Delicious, buttery, homemade soft pretzels warm from the oven.
Prep Time 1 hourhour10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 9 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour19 minutesminutes
Servings 8pretzels
Ingredients
For the dough:
2 ½cupsall-purpose flour
1teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonsugar
1package active dry yeast
1cupwarm water
For the topping:
1cupboiling water
2tablespoonsbaking soda
coarse salt
3tablespoonsbuttermelted
Instructions
Combine all the dough ingredients in a large bowl and beat until well combined. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until soft and smooth.
Flour the dough and place it in a bag or bowl, covered, to rest for 30 minutes.
While the dough rests, make the topping. Combine the boiling water and baking soda in a medium bowl or large measuring cup, stirring until the soda is completely dissolved. Note: this mixture will overflow a one-cup measure, so a larger container is needed for mixing. Allow the soda-water mixture to sit and cool to room temperature while you proceed with the pretzels.
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with either a light coat of oil or line it with parchment paper.
Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Allow the dough to sit uncovered for 5 minutes.
Pour the cooled soda-water into a 9” square pan.
Roll each piece of dough into a long thin rope and twist each into a pretzel shape.
Working with 4 pretzels at a time, place them into the soda-water. Spoon the water over the tops of the pretzels and leave them to sit in the water for 2 minutes.
Remove with a slotted spoon or spatula and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Sprinkle with coarse kosher or pretzel salt.
Allow the pretzels to rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Bake for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove the pretzels from the oven and immediately brush with the melted butter. Continue brushing until all the butter is used.