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How to Make Soft Pretzels

Instructions For Use With:

WHAT YOU NEED


Additional Equipment

  • Electric Mixer with Dough Hook (optional)

  • Plastic Wrap

  • Kitchen Towels

  • Rolling Pin

  • Stock Pot

  • Large Slotted Spoon or Spider

  • Baking Sheet

  • Baking Mat

  • Pastry Brush

Included Ingredients

  • Soft Pretzel Baking Mix

  • Baking Yeast

  • Coarse Pretzel Salt

  • Malt (Note: It's totally fine if your malt has crystalized in its packaging.)

Additional Ingredients

  • Water

  • 1/4 Cup (59 ml) Baking Soda

  • Oil or Cooking Spray

  • Flour for Dusting Surfaces

  • 4 Tablespoons (59 ml) Cold Butter, Cubed

  • 1 Tablespoon Butter (15 ml), Melted

  • 1 Teaspoon (5 ml) Sugar

Optional Ingredients


GET STARTED



Let's Get Started
Step-by-Step Instructions


1.
Proof Yeast

Proofing yeast - How to make pretzels
Yeast getting foamy - How to make pretzels

Start off by proofing your yeast.

In a small bowl, combine your full yeast packet, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of sugar, and 1 cup (236 ml) warm water. Stir gently. Let sit until cloudy, about 5 minutes.

2.

Cubed butter in flour mixture - How to make pretzels
Adding yeast mixture to flour - How to make pretzels
Mixing dough - How to make pretzels

In a large bowl, add baking mix and cubed butter. Using your hands mix until crumbly. Add yeast mixture, and mix with your hands until a shaggy dough forms.

3.

Kneading dough - How to make pretzels
Forming dough - How to make pretzels
Ball of dough - How to make pretzels
Dough rising - How to make pretzels

Knead your dough for about 10-12 minutes. (If you're using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment to mix on medium for 8 minutes.)

Dough should be a tight, elastic ball. Cover mixing bowl with plastic wrap, let rise in warm area until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Cold Weather Tip: Make sure to let your dough rise in a warm area. Yeast (much like the rest of us) is a bit sluggish in the cold and it may take 15 to 30 minutes longer for your dough to rise.

4.

Flattening dough with hands - How to make pretzels
Rolling out dough - How to make pretzels
Cutting strips of dough - How to make pretzels

Turn dough out onto a floured work surface (like your counter). Gently flatten with your hands, and then using a rolling pin, roll out to a larger rectangle about 12" x 14" (30 x 35 cm) in size. Cut into 12 strips about 1" (2.5 cm) wide by 14" (35 cm) long.

5.

Rolling a U - How to make pretzels
Crossing the U - How to make pretzels
Making your first pretzel - How to make pretzels

Using your hands, form each strip into a large U. Cross the ends over about two-thirds the way up for the bottom of the U. Bring the tips of the dough to the bottom of the U and press into the dough to seal. Flip over.

6.

Forming another U - How to make pretzels
Crossing another U - How to make pretzels
Flipping up one side - How to make pretzels
Folding over both sides - How to make pretzels

Repeat with all strips of dough and lightly cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap once formed.

7.

Adding malt to boiling water - How to make pretzels
Adding baking soda to boiling water - How to make pretzels

When done forming the dough, you’ll want to start heating up your water bath and preheating your oven to 450° F (232° C). For your water bath, bring 4 quarts (4 L) of water, malt, and 1/4 cup (59 ml) baking soda to a boil in a stockpot over medium-high heat.

Note: To prevent boil-overs, it can be helpful to lower the heat when adding your baking soda. After it's fully incorporated into the hot water, you can raise the heat back to a full boil.

Note: Your malt may become hardened in its packaging. That's totally fine. It will melt right away when added to the hot water.

8.

Adding pretzel to boiling water - How to make pretzels
Boiling pretzel in hot water - How to make pretzels

Use a large slotted spoon or spider to add 1 or 2 pretzels to the water bath. Boil for 1 minute (pretzels will sink and then rise to the top). Remove pretzels with spoon to a clean kitchen towel and pat dry. Repeat for all pretzels.

9.

Adding salt to soft pretzels - How to make pretzels
Fresh out of the oven - How to make pretzels

Place pretzels on a baking sheet lined with a baking mat. Brush pretzels with melted butter and sprinkle pretzel salt over each pretzel.

Bake 12 minutes until pretzels are a deep golden brown. Enjoy!

Homemade Soft Pretzels from FarmSteady - How to make pretzels

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