Copycat Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Recipe
Mall pretzels that you can now enjoy in the comfort of your home for a fraction of the price with countless dipping sauce option! They are the perfect party food or snack to impress guests with and they really are easier to make than you’d think. Making homemade pretzels is a similar process to making a bread or rolling dough, but instead you shape it into a pretzel versus a loaf or roll. The pretzel shaping is actually fun once you get the hang of it. These homemade soft pretzels are one of those crave-worthy foods that may take a bit of time and some patience, but the end result is so worth it. It’s a great recipe for a weekend “learn how to” baking project then from there it may become a monthly tradition!
Photography credit: Jenn Davis from Two Cups Flour.
Homemade Soft Pretzel Ingredients
For this homemade pretzel dough recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Milk (I like to use 2% here) Active dry yeast Brown sugar Butter All-purpose flour Fine salt and coarse salt Baking soda
Why is There so Much Baking Soda?
The seemingly excessive amount of baking soda here actually isn’t used as rising agent, rather it gives the homemade pretzels a crisp, nicely browned exterior.
How to Make Soft Pretzels at Home
Warm milk and stir in yeast, let rest pour into stand mixer. Mix in brown sugar, butter, 1 cup flour, fine salt. Add remaining flour and knead using hook attachment on stand mixer. Cover and let rise until doubled. Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets. Punch dough down and divide into 12 pieces. Cover. Working with one piece at a time roll into a thin rope about 32 – 36 inches then form into a pretzel shape. In a shallow bowl whisk together baking soda and water then immerse pretzel into water mixture then transfer to prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt to taste and repeat process with remaining dough. Bake in oven until golden brown then brush with melted butter.
Can I Make Them into Pretzel Bites?
Yes! If you’d rather make them bite-sized, follow the same prep method but rather roll into ropes then cut into 1-inch pieces instead of shaping into pretzels. Pretzel bites are a kid’s favorite Super Bowl party snack.
What Are the Best Pretzel Dipping Sauces?
Homemade cheese sauce Marinara sauce Caramel sauce Chocolate sauce Mustard sauce or honey mustard Whipped cream cheese
Tips for the Best Homemade Soft Pretzels
The easiest way to divide into 12 pieces is to divide the dough in half, then divide the halves into halves then those and into thirds. I found working on a non-floured to very lightly floured surface worked best. I began with a lightly floured surface and realized it was much harder to get more stretch, plus it was much faster to roll them out when working on a less-no flour surface. Serve these homemade pretzels warm. I’ve included instructions on how to reheat pretzels below!
How to Reheat Pretzels
How ever you dunk your homemade pretzels, I recommend you eat them warm — they just aren’t the same cold. Can’t you just see that moment now, where you pull your own batch from the oven and tear off piece by piece and dip it into a rich sauce and you savor every last crumb of it? Heaven! Here’s how to reheat pretzels:
Microwave: The quickest method is to reheat on a plate in a microwave for 10 – 15 seconds. Oven or Toaster Oven: preheat to 400 degrees F. Wrap pretzel in foil and heat until warmed through, about 3 minutes.
Other Delicious Pretzel Recipes to Try:
Auntie Anne’s Copycat Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites (Nuggets) with Cream Cheese Dipping Sauce Rolo Pretzels (3 Ingredients) Pretzel M&M Hugs {Christmas Style} Honey Chipotle Nut and Pretzel Mix
