Homemade Auntie Anne's Style Soft Pretzels
Homemade Auntie Anne's Style Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Dough
- 4 cups bread flour, up to 4 1/2 cups, all-purpose flour can be substituted
- 2 1/4 teaspoons fast-rising yeast, or 1 packet
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
For the Baking Soda Bath
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 cups water, for the bath
For Finishing
- 1 egg, beaten with a splash of water for egg wash
- 1 tablespoon pretzel sea salt, or coarse sea salt, as needed for topping
- 1/4 cup melted butter, optional, for brushing after baking
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the bread flour (starting with 4 cups), fast-rising yeast, light brown sugar, and salt. Whisk these dry ingredients together thoroughly to ensure they are well distributed.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Pour the oil and warm water into the dry mixture.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Stir the ingredients in the bowl using a spatula or spoon until a shaggy, somewhat combined dough forms.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Turn the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured surface. Gather the dough together and begin kneading it. Continue kneading until all the dry flour is incorporated and the dough forms a relatively smooth ball. If the dough is too sticky, add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour gradually. Do not add more liquid during kneading, even if the dough seems dry at first; continue kneading to work in the dry flour.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Lightly spray a clean bowl with oil. Place the kneaded dough ball into the oiled bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for approximately 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. Do not punch down the dough after it has risen, as the goal is a fluffier, airy pretzel.
⏱️ 60 min
- 6
While the dough is rising or after it has risen, preheat your oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 450
- 7
Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a clean surface. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut off individual portions of the dough. Roll each portion into a long, thin rope (about 18-24 inches long).
⏱️ 10 min
- 8
To form the classic pretzel shape, place the middle of the dough rope down, cross the ends over each other, then cross them again, and finally, stick the ends down to secure the shape.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Prepare the baking soda bath: In a shallow dish, combine 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of baking soda, stirring until the baking soda is mostly dissolved.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Dip each shaped pretzel into the baking soda water, ensuring both sides are coated. Remove, allow excess water to drip off, and place the dipped pretzels onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Brush the tops of all the pretzels on the baking sheet with the egg wash (1 egg beaten with a splash of water). Generously sprinkle pretzel sea salt or coarse sea salt over each pretzel.
⏱️ 4 min
- 12
Place the baking sheet into the preheated 450°F oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 450
- 13
Once the pretzels are out of the oven, for an authentic Auntie Anne's finish, brush immediately with melted butter (optional). Serve warm.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Homemade Auntie Anne's Style Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Dough
- 4 cups bread flour, up to 4 1/2 cups, all-purpose flour can be substituted
- 2 1/4 teaspoons fast-rising yeast, or 1 packet
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
For the Baking Soda Bath
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 cups water, for the bath
For Finishing
- 1 egg, beaten with a splash of water for egg wash
- 1 tablespoon pretzel sea salt, or coarse sea salt, as needed for topping
- 1/4 cup melted butter, optional, for brushing after baking
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the bread flour (starting with 4 cups), fast-rising yeast, light brown sugar, and salt. Whisk these dry ingredients together thoroughly to ensure they are well distributed.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Pour the oil and warm water into the dry mixture.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Stir the ingredients in the bowl using a spatula or spoon until a shaggy, somewhat combined dough forms.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Turn the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured surface. Gather the dough together and begin kneading it. Continue kneading until all the dry flour is incorporated and the dough forms a relatively smooth ball. If the dough is too sticky, add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour gradually. Do not add more liquid during kneading, even if the dough seems dry at first; continue kneading to work in the dry flour.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Lightly spray a clean bowl with oil. Place the kneaded dough ball into the oiled bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for approximately 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. Do not punch down the dough after it has risen, as the goal is a fluffier, airy pretzel.
⏱️ 60 min - 6
While the dough is rising or after it has risen, preheat your oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 450 - 7
Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a clean surface. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut off individual portions of the dough. Roll each portion into a long, thin rope (about 18-24 inches long).
⏱️ 10 min - 8
To form the classic pretzel shape, place the middle of the dough rope down, cross the ends over each other, then cross them again, and finally, stick the ends down to secure the shape.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Prepare the baking soda bath: In a shallow dish, combine 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of baking soda, stirring until the baking soda is mostly dissolved.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Dip each shaped pretzel into the baking soda water, ensuring both sides are coated. Remove, allow excess water to drip off, and place the dipped pretzels onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Brush the tops of all the pretzels on the baking sheet with the egg wash (1 egg beaten with a splash of water). Generously sprinkle pretzel sea salt or coarse sea salt over each pretzel.
⏱️ 4 min - 12
Place the baking sheet into the preheated 450°F oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 450 - 13
Once the pretzels are out of the oven, for an authentic Auntie Anne's finish, brush immediately with melted butter (optional). Serve warm.
⏱️ 2 min