The Perfect Sourdough Soft Pretzel Recipe

The dough is filled with melted butter, my sourdough starter, and honey for the perfect pretzel with a chewy texture. Finish it off with a butter glaze and some coarse sea salt for absolute perfection.

I was tempted to make sourdough bread this weekend but opted for these delicious soft sourdough pretzels instead. Make them into a pretzel shape or pretzel bites for the ultimate snack!

The dough reminds me a lot of my sourdough English muffins recipe. They have a slight taste like Auntie Anne’s traditional pretzels which is why I love them so much. 

Homemade pretzels are one of my favorite snacks to make and when I can incorporate my prized sourdough starter into any recipe I will gladly do it! When I do not have to use an instant yeast packet I feel so much better. 

I want to say this is a “quick and easy” sourdough pretzels recipe but it is a 2-day process. The majority of the time is hands-off, and it is spent letting the dough rest and ferment. 

The beauty in the flavor of this fresh pretzel is simply the nutritional benefits of letting wild yeast do its thing and break down all of that phytic acid that makes grains harder to digest. Commercial yeast just won’t give you the flavor or the nutritional benefits but it will be much quicker. 

Other Sourdough Recipes To Check Out

Sourdough Pizza Crust

Sourdough Blackberry Cobbler

Sourdough Pancakes

Sourdough Biscuits

How To Dehydrate + Store Your Sourdough Starter

TIPS TO MAKING THE PERFECT SOFT SOURDOUGH PRETZEL RECIPE

1. Use a stand mixer if possible. Attach a dough hook attachment to your machine and let it work the dough around on medium speed for at least 5 minutes. This takes a lot of muscle work out for you! The stiff dough will be prime for fermentation.
2. Allow enough time for the sourdough pretzel dough to rise and ferment. I would suggest at least 12 hours and even better if it’s 24 hours. 
3. Use a dough scraper to work your dough once it has fermented. They are nice to use to cut into dough ropes as well.

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE THESE SOFT PRETZELS

• Stand mixer with dough hook (I have a KitchenAid mixer)
• Large Bowl to let the dough ferment
• Wooden Spoon
• Tea Towel
• Measuring Cup
• Baking Tray
• Parchment Paper
• Dough scraper or knife to cut the dough
• Pastry brush for toppings
• Pot for boiling the pretzels

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS SOURDOUGH PRETZEL RECIPE

The Dough

• 1.5 Cups Sourdough Starter
• 1 Cup of Water
• 2 Tablespoons of butter melted
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• 3 Teaspoons of Kosher Salt
• 4 cups of all-purpose flour

Water Bath Ingredients

• 6-8 Cups of Water
• 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
• 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

Egg Wash Ingredients

• 1 Egg Beaten Well
• Salt 

Possible Toppings or Add-Ins

• Cinnamon sugar
• Butter + Salt
• Cinnamon raisin

HOW TO MAKE THIS TASTY PRETZEL RECIPE

Step 1

Add all of the dough ingredients into your KitchenAid mixer bowl and start mixing it. Once the ingredients are all incorporated add your dough hook attachment on and work the dough on medium speed for about 5 minutes.

Step 2

Once the dough is stiff and incorporated, place it in a large glass bowl and cover with a damp tea towel for at least 12-24 hours to ferment and rise.

Look at those bubbles after 24 hours of fermentation.

Step 3

The next day when you are ready to start making your pretzels, get your water bath ready and boil water in a large pot or dutch oven. Add baking soda and brown sugar to the water and let boil. Cut the dough and roll the dough pieces into a long rope on a floured work surface.

Grab each of the ends of the rope and form into a pretzel. 

Once the boiling water is ready to go, drop 2-3 pretzels in at a time for about 30 seconds. Use a strainer to get them out.

Step 4

On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper place your pretzels down and place the egg wash over top. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.