Homemade Soft Pretzels
Don’t tie yourself in knots thinking about what to take to your next picnic, this homemade soft pretzels recipe is a warm, golden classic that delivers an iconic chewy bite and salty finish.
Ingredients
Method
2) Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas 8. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.
3) Bring the 2.5L of water and the bicarbonate of soda to a rolling boil in a large saucepan or roasting pan.
4) In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 60-cm rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.
5) Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.
These homemade pretzels are ‘knot’ your average snack!
This homemade soft pretzels recipe is all about that perfect balance of chewy, fluffy, and lightly salted snacking. Whether you’re tearing apart fresh from the oven or dunking into your favourite dip, these tasty twisted treats are always a hit.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make soft pretzels at home, this recipe keeps things nice and easy. Start by making a simple dough which gives the pretzel’s signature soft interior. After shaping into classic knots, a quick dip in a bicarb bath gives them their distinctive deep colour and chewy crust, before a brush of egg yolk and a sprinkle of pretzel salt (or rock salt) finishes them off beautifully. A quick bake and you’re golden!
Keep it traditional with a swipe of butter, or pair them with a traditional Bavarian sweet mustard (wholegrain works just as well) for an authentic German beer hall feel. These homemade pretzels are also brilliant dipped into cheese sauce, served alongside soups, or even with something sweet like chocolate spread or homemade peanut butter if you fancy a teatime twist.
Talking of twists, if you want to make these homemade pretzels your own, you can add a sprinkle of sesame or poppy seeds, brush with oozy garlic butter, or cover with cinnamon sugar. As your new go-to homemade soft pretzels recipe, they’re perfect for any occasion - whether served warm as a snack, pitched in as a starter or side, grand picnic fare or just part of a classic brunch spread.
