Buttery Soft Pretzels | Gimme Some Oven

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Learn how to make the most delicious, hot and buttery soft pretzels with this simple homemade pretzel recipe!  They’re easy to make in about 1 hour with ingredients you likely already have on hand, and taste insanely good.

Anyone else still go a bit weak at the knees when you walk by those soft pretzel stands at the mall or the airport?!

Oh man — I totally do. ♡♡♡

I mean, I know it’s no longer the 90s, and I’m no longer roaming the mall for hours and hours with my friends, spending all of our allowances on Auntie Anne’s and Orange Julius and Sam Goody.  But whew, I feel like my nose can still smell those hot and buttery soft pretzels from a mile away.  And the moment I do, any willpower that remained to avoid buttery carbs for the day instantly, completely and deliciously vanishes.

I absolutely adore a good, freshly-baked, hot-and-buttery soft pretzel…and always will!

That said, as delicious as the famous restaurant version may be, it’s actually incredibly quick and easy to make your own insanely delicious soft pretzels at home!  You likely have all of the ingredients you’ll need in your kitchen already, and there’s no stand mixer required (unless you would like to use one).  I also love this specific recipe because it only takes about an hour to make from start to finish.  And once you pull that tray of hot and buttery soft pretzels out of the oven, I’m telling you — there’s absolutely nothing better.

Let’s make some homemade pretzels together!

Homemade Pretzel Ingredients:

To make this homemade soft pretzel recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• Milk (or water): I prefer to use cow’s milk as the base of this pretzel dough, which makes it extra tender and adds a subtle touch of sweetness.  But if you prefer not to eat dairy, you are welcome to just use water instead.
• Sugar: I used brown sugar, but white granulated sugar or coconut sugar would work too.
• Coarse sea salt: Which we will use in the dough and also sprinkle on top.  (Or you are welcome to sprinkle actual pretzel salt on top, if you prefer.)
• Yeast: One packet of active dry yeast.
• Flour: I went traditional with this recipe and used regular all-purpose flour.  But you could sub in white whole wheat flour if you would like to make these a touch more healthy.
• Butter: Which we will use in the dough and also brush (extra) on top of the pretzels after baking.
• Baking soda: Which we will add to a pot of boiling water to give the pretzels a quick dunk before baking.
• Egg: And finally, you will need one egg, which we will whisk together with water to make a quick egg wash to brush on the dough before baking.

How To Make Pretzels:

Ok, I know these steps look long in writing.  But I promise they are quite simple and quick in real life! ♡  To make homemade pretzels, simply…

1. Mix and knead the dough. Whisk together the warm water, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer).  Then sprinkle the yeast on top and wait about 5 minutes for it to get foamy and activate.  Add the flour and melted butter.  Then either use a wooden spoon to combine the dough, and knead it by hand for about 4 minutes until smooth.  Or if you are using a stand mixer, use the dough hook to knead it for about 4 minutes until smooth.
2. Let the dough rise.  Place the dough in a lightly-oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let it rise until doubled.
3. Heat oven. To 450°F, and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Prepare the boiling water solution.  Combine the water and baking soda in a stockpot or very large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
5. Form the pretzels.  In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a lightly-oiled work surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into an even 20-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, then cross the ends over each other and press then onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel.
6. Boil the pretzels.  Very carefully, use a spatula to transfer the pretzels into the boiling water, one at a time, for about 30 seconds each. Use the spatula to transfer the pretzel to the parchment-lined pan, and repeat with the remaining pretzels.
7. Add egg wash and salt. Finally, brush the top of each pretzel with the egg wash and sprinkle with the coarse sea salt (or pretzel salt).
8. Bake.  Bake until the pretzels reach your desired level of golden brown color, about 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.
9. Serve warm.  These pretzels taste best the day they have been baked, and even better hot out of the oven.  So serve warm — brushed with extra melted butter if you would like — and enjoy!

Possible Soft Pretzel Variations:

Want to customize this homemade pretzel recipe a bit?  Feel free to…

• Add seasonings: Feel free to sprinkle your pretzels with cinnamon sugar or any other seasoning blends that you love (such as everything bagel seasoning, ranch seasoning, Cajun seasoning, etc).
• Add cheese: These pretzels would also be delicious sprinkled with some shredded Parmesan or Asiago cheese.
• Make them vegan: To make vegan pretzels, simply use vegan butter, and water in place of milk.
• Make soft pretzel bites: Here is my full tutorial for how to make pretzel bites!

Dips To Serve With Soft Pretzels:

Because who doesn’t love a good dip with hot soft pretzels?  Here are a few of my faves…

Print