels are so delicious! All the kids loved them. We will definitely make again.






  2. I never leave reviews, so this should tell you how freaking good these pretzels are. Recipe is easy to follow and I’m not kidding when I tell you they are delicious. These will be a regular for family movie nights. Thanks for the recipe.

  3. Hi, I was wondering how big these pretzels are once cooked, in the picture they look small so I’m just a bit confused on sizing.

      1. Hi Bobbi! I haven’t tested this recipe with a gluten free flour so I couldn’t say for sure if any adjustments would need to be made to get the same great results. I think they’re certainly worth a try with an all-purpose gluten free flour which usually works great as a substitute in a lot of recipes. If you give them a try, let us know how they turn out. Best wishes!

  4. Because of these days’ yeast shortage, I’m left with rapid rise instant yeast, can I use that instead?🙈

    1. Hi Nathalie! No need to worry! Active dry yeast and instant yeast can generally be used interchangeably, one-for-one (although active dry yeast tends to be slower to rise). Since the recipe calls for active dry and you want to use instant, reduce the rise time by about 10 to 15 minutes. Other than that the recipe can stay exactly the same and there is no need to make any changes. The differences in texture will be very minor and you shouldn’t run into any issues. Enjoy!

See More Comments