Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (2024)

Super soft pretzel rolls are perfect with soup or as a bun for a sandwich or burger!

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (1)

Amazing Homemade Pretzel Buns Recipe

If you like soft baked pretzels, you will definitely like these super soft pretzel rolls! The rolls seriously taste just like a soft baked pretzel.

As you can imagine, the rolls are delicious dipped in anything cheesy, like this cheesy bacon dip or one of our soup recipes, or you could go the cinnamon sugar route instead of salt. Anything that might be delicious on a soft baked pretzel will be delicious on these pretzel rolls!

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (2)

These Pretzel Buns Have Various Uses!

Another reason to make this pretzel roll recipe is that you can use them as an awesome homemade option for sandwiches or burger buns! We’re going to have some fancy burgers with these pretzel buns!

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These Pretzel Rolls Are Surprisingly Easy to Make

Now, you might think that pretzel rolls sound hard or complicated to make, but they really are surprisingly easy and simple. Just a few little extra steps than your regular roll.

This pretzel roll recipe takes about 2 hours from start to finish. Not too bad. And about 1 hour and 20 minutes of that time is hands-off. You can do it!

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (4)

The dough is really simple – yeast, oil, milk, water, salt, flour. It is a bit more of a stiff, heavy dough, but still soft, smooth, and slightly tacky.

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (5)

How to Divide and Shape Your Pretzel Buns

The easiest way to divide the dough into 16 pieces is to shape the dough into an even square or rectangle, then cut it 4×4. A dough scraper is perfect for this!

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To make dough balls, I pull the dough back to one point to make a taut ball with one puckered end. Then you can flatten out the pucker a bit. The pinching/pulling of the dough helps squeeze out air bubbles and make a nice tight ball.

This is basically done again after the dough balls rest, but before boiling. Except it is done much more gently that time around.

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Boiling the Pretzel Buns

Finally found a good use for this skimmer slotted spoon. I think this is the first recipe I’ve actually used it in. Haha.

The dough balls will look a little strange and wrinkly when they come out of the boiling water and that is ok! It will all work out.

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Baking the Pretzel Rolls

Silicone baking mats work really well for this soft pretzel roll recipe because they help keep the dough from sticking while the dough rests and when they bake too.

It is really important that the knife or razor you use to make the slits is sharp. Otherwise, your dough balls might deflate or get squished.

Shout to my favorite knivesVictorinox! Either the chef knife or a paring knife will work here. I’ve had mine for years and they are still like new. Just use a simple knife sharpener every once in a while and these knives slice through tomatoes with ease, as well as pretzel roll dough. 😉

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Conclusion

Note that this recipe makes 16 large pretzel rolls that are perfect as buns. Feel free to make the rolls smaller, if desired.

Give this soft pretzel roll recipe a try! Fresh pretzel rolls on your table 2 hours from now!

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (10)

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Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (11)

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (12)

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe

Super soft pretzel rolls are perfect with soup or as a bun for a sandwich or burger!

4.42 / 5 ( 17 Reviews )

Print Rate

Prep Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours

Serves: 16

Adjust Servings: 16

Equipment

  • Stand mixer

  • Large bowl

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, stir together the yeast, oil, milk, and water. Add salt and two cups of flour. Then add more flour gradually until the dough begins to form and clears the sides of the bowl. Knead for 3-4 minutes. The dough will be soft and slightly tacky. It is a stiffer, heavier dough than your usual roll dough though.

  • Lightly grease a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl, cover with greased plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

  • Portion the dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a dough ball and place onto lightly greased parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Let the dough rest for 15-20 minutes.

  • While the dough rests, add the 3 quarts water, sugar, and baking soda to a 5-6 quart pot and bring the water to a boil.

  • Carefully remove the dough balls one at a time from the parchment or mat and gently pinch the sides of the bottom of the dough in to the bottom of the ball. You are pulling the dough taut by forming a pucker of dough on the bottom. Don't totally deflate the dough ball though.

  • Gently drop 3-4 dough balls into the boiling water and boil for about 30 seconds each side. The longer you boil, the chewier the pretzel roll will be. Remove the dough ball from the water with a slotted spoon or spatula, letting the excess water drip off.

  • Place boiled dough balls onto baking sheets lined with parchment or silicone baking mats.

  • Preheat oven to 425°F/218°C.

  • Use a very sharp knife or razor to make two parallel shallow cuts in the top of each roll. Lightly sprinkle the tops of the rolls with coarse salt or kosher salt.

  • Bake for about 20 minutes, until the rolls are a deep golden brown.

Recipe Notes

Best served same day, but can be warmed lightly in the microwave the next day or two.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 828mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Super Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient which makes a pretzel taste like a pretzel? ›

The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. It also gives them their unique and indelible “pretzel” flavor.

What is the secret solution for Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

Instead, they mix hot (but not boiling) water with baking soda until the baking soda dissolves, then dunk the pretzels in that solution prior to baking. According to The Daily Meal, the baking soda solution slapped onto each pretzel is what gives them that signature Auntie Anne's crust.

Why do you put baking soda in water when making pretzels? ›

Like lye, baking soda is an alkaline substance, and when mixed with water and brushed over the pretzel dough, it changes the pH of the dough and gelates the surface starch. In the oven, the starch gel hardens and the alkaline baking soda makes browning happen fast.

Is pretzel dough the same as bread dough? ›

Soft pretzels are just a yeast bread is that formed into a pretzel shape. The one big difference in pretzel making, as opposed to a regular bread, is that pretzels are boiled and then baked. It is the boiling that gives the outside of the pretzel its beautiful golden brown color and uniquely crisp and chewy texture.

What makes a pretzel bun taste like a pretzel? ›

The pretzel buns get a water bath in a solution made from water and baked baking soda - this gives them that signature pretzel taste. Egg wash and score.

Does Auntie Anne's use lye or baking soda? ›

That's kind of the point of this post, after all. Well, the cheery ladies were very clear with me: they do NOT use lye. No sodium hydroxide/poison/caustic soda—none whatsoever—in their pretzels. (They do, however, dip their pretzels in a baking soda solution.)

Does Auntie Anne's fry or bake their pretzels? ›

Products sold at Auntie Anne's franchise locations are baked fresh in-store. In order to provide you with a great Auntie Anne's experience at home, we use the same proprietary blend of flour used in our stores.

Does Auntie Anne's put butter on their pretzels? ›

Auntie Anne Pretzels are somehow more delicious than your average pretzel. A healthy dose of sugar makes for a tasty dough, and a topping of melted butter and salt makes them positively addictive. Another reason the popular pretzels are so good is they are made and served fresh and warm.

Why do you boil pretzel dough before baking? ›

Boiling the dough causes it to instantly puff, creating a chewy interior and giving the exterior a head start on forming a crisp crust. The baking soda also produces pretzels with a deep golden brown and cracked appearance. Don't skip it!

What is a good substitute for lye in pretzels? ›

That is by taking baking soda, spreading it out on a baking pan and putting it into the oven at about 250-300 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour. That changes the chemical properties in the baking soda to make it behave more similarly to lye.

Is baking soda or lye better for pretzels? ›

Lye is primarily used to make pretzels, and it's the reason for their unmistakable shiny, mahogany color. To prepare, shaped pretzels are dipped in a lye bath, then baked in the oven. This method can also be used with rolls or buns.

What flour is best for pretzels? ›

I really recommend that you use bread flour rather than all purpose when making soft pretzels. Bread flour has a higher gluten content, which in this case yields softer and chewier soft pretzels than you could expect with all purpose flour.

Can pretzel dough sit overnight? ›

Friday 8 PM - Mix the pretzel dough, cover the bowl, and let the dough ferment on the counter overnight. Saturday 8 AM - Divide the dough, shape the pretzels, cover, and let rise. Saturday 8:30 AM - Prepare a water bath with baking soda and dark brown sugar.

Are soft pretzels healthy? ›

Pretzels may be better than some fatty chips, but four out of five nutrition experts surveyed by Time say if you're trying to eat healthy, pretzels shouldn't be your go-to snack. Although pretzels are low-fat, they are also pretty paltry on the protein and fiber front, and they can be quite high in sodium and carbs.

What gives pretzels their distinctive taste? ›

Flavor: the baking soda bath gives pretzels their unique flavor. Glossiness: the alkaline bath also gives the pretzel the characteristic glossy look.

Why does pretzel bread taste different? ›

Malt Syrup (the kind used for beer) and dipping them in a hot alkaline solution (baking soda or food grade lye and hot water) after baking for about 20–30 seconds gives a pretzel its characteristic flavor and distinctive brown coloring. The alkaline solution is a big contributor to the pretzel flavor.

What chemical are pretzels dipped in? ›

Lye is primarily used to make pretzels, and it's the reason for their unmistakable shiny, mahogany color. To prepare, shaped pretzels are dipped in a lye bath, then baked in the oven.

What is the lie for making pretzels? ›

Lye is the secret ingredient that gives pretzels their characteristic look and taste. Without lye, you have a breadstick. When you dip raw dough into a hot lye bath, the lye breaks down proteins and starches on the surface.

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