This recipe was born out of much trial and error. I have been trying recipes for soft pretzels since before I even had a clue about bread making. All in an attempt to recreate my favorite mall pretzel at home. I had never found a recipe that even came close, even ones that claim to be the copycat recipe. Out of frustration, I spent the $7 or $8 dollars at the grocery store for the mix that my favorite pretzel place sells to make at home. They were good…………….. ..but then..
“light bulb”
low and behold the ingredient list on the side of the box! Granted, amounts were not given— but with a little knowledge that I have gained from my frequent baking- and some testing- I think I figured out a pretty close match. And if not perfect, who cares, they are delicious! And my mall pretzel loving family has happily given up the expensive mall pretzels for these.
These can be made into regular pretzels, pretzel sticks, or pretzel bites (my personal favorite). In fact, I usually give the kids each a piece of dough and let them be creative. Not to mention, I have used this dough for pizza dough, pretzel dinner rolls and pretzel sandwich and burger rolls. The dough can be stuffed……oh the wonderful treats you can make with these- just use your imagination!!! I will definitely be sharing some of the other things to make with this pretzel dough in the future.
Do you need one more reason to make these? Well, they can be baked, frozen and reheated in just minutes and are still amazing! Great for a late night snack, a get together, or game day!
Enjoy!!
The Best Soft Pretzels (copy cat of mall pretzels)
Ingredients
For pretzel dough
- 2 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
- 2 cups of unbleached bread flour can substitute more all purpose but they come out softer/better texture with addition of bread flour
- 2 1/2 tsp of salt
- 3 tsp instant yeast
- 5 packed Tbsp of brown sugar
- 5 tsp of baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups of warm water plus an addition 1-2 Tbsp if needed
For water bath
- 4 cups of water
- 1/3 cup baking soda
Topping
- Coarse sea salt
- 1/2 stick of butter melted for brushing
Instructions
For the pretzel dough
- In the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with dough hook, mix flours, salt, yeast, sugar and baking powder until combined. With mixer running on low speed stream in 1 1/4 cups warm water and continue to knead dough until combined, then an additional 5-7 minutes, until smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft, slightly tacky but not sticky. If after a minute or two of kneading, the dough feels very stiff or dry add additional water a Tbsp at a time or if it is really sticky add a Tbsp of flour at a time until right texture. I usually don't have to add additional water unless the air is very dry and cool.
- Alternately: you can initially mix ingredients in a bowl, to form a cohesive ball, then turn out on the counter and knead until smooth and elastic, following remainder of directions.
- Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and allow to rest/rise for about an hour in a warm place. It doesn't have to double.
- Preheat the oven to 425°. In a large pan, begin bringing the 4 cups of water to just about a simmer- you don't want it really hot just really warm. Prepare baking sheets- use parchment paper or silicone mat (you can use just the pan but they may stick a bit)
- Punch down dough and place on counter (do not flour or oil counter) and press into a long rectangle and cut into 12 equal pieces.
- Gently roll and stretch each piece with your hands until you have a very long and thin rope- about 30-36 inches long. To make a pretzel bring both ends up into a U shape, cross and then cross again, then bring ends down to bottom sides of the U and press to make pretzel shape. For pretzel sticks or bites cut the long rope into 5-6 pieces. (It's easier to cut into bites after dipping in baking soda bath)
- Once the water is very warm, carefully and gradually add baking soda, stirring it in. (don't make my mistake by dumping it in or using a small pan- it overflows and what an awful mess!)
- Dip pretzels and or sticks in baking soda bath for just a few seconds, quickly in and out, and place on prepared pans.If you are making pretzel bites, cut the sticks into bite size pieces (remember they do rise in the oven) and place on the prepared pans. You may have to do a few batches, its ok if the pretzels sit out while waiting to go in the oven.
- Sprinkle the dipped pretzels/sticks/bites with the coarse sea salt if desired.
- Place in the oven and bake for 4 minutes, rotate pan(s) and bake an additional 3-5 min, until golden brown. Large pretzels will take the longer time- just keep an eye on them
- Remove pans from oven and brush the pretzels generously with the melted butter. Take pretzels off pans and cool on wire racks.
- Repeat process for remaining dough.
- Serve warm or freeze in freezer bags for later use.
- To reheat frozen pretzels- preheat oven to 350° and place frozen pretzels on a baking sheet. Place in oven and warm until heated through 5-10 min at most. Brush again with some melted butter and you are done.
- Serve with cheese sauce or mustard or whatever you like!
Notes
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These are spot-on like the mall. Always a big seller at Bake Sales for my kids & other fundraisers.
I think the combination of the all-purpose and the bread-flour makes all the difference. Tried it with 100% bread flour once and it just didn’t have the same consistency. Tried with 100% all-purpose and again, not the same. Thank you for the recipe and for making my house smell like the mall! 🙂 Cheers!
Thank you! I agree the mix of the 2 flours works great. 🙂
I know it’s been a bit since anyone has posted to this particular blog. But I happened upon it, after my daughter and I bought pretzel bites at a mall about an hour from where we live. Was so excited to see a recipe that is 1. easy to replicate; 2. easy to understand; and 3. written by a Christian sister!!! I’m the children’s pastor, so to speak, at our small United Methodist Church; I give the children’s sermon every Sunday and am a licensed lay speaker, so I can fill in for the pastor when he’s unavailable. Looking forward to future ministry as a Deacon, should we be able to get the financing in place.
Still, kudos to you for not shying away from your faith. For embracing it, and for recognizing that your talents are God-given. As are all of ours!!
Many blessings,
~Chrissie Odeen
Black River Falls, WI
Thank you! Honestly I wouldn’t be anything without Jesus. He is my everything and I know even this cooking ability is from Him 🙂
Hi, I just made a Pretzel Bite recipe out of King Arthur and although they were ok, did not have the mall pretzel taste and texture I was seeking. I was wondering about your light bulb moment. What was the difference??? Thank you!
I tried for years to recreate the mall pretzel recipe and then figured out this recipe by reading the ingredients in the at home kit. Something about the baking powder and brown sugar in the recipe makes it very close to the taste and texture of mall pretzels.
What a delicious recipe–thank you! I made them with my daughter and 2 of her friends this morning. . .everyone loved them!
Thank you so much!
I am so glad everyone loved them. I haven’t made them in a while but I think it’s time 🙂
Hello dear from Australia. I live in an outback farming town in Queensland (Hughenden). Our food is three times dearer and due to drought and bad soil I cant even garden here which I love to do. I make bread for us and oldies on pension. I make yoghurt,jams and even my own lipgloss. I also bring a meal each nite to my 87yr old frend who lives in a tin house with no hot water or inner walls. Ive spent 3days trying out recipes. We r Christians too. Weve been here 2yrs and this town is tough and so r peoples hearts. God is supplying food 4 others and I am seeing hearts soften 1 by 1. He is so gd that my husband had no wk 4 5mnths & yet He miraculously provided wat we needed to give to others and put food in our mouths. I am disabled and we dont have credit cards. Tonite i found a post about u being a believer and I already knew this recipe was the one. Hoping to sell some at local shop to provide some much need cash to get more to give more. God Bless you dear. Noeline (47).
Your comment brought tears to my eyes. I sometimes forget how blessed my family is. My hearts desire is really to bless people with these recipes and I never imagined in this way- it just shows just how much greater God’s plans are than ours. God does provide and has shown himself faithful to my family through many tough times. I will keep you, your family and your town in my prayers. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Amy, These pretzels look fantastic! I’d love to try them soon. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. So glad I stopped by:)…
I’ve been browsing through your site and was thrilled to find out that you also love the Lord. How wonderful! I’m a Christian as well and was excited to see a fellow blogger giving God the glory and blessing others through recipes. God bless you and your family.
Thank you so much! I actually just checked out your site and it looks like you have some amazing recipes we will have to try. I agree- it is nice seeing other bloggers who honor the Lord!