Soft Pretzel

Total Time
Prep: 20 min. + rising Bake: 15 min.

Updated on Feb. 08, 2022

Big soft pretzels are all the rage in shopping malls across the country. I think it's worth the time to make them from scratch to get the incomparable homemade taste.

Test Kitchen Approved

Soft Pretzel

Yield: 32 pretzels
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 15 min

Ingredients

  • 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
  • 2 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Coarse salt

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, butter, salt, egg and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and refrigerate for 2-24 hours.
  2. Preheat oven to 400°. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Cut each into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into a 20-in. rope. Shape into a pretzel.
  3. Place on greased baking sheets. Beat egg yolk and cold water; brush over pretzels. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes.
  4. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
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