Baked Soft Pretzels with Cheese Dip Recipe
These Baked Soft Pretzels are a delightful homemade snack featuring a golden-brown crust sprinkled with coarse salt and served with a creamy cheese dip. Made from a simple yeast dough, they are boiled briefly in a baking soda solution before baking to achieve the perfect chewy texture and rich flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 soft pretzels 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Baking Soda Dip
- 2 cups hot water
- ¼ cup baking soda
Topping and Serving
- Coarse salt for topping
- Cheese dip (for serving)
Instructions
- Proof the yeast: In a stand mixer bowl, combine 1 cup warm water and 2 teaspoons active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast becomes bubbly and activates.
- Mix the dough: Attach the dough hook to the mixer and gradually add ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 3 cups all-purpose flour, one cup at a time. If the dough feels too dry, add 1 additional tablespoon of water to achieve the proper consistency.
- Let the dough rise: Remove the dough from the mixer, knead it into a smooth ball, and place it in a large bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over the dough, cover the bowl with a towel, and allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size.
- Shape the pretzels: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Divide the risen dough into 6 equal portions. Roll each piece into a long rope and then twist it into a classic pretzel shape.
- Prepare the baking soda dip and dip pretzels: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups hot water and ¼ cup baking soda. Dip each shaped pretzel into this hot water and baking soda mixture, then transfer them onto the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle coarse salt generously on top of each pretzel.
- Bake the pretzels: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the pretzels turn golden brown on top.
- Serve: Remove the pretzels from the oven and serve warm with your favorite homemade cheese dip on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Make sure the water used to proof the yeast is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
- Boiling the pretzels briefly in the baking soda water creates the signature pretzel crust texture and color.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with melted butter for a richer flavor in the dough.
- For extra flavor, add toppings like sesame seeds or cinnamon sugar instead of coarse salt.
- Leftover pretzels can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven to retain their softness.
Keywords: soft pretzels, baked pretzels, homemade pretzels, snack, yeast dough, cheese dip
