What Are Pretzels?

Pretzel is a baked pastry popular in the United States, with chains such as Auntie Anne’s and Wetzel’s.

The origin is Germany. Pretzels are shaped into a long rope and then twisted into a knot.

There are two types of this popular pastry: soft pretzel vs hard pretzel. The former has a short shelf life and should be consumed after baking, or maximum up to 3 days.

The latter is hard and crunchy, making it a perfect snack for storage and has a long shelf life.

There are many ways to serve the snack, either savory or sweet. At the very classic, they are lightly buttered and salted.

Pretzel Recipe

This is a homemade soft pretzel recipe with a nice crust on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside.

This is an easy recipe. The dough is made of five basic ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Yeast
• Butter
• Sugar
• Salt

Serving Suggestions

The most popular way to serve soft pretzels is with plain yellow mustard, honey mustard or spicy mustard.

There are plenty of other options, for examples:

• Plain or flavored cream cheese
• Chocolate sauce
• Nacho cheese
• Sour Cream
• Peanut butter
• Cinnamon sugar

The possibilities are endless!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lye a Pretzel Ingredient?

Lye is often used in pretzel recipes. A chemical reaction during baking makes the lye safe to eat but it’s still dangerous to work with.

Lye gives pretzels the distinctive, glossy, brown “crust” and appearance.

In order to get a similar look without the dangers of using lye, this recipe calls for baking soda as a substitute for lye in the pretzel dough.

How Long Will Pretzels Stay Soft?

Soft pretzels can be kept at room temperature for up to three days.

Simply keep them in a paper bag and store it in a cool, dry place. Keep in mind that the pretzels will harden the longer you keep them.

Can I Freeze Homemade Pretzels?

You sure can! Homemade pretzels will keep well in the freezer for up to six months.

Place the pretzels in a single layer on a baking sheet and transfer to the freezer for about an hour. Once they are frozen, you can place them in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers.

When you are ready to eat, just heat them up in a toaster oven for 10 minutes to warm them up.

How Many Calories Per Serving?

This pretzel recipe is 183 calories each. It’s low calories and healthy!

What to Serve with this Recipe?

For a fun party or social gathering, I recommend the following recipes.

Lemonade Recipe

Cheesy Garlic Texas Toast

Cheese Puffs (Gougeres)

Crab Dip

Yield: 12

Pretzel

Print

Easy homemade pretzel recipe with five ingredients without lye. These soft pretzels are 100% homemade, with a nice crust outside and chewy inside. The best!

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/4 oz. (10 g) package, active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F to 115°F/37°C to 47°C)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 - 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 8 cups water
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• coarse salt, optional

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, butter, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
2. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3. In a large saucepan, bring 8 cups water and baking soda to a boil. Punch dough down; divide into 12 portions. Roll each into a log and then make into a regular pretzel shape. Add to boiling water, a few at a time, for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
4. Place on greased baking sheets. Lightly beat egg yolk and cold water; brush over pretzels. Sprinkle with the salt. Bake 425°F (218°C) for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Serve warm.

Notes

Here is a tutorial on how to shape pretzels.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 183Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 20mgSodium 2855mgCarbohydrates 34gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 5g