Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: The PERFECT quintessential pretzel flavor.
Texture: Slightly crisp at the edges but chewy throughout.
Ease: Truly easier than you think. Once you’ve made them a couple times, you can make a full batch in 1 hour from start to finish.
Pros: No rising time! Absolutely delicious.
Cons: For the most authentic pretzels, a lye bath will provide the best results which can be a bit of a hassle.
Would I make this again? We make these every other week.
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Whether it’s Oktoberfest, the Super Bowl, or you’re just in the mood, these German-inspired pretzels are shockingly easy to make! Once you get your pretzel shaping technique down (tips on that below), they seriously take less than 1 hour to make from start to finish.
That’s because there’s basically no rising time! Which means you could make them Sunday morning for the football game that afternoon… if that’s your thing. To be honest, the only part about football I care about is the snacks.
I can’t take credit for this soft pretzel recipe. It was actually developed by my boyfriend, Joe, years before we began dating. He was inspired by a backpacking trip to Germany in his early 20s where he had his first authentic Bavarian pretzel and discovered how different they are from American mall pretzels.
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When he asked how and why their pretzels are so different from American ones, so deeply browned and flavorful, he discovered authentic pretzels are bathed in a lye solution before baking. It makes a HUGE difference, which I’ve detailed below (including an alternative to the lye)!
We worked together for weeks to test out the pretzel recipe to document it in detail in order for Handle the Heat bakers to recreate them in their own home kitchens. Below you’ll find practically everything you could ever want to know about baking the best pretzels of your life.
Sprinkle of Science
How to Make Soft Pretzels
Ingredients for Homemade Pretzels Recipe:
- Active dry yeast – You can use instant yeast instead, but note that your pretzels may just be slightly more fluffy than chewy. Read our blog post on active dry vs. instant yeast.
- Barley malt syrup – This helps give the pretzels that distinct deep yet slightly bittersweet flavor. I ordered online, but have also seen it at some health food stores. If you can’t find this, simply use brown sugar (light or dark – the difference won’t be noticeable as it’s a small amount).
- All-purpose flour – I’ve tested this recipe with bread flour and didn’t find that it made enough of a positive impact to recommend using it instead. AP works great here! To be specific, I tested with bleached Gold Medal AP flour. I’ve also very successfully tested this recipe swapping in 2 cups of Rye flour for AP flour which adds a lovely depth of flavor and even darker color!
- Fine sea salt – This is for the dough.
- Pretzel salt – This is for sprinkling on the pretzels before baking. I’d highly recommend ordering the pretzel salt for the most impressive pretzels possible and best flavor. If that’s not an option, use coarse sea salt instead. Just note it’ll dissolve into the dough more.
- Food grade lye – More on this below.
How to Knead Soft Pretzel Dough
I like to use my 6-quart Professional KitchenAid stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. This dough is quite stiff and dense, so if your stand mixer is on the small side or quite old, the motor may not want to knead it. You could always knead the dough by hand, it’ll just take some upper body strength and a few more minutes.
The Key to Perfect Pretzels? Lye!
Take a look at the pretzel comparison below. One was made by dipping the unbaked pretzels in a lye bath, the other by dipping in a boiled baking soda bath:
You can see just how much darker the lye pretzels turn out! What you can’t see is they also have that distinct, slightly alkaline pretzel flavor and a chewier texture.
Lye has a pH of around 13 whereas baking soda has a pH of around 8. This extra alkalinity accelerates the Maillard reaction, allowing that caramelization to develop on the exterior of the pretzels. That ultra-deep color and slightly crispy, crunchy exterior crust is only made possible with lye. Lye is what professional bakers use, and it’s what’s authentic in a traditional Bavarian pretzel!
Do I Have to Use Lye?
No. You can prepare a baking soda bath instead. See more directions below. But if you want the most perfect pretzels possible, give lye a try! It’s not as scary as you may think.
Where to Buy Food-Grade Lye?
I know I just said not to be afraid of lye, but it is sodium hydroxide (also called caustic soda) which is the main ingredient in soap making and in products like Draino.
You can purchase food-grade lye most easily online or at some craft and hobby stores in the soap-making section.
How to Use Lye Safely
Lye is a caustic material, meaning if used improperly, it can cause chemical burns. Before you freak out, check out the safety tips below, and also remember that lye in this recipe’s application is diluted and therefore is similar to household bleach. Once lye is baked, it’s totally safe to eat.
- Only use in a well-vented controlled area. You don’t want to do this in a small space without a window open or the fan on (blowing any fumes away).
- Always add lye to water, never water to lye. The idea is to avoid any potential for splashing.
- Use only heat-resistant plastic or glass containers to prepare your lye bath. Never use metal.
- If lye does touch your clothes, remove that clothing item. If it touches your skin, simply run the skin under running water for a few minutes.
- If you’re concerned about safety, use plastic gloves when handling the pretzels in the lye bath. For extra security, feel free to wear goggles and even a face mask (now that we all own one!).
How to Prepare a Lye Bath for Pretzels:
- In a well-vented area, place a plastic or glass container (do not use metal) on top of a few pieces of parchment paper to protect your counter from splashes.
- Carefully sprinkle the lye into the water. Use a heat-safe silicone spatula to carefully stir the lye to dissolve. The lye is dissolved when the water looks clear (the container will feel warm to the touch – this is normal).
- Dip a shaped pretzel into the lye bath for about 30 seconds. Remove and let drip off then place on the prepared greased parchment-lined baking sheets.
If you wind up making pretzels often, you may want to avoid using the same glass container each time. Lye is corrosive and will eventually weaken the glass. Your best bet is a dedicated high-quality plastic container.
How to Prepare a Baking Soda Bath (lye alternative):
If working with lye isn’t an option for you, here are the directions for using baking soda instead. You simply dip the pretzels in boiling water that’s been alkalized with baking soda. Note that the pretzels will be much lighter in color and won’t have the same chewy texture.
For Baking Soda Bath:
- 2/3 cup of baking soda
- 10 cups of water
Directions: In a large pot, bring the baking soda and water to a boil. Boil the pretzels in small batches in the soda solution for about 45 seconds to 1 minute, pressing them down to submerge. Proceed with the recipe as written after the lye bath step.
Making Baking Soda More Alkaline
There are some ‘hacks’ online for baking the baking soda to increase its pH level from 8 to about 11. This is done by spreading the baking soda on a baking sheet and baking at 250°F for 2 hours. I don’t prefer this method because it’s time-consuming and the resulting baking soda is now caustic and corrosive. You may as well use lye, which is easy to order online.
Choose Your Own Pretzel Adventure
As I see it, there are TWO pretzel journeys, aka options for customizing your soft pretzels.
- One is what’s pictured in these photos: A more traditional Bavarian-style pretzel with a deeply browned exterior and chewy texture. The recipe as written will yield this result.
- The other is a more American-ized pretzel that’s lighter in color and fluffier in texture. A pretzel reminiscent of those frozen pretzels many of us grew up eating or even the shopping mall pretzels.
- If you prefer the latter, use a baking soda bath instead of lye. You can also allow the shaped pretzels to rise for about 30 minutes before dipping in baking soda and baking. This will create a fluffier texture (but also less distinct pretzel shapes).
- For a last option on this journey, brush the freshly baked pretzels with melted butter.
How to Shape Pretzels
Shape the log into a letter U. Cross the arms placing one over the other, then twist them around each other once. Bring the ends down to the bottom of the U and gently press to stick. Place on two greased parchment-lined baking sheets.
How to Make Pretzel Buns
After you portion the dough into ten equal pieces, take one piece and begin to grab bits of the dough from the top to bring around to the bottom to create a smooth ball shape. Roll around on a clean counter to smooth out further. Bake as the recipe states.
How to Serve Pretzels
Serve them with my Beer Cheese Dip or simply alongside some whole grain mustard or spicy honey mustard.
You can also slice pretzels open, toast them, and smear them with cream cheese for a pretzel-bagel situation.
How to Store Pretzels
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat in the toaster oven at 350°F for a few minutes to refresh.
How to Freeze Pretzels (best option!)
Store the baked pretzels in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. The longer they’re frozen, the more the pretzel salt will dissolve into the pretzels, but they’ll still taste great.
Defrost by letting them sit on the counter for about an hour. Or, simply microwave for about 30 seconds. If desired for a crispier texture, once defrosted, refresh in the toaster oven for about 5 minutes.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- No Knead Pizza Dough
- Soft Pretzel Bites
- Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
Homemade Pretzel Recipe
Ingredients
For the pretzels:
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon
barley malt syrup or light brown sugar - 1 1/2 cups (355 grams) warm water (about 110°F), divided
- 5 cups (635 grams) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon fine salt
For the lye bath:
- 2 tablespoons
(40 grams) food grade lye, see notes for baking soda alternative - 1 liter (1000 grams) water, room temperature
Pretzel salt or coarse salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Spray with nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter.
Make the dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the yeast, barley malt syrup/sugar, and 1/4 cup of the water. Whisk to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes or until frothy.
- Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups water, flour, and salt, and stir to combine. Mix on low speed until combined.
- Increase speed to medium and knead for five minutes until the dough is elastic and smooth and doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl or your hands, adding more flour if needed. This will be a very dense dough, so be careful not to step away from your mixer in case it decides to jump on the counter.
Shape the pretzels:
- There is no need to allow this dough to rise. Remove the dough to a clean work surface (do not flour). Divide into 10 equal pieces (each should be about 100 grams). Roll each piece against the counter or between your palms into about a 24-inch long log. The thinner the log, the crispier the pretzels. The thicker, the softer the pretzels.
- Shape the log into a letter U. Cross the arms placing one over the other, then twist them around each other once. Bring the ends down to the bottom of the U and gently press to stick. Place on two greased parchment-lined baking sheets.
- If you prefer softer spongier pretzels, allow the shaped pretzels to rise for 30 minutes before bathing in the lye.
Prepare the lye bath:
- Refer to the safety disclaimer in the blog post before using lye. If lye isn’t an option, see the baking soda bath directions below. Place safety gloves and goggles on, and a face mask too if you prefer. In a well-vented area, place a plastic or glass container (do not use metal) on top of a few pieces of parchment paper to protect your counter from splashes. Carefully sprinkle the lye into the water. Use a silicone spatula to carefully stir the lye to dissolve. The lye is dissolved when the water looks clear.
- Dip a shaped pretzel into the lye bath for about 30 seconds. Remove to the prepared greased parchment-lined baking sheets. Use a paring knife to score two slices into the thickest part of each pretzel. Sprinkle with pretzel salt as desired. Repeat until all pretzels have been lye dipped, scored, and salted.
Bake the pretzels:
- Bake both trays at 400°F for about 16 minutes, alternating the trays halfway through the baking time for even baking, until deeply golden brown. Bake for less time for softer pretzels and more time for crispier pretzels.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before peeling away from the parchment paper. Serve warm or at room temperature the same day you bake the pretzels. To store, freeze the pretzels in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
Recipe Notes
Baking Soda Bath Alternative
If working with lye isn’t an option for you, here are the directions for using baking soda instead. Note that the pretzels will be much lighter in color and won’t have the same chewy texture. Ingredients for baking soda bath:- 2/3 cup of baking soda
- 10 cups of water
This recipe was published in 2021 and has been updated with additional baking tips. Photos by Joanie Simon.
Made these today ..OMG… SO GOOD..
Never made pretzels before today.. never ate a baked pretzel before today… just don’t get them in Australia..
Always want to try to see what the fuss was… well now I know… used the baking soda bath technique as lye is a little hard to come by here.. HOT TIP..don’t add the whole amount to the boiling water in one go…
Beautifully done recipe..
I do recomend .. my daughter and I love them
Made these and I couldn’t find any Lye so I used the baking soda method and they came out beautiful! Just as chewy and color just as dark as the Lye way.
This recipe is 10/10! I used the baking soda bath and brown sugar and they came out incredibly delicious! I have made them numerous times now and my family and friends LOVE THEM! Super quick and easy to make too! Thanks for the recipe!
Can I use instant yeast? If so what would the process be?
Hi Maya! As Tessa mentions in the pink tip box (above the recipe): “You can use instant yeast instead, but note that your pretzels may just be slightly more fluffy than chewy.” Read our blog post on active dry vs. instant yeast here for more tips 🙂
these were so good! I made them for my family and they love them!
I made these half whole wheat half all-purpose because I ran out of all-purpose flour but these are still delicious!
My mother-in-law was born and lived in Germany until her early 20s and my husband lived in Germany for a while as a child. My husband has been lamenting that he really misses genuine German soft pretzels. I surprised them both and made this recipe today. They were both very happy and said they were just like the real thing. I used the barley syrup and lye. The instructions were very easy to follow and pretty easy. I will be making these again often. Thanks for this recipe!
Aw, yay! So happy our recipe is comparable, thanks for sharing! 🙂
WARNING! I’ve made pretzels using a lower lye to water ratio, and leaving them in the water for around 30 seconds before (accidentally!) as this recipe states, and they literally hurt to eat because the lye didn’t fully cook out. I’m pretty sure the instructions for lye in this recipe will result in inedible pretzels just like I had. I have a very similar recipe at home, and I’ve looked up equivalents online e.g. the recommendations by the King Arthur flour brand, they recommend a slightly lower ratio and only 10-15 seconds, less than half the time in the lye bath.
Hi Nick! Oh no, I’m sorry to hear you’ve used a recipe before that didn’t fully bake out the lye! Here at Handle the Heat, our recipes undergo meticulous research to determine precise measurements and timing. Each recipe undergoes thorough testing by our team and is always supported by the principles of baking science. In comparing our recipe to King Arthur’s, we noted their recommendation of 20g of lye with 500g of water — equivalent to half of our bath recipe. Through our testing, we found that working with the larger quantity made the pretzel-dipping process slightly more manageable; however, you are welcome to use their suggested amount. It will make no difference to the outcome. I hope you find this helpful, and I genuinely hope you choose to try our recipe. We’d love to hear your thoughts if you decide to give it a go. Happy baking!
I enjoy your recipes
Can you throw these ingredients in a bread machine on the dough cycle if you don’t have a fancy stand mixer?
Hi Chrissy! We haven’t tried that, but I would worry that it might overwork the dough. Feel free to experiment and see how it goes – or check out Tessa’s How to Knead Dough post here to learn how to knead by hand. Happy baking!
I almost never take the time to leave comments but I must say that this recipe and all of the instructions were so well done. The recipe was easy enough that my four-year old son helped with a big portion and they came out delicious. A little crust on the outside but chewy and soft on the inside. The slight malt flavor was excellent. It rivaled restaurant pretzels for sure. I was so amazed at how easy the dough was to handle on dry countertops. It didn’t stick to anything after resting, it somehow stuck together easily in the pretzel shape. Thank you for putting together a fabulous, easy recipe with just enough explanation and alternate ingredients!
Thrilled to hear this, Rebekah! Thanks so much for the lovely comment 🙂
Have you tried adding chocolate chip cookies to pretzels? My wife loves pretzels, I love chocolate chip cookies. I’d love to combine the two. Any suggestions?
Hi Tom! We have not tried anything like that, but feel free to experiment and let us know how it goes!
Hello! I’ve noticed other recipes use an egg wash. Does the lye bath replace that need, or could/should you additionally do an egg wash before adding the salt and baking? Thanks!
Hi Lucy! Egg wash is typically added to help color develop, and to add a little shine. The lye bath (as you can see in the pictures in the pink tip box, above the recipe) help these pretzels brown beautifully, so there’s no need for additional browning! Feel free to experiment with adding this if you wish, but I think you’ll love this recipe as written 🙂 Enjoy!