These homemade soft pretzels are buttery and fluffy with a chewy and salty exterior! A favorite with kids and adults, they are easy to make from scratch with no rising time.

My mini pretzel bites recipe is so popular I thought I’d make a recipe for the regular-sized version, too! We also love these cinnamon sugar pretzels.

Homemade soft pretzels with cheese sauce.

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Buttery Homemade Soft Pretzels

In my opinion, there is nothing quite like a hot, buttery and salted pretzel. It’s pure comfort food, especially paired with a creamy cheese sauce. And instead of giving into mall pretzels while you’re out, try making fresh homemade soft pretzels at home!

If you’re new to working with yeast, these homemade pretzels are great for beginners because unlike my bagel recipe there is no rise time. Just shape, boil, bake them and they are ready in under an hour.

Why I Love This Recipe

  • Best texture and flavor: These homemade soft pretzels are soft, fluffy and chewy all at the same time.
  • Crowd-pleasing: We love making these for game day or a Sunday evening snack. Freeze any leftovers to pull out the next time you need a quick and easy snack!

Ingredients

All in you need is 5 simple ingredients to make these delicious homemade soft pretzels. I bet you already have everything in your pantry.

  • Warm water: Your water temp needs to be around 105°-115°F to activate the yeast.
  • Active dry yeast: This is either one packet or 2 1/4 teaspoons. This is what will help the dough rise.
  • Salt: Fine salt is used in the pretzel dough then if you would like coarse salt sprinkled on tops of the pretzels before baking.
  • Granulated sugar: Just a small amount helps feed the yeast.
  • All-purpose flour: Adds structure and strength to the dough.
  • Baking soda: This is for the baking soda bath which gives homemade soft pretzels their classic taste.

Flavoring Variations

Instead of using coarse salt to sprinkle on the pretzels try some of these fun and delicious variations!

  • Cinnamon sugar: An Auntie Anne’s mall favorite! After baking, brush with melted butter than sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
  • Cheese: While pretzels are still wet from the baking soda bath sprinkle with cheese. Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese or Asiago would all be great.
  • Everything but the bagel seasoning: After brushing with melted butter add some seasoning!
  • Garlic herb: Brush with garlic herb butter and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

How to Make Homemade Soft Pretzels

First mix and knead the dough. In a small bowl, add warm water and yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes or until it foams up. Add salt and sugar and stir. In a large bowl, add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with dough hook in your stand mixer or by hand for about 3-5 minutes.

Soft pretzel dough in a two step photo collage.

Next, separate dough into 12 sections. Using your hands roll the dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Then form the rope into a circle and twist the top ends together. 

Rolling out soft pretzels.

Next bring the twisted ends down the center of the circle and pinch together with the bottom to form the pretzel shape.

Shaping homemade pretzels.

You may wonder if you really need to do the boil with baking soda, but it is an important step. This is what will help give the dough that classic pretzel texture, flavor and color. All you’re going to do is boil about 8 cups of water in a large pot. Then once it has started boiling, add in the baking soda.

Place the pretzel dough into the water for about 20 seconds, then remove it with a slotted spoon and place on a lined baking sheet. Sprinkle salt on top.

Making pretzels by dipping in a baking soda bath and then on baking sheet.

Once you’ve given all of the pretzels the baking soda boil, it’s time to bake them. Let them bake until they’re golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Sometimes I’ll broil them during the last minute of cooking to help brown the tops even more.

Serving Suggestions

It’s no secret that soft pretzels taste amazing with cheese sauce. Our favorite pretzel cheese sauce is below, but I also listed a few other options that would taste delicious as well.

Storage

  • Store: These are best fresh but can be stored at room temperature for a day.
  • To freeze: Once pretzels have cooled completely, transfer to a freezer bag or container and store in freezer for up to 2 months.
  • Reheat in oven: Preheat oven to 300°F and bake until warm throughout, about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Reheat in microwave: Let thaw, then cook in microwave for about 30 seconds.
Homemade soft pretzels on a baking sheet.

Ready to make more bread recipes? These easy breadsticks, sourdough bread recipe or easy Dutch oven bread.

More Homemade Bread Recipes

soft pretzels with cheese sauce

Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe

5 from 13 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12
These homemade soft pretzels are buttery and fluffy with a chewy and salty exterior! A favorite with kids and adults, they are easy to make from scratch with no rising time.
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Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 1 packet active yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3 1/2-4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup baking soda (for boiling water)

Optional: Melted Butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, add warm water and yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes or until it foams up. Add salt and sugar and stir.
  • In a large bowl, add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with bread hook in your mixer or by hand for about 3-5 minutes.
  • Separate dough into 12 sections. Roll dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Then form rope into a circle and twist the top ends together. Then bring the twisted ends down the center of the circle and pinch together with the bottom to form the pretzels.
  • In a large pan, bring about 8 cups water + 1/3 cup baking soda to a boil. Once water is boiling, place a piece of dough into the water for about 20 seconds. Remove immediately with slotted spoon and place onto baking sheet. Sprinkle salt on top. Repeat until all pretzels have been boiled.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. You can turn the oven to broil for the last minute to brown the tops if desired. Remove pretzels to a cooling rack and brush tops with melted butter if desired.
  • Enjoy homemade pretzels with your favorite cheese sauce.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Freezer instructions: Allow pretzels to cool. Then place in a zip top bag or freezer container for up to 2 months. To reheat bake in the oven at 300°F for about 10-15 minutes, or until warm. You can also allow to thaw and microwave for about 30 seconds.
Note: Can make a cinnamon sugar pretzel variation by dipping the pretzels in butter and then into a cinnamon sugar mixture. 

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1205mg, Potassium: 45mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Homemade soft pretzels with cheese sauce on the counter.