Homemade Pretzel Recipe

Homemade pretzels are easy to make, soft, buttery, and delicious! With no boil step, these won't take you all day to make!

Giant soft pretzels are one of those treats that you know you love, but you rarely get to indulge in. It’s hard to find a place that sells good pretzels at a reasonable price, but with this homemade pretzel recipe, you don’t have to look so hard! You can have the best soft pretzels made in the comfort of your own home at a fraction of the price.

This is the Best Soft Pretzel Recipe!

Making these homemade soft pretzels isn’t nearly as hard as you may think, in fact, it’s actually both easy and fun! Grab your kids and have them help you make the pretzel shapes later in the recipe and you can not only create a delicious snack but also create some life-long memories out of the mix too!

What makes a pretzel a pretzel?

Traditionally, pretzels are made from a simple dough of flour, water, yeast, and salt. The dough is then rolled into long, thin ropes, which are then twisted into a knot. The pretzels are then boiled briefly in a solution of water and baking soda or lye, which gives them their distinctive brown color and chewy texture.

Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe Ingredients

• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Yeast 
• Salt
• Butter softened
• Milk
• Water
• Butter for later
• Coarse salt
• Egg

How to make this Soft Pretzels Recipe

1. In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, yeast and salt. Then add in the softened butter, milk, and water, stirring until combined. Knead for 5 minutes and then let the dough rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size.
2. After the dough has doubled, preheat the oven to 450 degrees and turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
3. Roll the dough out into a rectangle about 2 inches thick and then cut into 12 equal-sized pieces.
4. Twist each rope into a pretzel shape. Lay each piece on a lined cooking sheet and let them rest for about 20 minutes.
5. In a small bowl beat together water and egg for an egg wash. Using a brush, dip it into the egg mix and spread it onto the pretzels. Then sprinkle on your course salt.
6. The egg wash will help to give the pretzels that beautiful brown color and help the salt to stick.
7. Then bake the pretzels for about 15 minutes and after they are done baking you can brush them with melted butter before enjoying.

How to shape a Pretzel

1. Divide the dough into 12 pieces.
2. Roll into a rope 12 inches long.
3. Bring the ends up and cross into an x.
4. Twist the ends together once.
5. Take the twisted part and fold it down over the bottom curve of the "X" to form the classic pretzel shape.
6. Press the ends down into the bottom curve of the pretzel to seal them in place.

Toppings for Homemade Soft Pretzels

• While the most common (and most popular) topping for a giant soft pretzel is salt, you may choose to go a different route.
• While a salted soft pretzel and a side of warm melted cheese dip make for the most dynamic savory duo, a cinnamon-sugar coated pretzel served with a side of icing or cream cheese frosting may be the perfect treat for a sweet tooth.
• Both options are excellent, and only the starting point.

How to store Homemade Pretzels

Homemade pretzels can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Homemade Pretzel Recipe FAQs