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4.6 from 123 votes

World’s Greatest Soft Pretzels

Jump to RecipePrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •8/3/21 107 Comments

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

pin for soft pretzels.

These are the World’s Greatest Soft Pretzels, you know the ones I’m talking about! They’re huge, soft, buttery and salty, not to mention totally addictive. This is a family recipe we’ve been making for years and one that’s a favorite at our house.

a bunch of soft pretzels stacked on top of each other with cheese sauce and mustard.

My husband and I love our pretzels and we make them quite often. We love that special soft pretzel that you get at the mall, or at the ball game. You know the one I’m talking about, eh? Those huge pretzels that you just can’t stop eating, they’re salty, they’re buttery, they’re just amazing.

This recipe I’m sharing with you here is my family’s recipe that we’ve been making for years and years, so it’s tried, tested and true. Rest assured this recipe has been perfected over the years, so it’s literally foolproof. You’ll love it!

Why Make The World’s Greatest Soft Pretzels

a bunch of soft pretzels stacked on top of each other with cheese sauce and mustard.
  • Easy to Make
  • Soft and Delicious
  • Tastes Incredible
  • Simple Ingredients

Pretzels are not hard to make, so don’t get discouraged by the fact that you have to make a water bath with baking soda and dip them in there, that’s child’s play. The dough is super easy to make too, just use your mixer, let it do all the work. And the fun part, is rolling out the long ropes and I swear my ropes were 3 or 4 feet long, just because I wanted the largest pretzels.

Ingredient Notes

overheat shot of all the ingredients needed to make soft pretzels.
  • Active Dry Yeast – I used active dry yeast in this recipe, but you can use instant yeast. The difference is that active dry yeast needs to be activated first, whereas instant yeast doesn’t.
  • Flour – Regular white flour.
  • Water – It’s super important to make sure your water is lukewarm. The best temperature of the water should be anywhere from 95 degrees to 105 degrees for this. You don’t really want anything warmer, as it will kill the yeast.
  • Milk – Same as with water, we want to make sure the milk is lukewarm. The best temperature should be anywhere from 95 degrees to 105 degrees.
  • Salt – Table salt in the dough and coarse salt for sprinkling over the top of the pretzels.
  • Sugar – Sugar is important when making bread, it’s what makes it soft and tender by absorbing some of the water and slowing down the formation of gluten strands. Sugar is also what feeds the yeast.
  • Baking Soda – Helps give the pretzels their chewy crust and that incredible pretzel flavor.
  • Butter – Melted butter to brush over the top of the pretzels, for that great buttery taste.

How To Make Soft Pretzels

detailed process shots showing how to make dough for soft pretzels.
  1. Make the dough: In the bowl of your mixer, combine the warm water with the yeast and lightly stir. Let this mixture rest for about 10 minutes until the yeast dissolves. In another large bowl, mix the salt, sugar and flour together. When the yeast dissolves, add the flour mixture and the warm milk to the mixer bowl. Using the dough attachment, mix everything until the dough comes together and is no longer sticky, about 5 minutes.
  2. Let the dough rise until doubled in size: Let the dough rise until it doubles in size in a greased bowl, and covered with a damp towel or plastic wrap. It should take about an hour but it depends on your environment and your yeast.
  3. Form into pretzels: Punch down the dough and divide it into 9 equal pieces. Take each piece and roll it into a long rope, about 3 to 4 feet long and about 1 inch in diameter. Shape each rope into a pretzel shape and place them onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Allow the pretzels to rise again for another 15 minutes.
  4. Prep the oven: Preheat oven to 500 F.
  5. Boil the pretzels: In a large pot, make a bath with the baking soda and boiling water. Using a large spoon, lower each pretzel into the water and leave in for about 30 seconds to a minute. You don’t have to wait until they float. Return the pretzels to the baking sheet using a large spatula. Brush them with melted butter and sprinkle them generously with the sea salt.
  6. Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven on the middle rack and bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. When you take them out of the oven you can brush them again with butter and serve them hot and/or with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.
process shots showing how to shape the dough into pretzel form and bake it.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we have to boil pretzels in baking soda water?

If you’re making bagels or pretzels, you always need to boil them for about a minute in baking soda water and the reason is because the baking soda bath basically gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from springing or rising during baking. Also, it’s what gives pretzels their signature chewy crust.

What is the basic ratio of liquid to flour when making soft pretzels?

When making pretzels there actually is a basic pretzel dough ratio of liquids to flour. Pretty much any pretzel recipe you’ll look at, you’ll notice that the basic ration of liquid to flour is that for every cup of liquid you’ll need 3-ish cups of flour.

What other flavor variations are there?

Seriously, the sky’s the limit. Besides the basic butter and salt, I like mine with Parmesan cheese over the top, or cinnamon sugar. With either options, you still should brush the top of the pretzels with melted butter first.

freshly baked soft pretzels cooling on cooling rack.

Tips

  1. You can easily double or half this recipe buy simply doubling or halving all of the ingredients. You can do this right in the recipe card. Simply hover or click on the number of servings in the recipe card. When the slider comes up, just move it to the number of pretzels you want to make and the ingredient amounts will automatically be updated as needed.
  2. You can use this recipe to make either pretzel bites or pretzel breadsticks.
  3. Don’t skip the step for boiling the pretzels in the baking soda water. This is what gives the pretzels that signature chewy crust and their incredible pretzel flavor.
a bunch of soft pretzels stacked on top of each other with cheese sauce and mustard.

Storing Soft Pretzels

Pretzels are one of those baked goods that have a short shelf life and are best eaten right way. You can wrap them tightly in plastic wrap but what I normally do is let them cool completely then wrap them in a clean dish cloth or paper towels then store them in an airtight container. Make sure they are cooled completely otherwise the container will fill with humidity causing the pretzels to get soggy.

Another thing to consider, is not adding salt to the pretzels because salt makes the pretzels soggy. Pretzels can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze them for up to 1 month.

a bunch of soft pretzels stacked on top of each other with cheese sauce and mustard.

More Delicious Recipes To Try

  • Pretzel Bites
  • Homemade Pretzels
  • Pretzel Turtles
  • Spicy Baked Chicken Wings
  • Fluffy Dinner Rolls

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

a bunch of soft pretzels stacked on top of each other with cheese sauce and mustard.
Print
4.61 from 123 votes

Soft Pretzels

Prep 30 minutes minutes
Rising time 1 hour hour
Cook 30 minutes minutes
Total 2 hours hours
Rate Recipe
These are the World's Greatest Soft Pretzels, you know the ones I'm talking about! They're huge, soft, buttery and salty, not to mention totally addictive. This is a family recipe we've been making for years and one that's a favorite at our house.
9

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups water (lukewarm)
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 4½ to 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup milk (lukewarm)
  • 5 tablespoon baking soda
  • butter (for brushing)
  • sea salt (for sprinkling)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Make the dough: In the bowl of your mixer, combine the warm water with the yeast and lightly stir. Let this mixture rest for about 10 minutes until the yeast dissolves. In another large bowl, mix the salt, sugar and flour together. When the yeast dissolves, add the flour mixture and the warm milk to the mixer bowl. Using the dough attachment, mix everything until the dough comes together and is no longer sticky, about 5 minutes.
  • Let the dough rise until doubled in size: Let the dough rise until it doubles in size in a greased bowl, and covered with a damp towel or plastic wrap. It should take about an hour but it depends on your environment and your yeast.
  • Form into pretzels: Punch down the dough and divide it into 9 equal pieces. Take each piece and roll it into a long rope, about 3 to 4 feet long and about 1 inch in diameter. Shape each rope into a pretzel shape and place them onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Allow the pretzels to rise again for another 15 minutes.
  • Prep the oven: Preheat oven to 500°F.
  • Boil the pretzels: In a large pot, make a bath with the baking soda and boiling water. Using a large spoon, lower each pretzel into the water and leave in for about 30 seconds to a minute. You don't have to wait until they float. Return the pretzels to the baking sheet using a large spatula. Brush them with melted butter and sprinkle them generously with the sea salt.
  • Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven on the middle rack and bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. When you take them out of the oven you can brush them again with butter and serve them hot and/or with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.

Equipment

  • KitchenAid Classic 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer

Notes

  1. These pretzels are pretty big so you can only fit 2 or 3 pretzels per baking sheet comfortably.
  2. You can easily double or half this recipe but simply doubling or halving all of the ingredients. You can do this right in the recipe card. Simply hover or click on the number of servings in the recipe card. When the slider comes up, just move it to the number of pretzels you want to make and the ingredient amounts will automatically be updated as needed.
  3. You can use this recipe to make either pretzel bites or pretzel breadsticks.
  4. Don’t skip the step for boiling the pretzels in the baking soda water. This is what gives the pretzels that signature chewy crust and their incredible pretzel flavor.
  5. Pretzels are one of those baked goods that have a short shelf life and are best eaten right way. You can wrap them tightly in plastic but what I normally do is let them cool completely then wrap them in a clean dish cloth then store them in an airtight container. Make sure they are cooled completely otherwise the container will fill with humidity causing the pretzels to get soggy.
  6. Another thing to consider, is not adding salt to the pretzels because salt makes the pretzels soggy. Pretzels can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze them for up to 1 month.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1pretzelCalories: 239kcal (12%)Carbohydrates: 49g (16%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 1g (2%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 2350mg (102%)Potassium: 89mg (3%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 22IUVitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 26mg (3%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

a bunch of soft pretzels stacked on top of each other with cheese sauce and mustard.

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

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107 Comments
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Cindy Hammett
Cindy Hammett
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
Just LOVE this recipe! My 4 year old grandson helps and is always asking to make pretzels!

0
Reply
Cheryl A
Cheryl A
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
Delicious! Do you have a chees dip recipe for these?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Cheryl A
Posted: 2 months ago

Try this one: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/nacho-cheese-sauce/

0
Reply
Marlene Wilkins
Marlene Wilkins
Posted: 1 year ago

just love pretzels. Also with cinnamon and sugar on them. Thanks…..M

0
Reply
Judy M
Judy M
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Made these today and they were excellent ..froze a few for a future treat. Very easy to follow recipe and the dough was very easy to work with.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Judy M
Posted: 2 years ago

Glad you liked it!

0
Reply
Malinda
Malinda
Posted: 2 years ago

4 stars
The pretzels taste great but my pretzels stuck to the pan and cooked faster on the bottom. I put butter down to grease the pan. Was this my issue?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Malinda
Posted: 2 years ago

They shouldn’t have stuck if you greased the pan, next time you can try using parchment paper instead.

0
Reply
Kay Dunkleberger
Kay Dunkleberger
Posted: 2 years ago

Can you put more than one pretzel at a time in the water bath?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Kay Dunkleberger
Posted: 2 years ago

If your pot is big enough, sure, but I wouldn’t stack them on top of each other.

0
Reply
Michal
Michal
Posted: 2 years ago

Amazing as usual!! Made it with a cheese sauce and it was delicious!!
Loved your Cinnabons recipe as well., especially since we don’t have Cinnabon stores here in Israel!

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Michal
Posted: 2 years ago

There’s nothing quite like homemade! Enjoy 🙂

0
Reply
Becky
Becky
Posted: 3 years ago

Haven’t made this yet- planning on it asap- however I’m wondering if I can substitute instant yeast for the active dry yeast… I’m not much of a baker and am scared of yeast haha

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Becky
Posted: 3 years ago

Yes you can use instant yeast!

0
Reply
Abbey Stanley
Abbey Stanley
Posted: 3 years ago

These look sooo good! It’s just my husband and me at home, and we won’t go through this many pretzels. Can I half the recipe?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Abbey Stanley
Posted: 3 years ago

Yes you can!

0
Reply
Debbie
Debbie
Posted: 3 years ago

How do you keep the pretzels shape when you put it into the water bath?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Debbie
Posted: 3 years ago

Keep the water at a simmer rather than a rolling boil, and very gently place the pretzels into the water.

0
Reply
Christina
Christina
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Wow. I have been searching a long time for pretzels this good. I try a different random recipe everytime because I’m never quite satisfied but I will for sure be making these again!

0
Reply
Shelley
Shelley
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Just made these. I’m so impressed! I’ve never made pretzels before and these turned out exactly as I hoped. My family loves them! I’ll definitely be making these again.

0
Reply
Kimberly
Kimberly
Posted: 3 years ago

Could you make with whole wheat or sprouted flour instead of all purpose?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Kimberly
Posted: 3 years ago

You can, but just make sure you convert the amount of flour properly as whole wheat and sprouted flour are more dense than all purpose.

0
Reply
Ashley
Ashley
Posted: 3 years ago

I‘ve made this recipe before, and LOVED them!! Just wondering if you think once I roll the dough into a rope I can cut it into “bites” instead of shaping into a pretzel. I think they’d be a fun Super Bowl appetizer!

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team 2
Jo Cooks Team 2
Reply to  Ashley
Posted: 3 years ago

Absolutely! Great idea for a super bowl party!!

0
Reply
Annabelle
Annabelle
Posted: 4 years ago

I have made these before and we’re a huge hit. I have a question, can make the dough and shaped them ahead of time and the next day do the baking soda bath and baking?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Annabelle
Posted: 4 years ago

I think it should be fine, but keep them in the fridge over night.

0
Reply

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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

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