Best 7 Soft Rye Pretzels Recipes

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Indulge in the delightful world of soft rye pretzels, a delectable treat that combines the tangy flavor of rye flour with a soft, chewy texture. These pretzels are perfect for any occasion, whether it's a casual snack, a party appetizer, or even a main course when paired with your favorite dipping sauce. Our collection of recipes offers a variety of options to suit your taste and dietary preferences, including traditional lye pretzels, vegan pretzels, and gluten-free pretzels. Let's embark on a culinary journey and discover the secrets behind creating these irresistible soft rye pretzels.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

RYE PRETZELS



Rye Pretzels image

Provided by Pete Wells

Time 3h

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup whole-grain or dark rye flour
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for serving
1/2 cup baking soda
Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
Mustard, for serving

Steps:

  • Combine 1½ cups lukewarm water (110 to 115 degrees), yeast and honey in a large bowl; stir to combine. Add the rye flour, 2¾ cups all-purpose flour and kosher salt; stir again.
  • Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 12 to 15 minutes, adding up to ¼ cup all-purpose flour if needed, until the dough is soft and smooth but not sticky. (Tip: to prevent dough from sticking to hands, rub a small amount of melted butter or vegetable oil on them.)
  • Lightly brush a large bowl with some of the melted butter. Shape the dough into a ball, seam side down, and transfer to the bowl; brush the surface of the dough with melted butter, cover with plastic wrap or a towel and let rise in a warm spot for up to 90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
  • Lightly brush two parchment-lined baking sheets with butter. Punch down the dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 12 pieces. With your hands, roll one piece into a snake with thinly tapered ends, about 16 inches long. (Cover remaining pieces with plastic wrap while working.) Transfer to prepared baking sheet, looping one end, then the other, over the midpoint of the roll, making a pretzel shape. Repeat with remaining dough. Let the pretzels rest 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees, placing two racks in and above the center of the oven. Meanwhile, bring 10 cups water to a boil in a large pot. When the pretzels are ready, stir the baking soda into the boiling water. (Note: if you double the recipe, make a fresh pot of the baking-soda wash for each batch.) Gently lift 2 or 3 pretzels, depending on the surface area of your pot, and slide them into the bath, knot side down. Poach for 30 seconds, turn them over and poach 30 seconds more. Using a long-handled mesh strainer, transfer the pretzels to a kitchen-towel-lined sheet tray to drain, then return them to the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle freely with sea salt. Repeat with remaining pretzels.
  • Bake for 14 to 18 minutes, turning the trays halfway through, until dark brown. Transfer to a cooling rack until just cool enough to eat. Brush the tops with melted butter, if you like. Serve with mustard.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 173, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 33 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 2519 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

SOFT GIANT PRETZELS



Soft Giant Pretzels image

My husband and our friends and family love these soft, chewy pretzels. Let the bread machine mix the dough, then all you have to do is shape and bake these fun snacks. -Sherry Peterson, Fort Collins, Colorado

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Snacks

Time 30m

Yield 8 pretzels.

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water (70° to 80°), divided
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 quarts water
1/2 cup baking soda
Coarse salt

Steps:

  • In a bread machine pan, place 1 cup water and next 3 ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting. Check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons water or flour if needed., When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 8 balls. Roll each into a 20-in. rope; form into pretzel shape. , Preheat oven to 425°. In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts water and the baking soda to a boil. Drop pretzels into boiling water, 2 at a time; boil for 10-15 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels., Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Spritz or lightly brush with remaining 2 Tbsp. water. Sprinkle with salt.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 193 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 380mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS RECIPE BY TASTY



Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: water, salt, sugar, active dry yeast, flour, oil, baking soda, eggs, coarse salt

Provided by Hannah Williams

Categories     Snacks

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 ½ cups water, warm
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 packet active dry yeast
4 ½ cups flour
3 tablespoons oil, divided
⅔ cup baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
coarse salt

Steps:

  • In a bowl, mix water, salt, and sugar until combined. Add yeast, and let rest 5 minutes until yeast starts to foam.
  • Add flour and 2 tablespoons of oil, and mix thoroughly until a dough forms.
  • Remove the dough and use the remaining oil to cover the bowl.
  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and leave in a warm place for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
  • Cut dough into 8 pieces and roll them out into thin ropes, twisting the two ends to form a pretzel shape.
  • Add baking soda to a large pot of water, and bring to a rolling boil. Boil each pretzel for 30 seconds per side.
  • Transfer pretzels to a baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 332 calories, Carbohydrate 55 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 9 grams, Sugar 1 gram

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS



Homemade Soft Pretzels image

For a taste of the fair at home, try Alton Brown's Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe from Good Eats on Food Network.

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h55m

Yield 8 pretzels

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for pan
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Pretzel salt

Steps:

  • Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.
  • Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.
  • In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.
  • Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

BAVARIAN-STYLE SOFT PRETZELS



Bavarian-Style Soft Pretzels image

These pretzels, called laugenbrezeln, take a bit of planning and time. But they only spend a quarter-hour in the oven, filling the kitchen with a lovely smell, and then you have soft, warm, salty pretzels that you made yourself. What's that worth? A lot.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Categories     project, appetizer, side dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 12 pretzels

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 tablespoon barley malt syrup or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons lard or softened unsalted butter
2 tablespoons instant yeast
6 cups (about 30 ounces) bread flour
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Food-grade lye, for dipping (see note)
Coarse sea salt or pretzel salt, for sprinkling (do not substitute kosher salt)

Steps:

  • In a mixing bowl (or bowl of a mixer), stir together syrup, lard or butter, yeast, 2 cups warm water and half the flour. Add kosher salt and remaining flour and stir just until mixture comes together in a shaggy mass.
  • Turn out onto counter (or attach dough hook to mixer) and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and supple. Cut into 12 pieces and let rest 5 minutes.
  • Roll out each piece into a rope about 22 inches long. (For traditional shape, the ends should be thin and the center fat.) Lift both ends, twist them around each other once, then bring ends back and press them on either side of fat "belly," at about 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock. Then gently spread out "shoulders" of pretzel. Transfer shaped pretzels to an ungreased baking sheet. (Alternatively, form each piece into a round or oval to make laugenbrötchen, rolls.)
  • Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate at least one hour or overnight.
  • Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a deep bowl, wearing rubber or latex gloves, make a solution of 1/2 cup lye and 10 cups water (or 1 part lye to 20 parts water); pour lye carefully into water to avoid splashing. Dip each pretzel in solution, turning it over for 10 to 15 seconds, and place back on baking sheet.
  • Sprinkle pretzels with salt. Bake about 15 minutes or until deep brown. Remove to a rack and serve warm.

SOUR RYE PRETZELS



Sour Rye Pretzels image

Sour-rye pretzel rolls get their tang not from a sourdough starter, but from yogurt.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Breakfast & Brunch Recipes     Bread Recipes

Yield Makes 35

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for bowl and plastic wrap
1 onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 packages active dry yeast
Pinch of sugar
2 1/4 cups plain yogurt
2 tablespoons salt
2 1/2 tablespoons caraway seeds
1/2 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
2 large whole eggs, lightly beaten, plus 1 large egg yolk
3 cups rye flour
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Yellow cornmeal, for sprinkling
5 tablespoons coarse salt

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. When oil is hot, add the chopped onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat; set aside until cool.
  • In the detached bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together yeast, 1/4 cup warm water (105 degrees), and a pinch of sugar. Set aside until mixture is foamy, about 6 minutes.
  • Attach bowl to electric mixer fitted with the dough-hook attachment. On low speed, add yogurt, onions, salt, caraway seeds, pepper, eggs, and rye flour. Slowly add enough all-purpose flour to make a soft but not sticky dough. Knead on medium-low speed until dough springs back when pressed with a finger, about 6 minutes. Brush the inside of a large mixing bowl with olive oil. Transfer dough to bowl; cover with oiled plastic wrap. Set aside to rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
  • Sprinkle three large baking sheets with cornmeal. Using a kitchen scale, divide dough into 2-ounce pieces. Roll each piece into a 12- to 14-inch length, and make each into a U shape. Cross the end of the U, and then fold crossed ends so they are draped over bottom of the U. If desired, snip each end for a cleaner shape.
  • Place pretzels, 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart, on prepared baking sheets. Cover with oiled plastic wrap, and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 25 minutes.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together remaining egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water. Brush tops with mixture; sprinkle with salt. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool at least 5 minutes before serving.

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS



Homemade soft pretzels image

Edd Kimber demonstrates how to make perfect pretzels with a chewy crust and soft, fluffy interior. Mix honey and mustard for a fantastic dip to go with them

Provided by Edd Kimber

Categories     Brunch, Snack, Treat

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 9

500g strong white bread flour
7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
25g dark brown muscovado sugar
50g unsalted butter, melted
plain flour, for dusting
oil, for greasing
3 tbsp bicarbonate of soda, baked (see below)
1 large egg, lightly beaten, for glazing
flaked sea salt, to serve

Steps:

  • Put the flour, yeast, sugar and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl and mix together to combine. In a large jug, mix together 300ml lukewarm water and the butter. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the water, mixing together to form a rough dough.
  • Tip out onto a floured work surface and knead for 10-15 mins or until smooth and elastic. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film and set aside until doubled in size, about 1hr.
  • Once risen, knock out the air bubbles in the dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Using your hands, roll each piece into a long rope about 60cm long.
  • To form into pretzels, lay the rope in a U-shape with the curve pointing towards you. Take the two ends and cross them over.
  • Take the ends, lift them backwards and press them into the curve of the U-shape. Repeat with the remaining dough. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
  • Carefully place the pretzels on a baking tray lined with parchment and lightly greased with oil. Cover lightly with oiled cling film. Set aside for about 20 mins until puffy (not fully risen like bread dough).
  • Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water, bring to the boil, add the baked bicarbonate of soda, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. One at a time, carefully lift the pretzels into the pan and cook for 20 secs per side. The pretzels will rise to the surface; flip with a slotted spoon.
  • Use the spoon to gently lift the pretzels from the pan and return them to the baking tray. Once they have all been cooked in the water, lightly brush with the egg and sprinkle with flaked sea salt.
  • Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins or until a rich, dark brown. Allow to cool on the baking tray for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Best served on the day made but can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 290 calories, Fat 7 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 47 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 3 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 9 grams protein, Sodium 1.1 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Use fresh yeast: Fresh yeast is more active than dry yeast, so it will help your pretzels rise better.
  • Proof the yeast: Proofing the yeast means letting it sit in warm water with a little sugar for 5-10 minutes. This will help the yeast to activate and make your pretzels rise better.
  • Knead the dough well: Kneading the dough will help to develop the gluten in the flour, which will make your pretzels chewy.
  • Let the dough rise twice: The first rise will help the dough to double in size. The second rise will help the dough to develop its flavor.
  • Shape the pretzels carefully: Be careful not to overstretch the dough when you are shaping the pretzels. This will help to prevent them from tearing.
  • Bake the pretzels at a high temperature: Baking the pretzels at a high temperature will help to create a crispy crust.
  • Brush the pretzels with melted butter: Brushing the pretzels with melted butter will help to give them a golden brown color.
  • Serve the pretzels warm: Pretzels are best served warm, so enjoy them right out of the oven.

Conclusion:

Soft rye pretzels are a delicious and easy-to-make snack. They are perfect for parties, picnics, or just a quick bite to eat. With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can make your pretzels that are just as good as the ones from the bakery.

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