Soft & Chewy Pretzel Delights Recipe
Soft & Chewy Pretzel Delights are a classic snack featuring a tender yet chewy texture with a golden-brown crust. These homemade pretzels are made from a simple yeast dough, briefly boiled in baking soda water to develop their signature crust, and baked to perfection for a deliciously satisfying treat.
- Author: Mick
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 medium pretzels 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110°F)
Boiling Solution
- 10 cups water
- 2/3 cup baking soda
Optional Toppings
- Coarse sea salt for sprinkling
- Prepare the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is activated. Stir in the flour and salt, mixing until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape the pretzels: Punch down the dough and divide it into equal portions. Roll each portion into a long rope and twist into a classic pretzel shape, pinching the ends to secure.
- Boil in baking soda solution: Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Bring 10 cups of water and baking soda to a boil in a large pot. Carefully drop each shaped pretzel into the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add toppings: Immediately sprinkle the boiled pretzels with coarse sea salt or any preferred toppings.
- Bake the pretzels: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until they turn golden brown and develop a chewy crust.
- Cool and serve: Remove the pretzels from the oven and let them cool slightly on a wire rack before serving warm.
Notes
- To achieve softer pretzels, brush them with melted butter immediately after baking.
- For a sweeter variation, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top after baking.
- You can freeze shaped pretzels before boiling and bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to baking time.
- Adjust baking time slightly depending on your oven for optimal color and texture.
Keywords: pretzel, soft pretzel, chewy pretzel, homemade pretzel, savory snack, baking pretzels