Name: Soft Pretzel Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 42 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups warm water; 4.5 teaspoons active dry yeast ((same as two 1/4 oz packages)); 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 stick butter ((melted)); 3 tbsp sugar; 2 teaspoons salt; 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1/2 cup baking soda; 9 cups hot water; 1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp water (beaten together); kosher salt

Perfect for dipping and sharing, this fluffy soft pretzel recipe is SO easy to make at home and delicious, too! Try these buttery soft pretzels with your favorite cheese dip, and you will want to make them again and again. The best part is, making soft pretzels really is so simple!

Soft Pretzel Recipe: a row of soft pretzels on a white background

Buttery soft pretzels are one of those special treats you usually only get at the mall or maybe the fair, but did you know making soft pretzels at home is actually easy? It’s true!

This is the best soft pretzel recipe because it has all the salty goodness you want in a pretzel, but with a little bit of sugar in the dough to give it just the right balance of flavor. Homemade soft pretzels are also one of the best recipes to make with kids! They love seeing how the dough rises and rolling it into ropes. It’s a chance for kids to make their own special pretzel—there’s certainly no two alike!

Soft Pretzel Ingredients

Buttery soft pretzels use just a short list of easy ingredients to make, and the results are delicious! For this easy soft pretzel recipe, you’ll need the following simple ingredients:

1 1/4 cups warm water
4.5 tsp. active dry yeast (same as two 1/4 oz packages)
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 stick butter, melted
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 cup baking soda
9 cups hot water
1 egg yolk and 1 Tbsp. water, beaten together
kosher salt

How do you make soft pretzels?

Making soft pretzels is so much easier than you might think! Here are our instructions for making homemade soft pretzels:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Prepare warm water and add yeast packets. Whisk and then let sit while you gather next ingredients.
Whisk in salt, sugar, and butter. Slowly add 3 cups of flour and mix with a wooden spoon until thickened. Add 1/2 cup more flour (or a little more if needed) until the pretzel dough is no longer sticky. You want to be able to press the pretzel dough and have it come back up.
Flour a surface, add the pretzel dough, and knead for 3 minutes. Coat another bowl with vegetable oil. Add pretzel dough, cover lightly, and let rest for 10 minutes.
Start boiling 9 cups of water with the baking soda in a large pot.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Cut dough into 8 equal sections.
Roll the dough into at least a 16-inch rope, but roll it longer if you can. Bring up the ends and then curve down into the middle to create a pretzel shape. Twist a couple of times, and lightly press the ends down to stick together to hold it all in place.
Add pretzels one by one to boiling water for 25 seconds. Carefully lift pretzels out with a metal spoon, shake the water off gently, and place on the parchment-lined baking sheets.
Brush each pretzel with egg wash* and top generously with kosher salt.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove and serve warm.

*What is egg wash? Egg wash is a simple mixture of water and egg. In this case, we use 1 Tbsp. of water and an egg yolk to make egg wash.

Twisting and preparing dough for soft pretzel recipe

How to Reheat Soft Pretzels

The best method for reheating homemade soft pretzels is in the oven. Preheat to 350 degrees F, place pretzels on a baking sheet, and heat for 5 minutes.

Another good method for heating an individual pretzel is to wrap it in foil and then heat it in the oven for about 3 minutes. You can also microwave them for about 10 seconds (NOT wrapped in foil), depending on your microwave.

Soft Pretzel Recipe: a tray of freshly baked soft pretzels

How to Make Cheese Dip for Soft Pretzels

One of the most delectable dips for soft pretzels is beer cheese dip, and we have a wonderful Oktoberfest-inspired soft pretzel dip for you! It’s made from ripe Camembert, spreadable cheese, butter, spices like paprika and caraway seeds, and onion. Try our German Beer Cheese Dip (Obatzda) with these pretzels—this strong and flavorful dip is the perfect complement to our billowy and slightly sweet homemade soft pretzel recipe!

German soft pretzels are often served on a tray with sliced meats and a bowl of beer cheese spread, which is the perfect football food or party food!

You could also try these delectable buttery soft pretzels with Chorizo Cheese Dip with Spinach, or even Pepperoni Pizza Dip. Just about any cheese dip recipe goes well with these homemade soft pretzels!

Beer Cheese Dip (Obatzda) in the center of a plate of soft pretzels

How long do soft pretzels last?

Like most bread recipes, pretzels are best eaten right after they’re baked. However, you can store them for a couple of days in a porous container like a paper bag. This will keep them softer longer. Reheat them according to the instructions found above.

Can you freeze soft pretzels?

Soft pretzels can be frozen, but it’s best to do it right after you bake them when they’re done cooling off. Just put them in an airtight container and you will have pretzels to enjoy at your convenience! Simply thaw and follow the methods above for reheating.

Soft Pretzel Recipe: a white plate of fresh homemade soft pretzels

Homemade soft pretzels are a tasty treat that are so simple to make at home. Your family is going to love these, and will ask for them over and over!

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More Game Day Food and Party Appetizers

For more game day recipes and easy appetizers for a party, try these recipes:

Please let us know if you have tried or plan to try our easy soft pretzel recipe in the comments below and with a rating! We love to hear from you.