Golden, chewy on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside — these homemade Bavarian pretzels are simple to make, smell amazing while baking, and taste incredible fresh from the oven.
Ingredients
For the dough:
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 packet (¼ oz) active dry yeast
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp brown sugar (or regular sugar)
¾ cup lukewarm water
For the baking soda bath:
6 cups water
2 tsp baking soda
Coarse salt for sprinkling
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it stand for about 5–10 minutes, until bubbly and active.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour and softened butter. Gradually pour in the yeast mixture and knead until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
- Cover and leave in a warm place for about 30 minutes, until it doubles in size.
- Divide the dough into several pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope and shape it into a pretzel.
- In a large pot, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Carefully dip each pretzel into the hot water for about 10 seconds, then place on the prepared tray.
- Sprinkle with coarse salt and bake for 15–20 minutes, until deep golden and crisp.
