Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

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Homemade Soft Pretzels are delicious appetizersthat get you in 'game day' mode. They are simple, oil-free, dairy-free, and healthy. Don't forget the mustard!

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (1)

You know how inviting those giant soft pretzels are at sports events, shows and fairs? I always seemto have to buy one.

For some reason soft pretzels makeme think I am having fun. Maybe because I first discovered them at carnivals and movie theaters.

Then they showed up in malls and to me, it is always a good time shopping.

I think these delicious savory homemade soft pretzels will get you in a celebratory mood too.

But do you know they aren’t hard to make at all? They can be made healthier too. These pretzels don’t have any butter, oil or dairy.

Just look at them!

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (2)

For quite a few years I only dreamt that I could make soft pretzels at home even though I was already a bread maker. They were elusive to me.

Finally, I pulled up my bootstraps and set off for the kitchen. I took out the yeast and just stared and then took out the flour and stared some more.

Guess I forgot to roll up my sleeves.

An idea came to mind so I began. It started with whole wheat flour. Man, the little suckers weren’t hard at all.

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (3)

Table of Contents

You can Make Soft Pretzels as Giant as you Like.

  • Just roll out a longer roll of dough.
  • You see how I twisted the pretzels in an easy cross-your-arms shape? That is from the 14” tenth of dough rope.
  • If you go to 16” or 18” ropes your pretzels will be thinner and larger. If you do this you may want to twist the center arms once in the middle and then reach down to the bottom of the pretzel.
  • This will make them stronger. The 16” ones probably don’t need an extra twist but the 18” length might.

Mustard is the original condiment that was always served with soft pretzels. But now that you can make them at home I’ve discovered even more dipping options.

What Dips Go Good with Soft Pretzels?

We’ll start with classic bright yellow mustard.

Any other mustard you can find. Something like sweet-hot mustard would be great.

Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing - it’s is the best and here is an easy homemade recipe.

Ooey gooey nacho cheese dip and there are many vegan recipes.

Homemade almond mayonnaise - it's better than store-bought but hey, it's all good.

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (4)

What's all the Buzz About Soft Pretzels?

  • They’re soft and savory.
  • You can dress them up with a dipping sauce
  • They’re easy to make at home
  • You can change the shape to whatever you like, such as a thinly braided wreath
  • This recipe is healthy and delicious

Start the movie!

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (5)

📋 Recipe

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (6)

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Ginny McMeans

Soft Pretzels are delicious appetizers that will get you in a celebratory mood.

4.67 from 9 votes

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Finger Food, Game Day

Servings 12 Pretzels

Calories 154 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast
  • 1 ½ cups warm water for yeast - this amount of water has been adjusted, 100-110°
  • 4 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ cup dairy-free milk - for brushing the tops of the prepared pretzels before they bake
  • coarse salt - for sprinkling on top of the pretzels

Instructions

  • Have parchment paper on 2 baking sheets.

  • Dissolve the yeast in 1 ½ cups of warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes.

  • Add a tablespoon salt, a teaspoon of sugar and stir.

  • Add this mixture to the flour and blend. It will be sticky.

  • Turn out the dough on a floured surface.

  • Knead until smooth, about 5 to 10 times.

  • Divide dough in half, then half again. You will have 4 balls.

  • Set all of these 4 balls back in a bowl and cover with a moist paper towel (touching the balls) to help keep them from drying out.

  • Take out one ball and recover the rest.

  • Divide that one ball into thirds.So eventually, each of the 4 balls will be divided into thirds which will give you 12 balls and will become 12 pretzels.

  • Roll out each of those first three balls into a rope about 1" to 1-½" in diameter and 14" to 16" long. Mine were 14" and they are a little fat.

  • Shape into pretzel shapes right on the parchment paper that is already on the cookie sheet.

  • Continue with each ball as in the directions above until all the pretzels shapes are done.

  • Brush the pretzels with the dairy-free milk a couple at a time and then sprinkle the coarse salt on top while the pretzels are still moist.

  • Bake at 425° for 12 to 15 minutes.

  • Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

TO FREEZE:

After the pretzels have cooled you may freeze them in any of the methods shown in my article Preparing Food for the Freezer.

They defrost quickly so it really doesn't take any planning. The microwave will also zap them in 20 seconds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1PretzelCalories: 154kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 6gFat: 1gSodium: 596mgPotassium: 175mgFiber: 5gCalcium: 27mgIron: 1.6mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Appetizer Recipes

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  • Homemade Tomato Bruschetta
  • Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Chipotle Black Bean Dip

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Rachel

    We tried making these, and though they were tasty, they turned out a bit tough. Any idea where we might have gone wrong? Should we have let the dough rest for a time before shaping or baking? Thanks!

  2. Ginny McMeans

    I'm sorry to hear that Rachel My only guess is that possibly they were rolled a little thinner and baked a couple minutes too long. You don't want to overbake.

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Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe - Oil-free - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

Do homemade soft pretzels freeze well? ›

These pretzels can be frozen after baked and cooled; wrap well in plastic wrap and place in a resealable freezer bag. To reheat, place in a 350-degree oven or toaster oven for about 15 minutes, or heated through. Alternately, you can also microwave from frozen until heated through.

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

Lye. The dough is simple; take a basic yeast-risen dough that can be readied in an afternoon. But the trick to great pretzels is dipping the pretzels in a liquid wash before baking — and not just any wash, but a combination of water and lye. That's what gives pretzels their terrific color, texture and flavor.

Do frozen soft pretzels have dairy? ›

Grocery Products: Like their kiosk pretzels, Auntie Anne's frozen Soft Pretzels and frozen Pretzel Bites (sold at mainstream grocers like Target) are made without milk, but they include dairy butter packets with them.

Can you freeze homemade pretzels before baking? ›

The prepared pretzel dough can be refrigerated for up to one day or frozen in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight.

What is the best flour for pretzels? ›

Bread flour is best used for, you guessed it, breads. This is fine for pretzels, but if you don't plan to make that much bread, buying bread flour for just one thing can seem like a waste. All-purpose flour can be used for a wide variety of baked goods, including cookies, muffins, pie crusts, and breads.

What are the ingredients in frozen pretzels? ›

Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Yeast, Corn Syrup, Bicarbonates and Carbonates of Soda. Salt Packet: Salt.

Why do you boil soft pretzels before baking? ›

The boiling water + baking soda is important for color and texture of pretzel. Baking soda raises pH, thus creating a basic solution. This help the browning process during baking, which will occur more in basic pH. Thus, producing the desired flavor and brown color of pretzel.

What gives soft pretzels their flavor? ›

What Gives Pretzels Their Pretzel Flavor? You have baking soda to thank for that distinct pretzel flavor. Baking soda is highly alkaline and imparts that subtly metallic taste onto the dough before your pretzels go into the oven. Some recipes call for a lye bath, which does the same thing.

What's the difference between a pretzel and a soft pretzel? ›

Soft pretzels can usually be baked in 15 minutes; hard pretzels, meanwhile, must be baked for up to an hour. The longer baking time further dries out the pretzel. And, as we have discussed, the lack of moisture is what gives the hard pretzel its brittle texture.

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

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 tbsp baking soda. Be certain to stir often. After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet.

What makes Auntie Anne's pretzels different? ›

Our Original Pretzel only contains 5 grams of fat, and, yes, it is lightly dipped in butter. Since Auntie Anne's Pretzels are made fresh in our stores, you can request your pretzel without butter for a lower calorie option or order your pretzel without salt.

Can vegans eat soft pretzels? ›

So, yes pretzels are vegan (most of the time) and one of the oldest snack foods but yes they can be a little salty. The reason for their saltiness is because they traditionally have salt added to the ingredients but also sea salt or coarse salt sprinkled on to top.

Is soft pretzel vegan? ›

At their core, yes, pretzels are technically vegan. But you should still be careful about checking labels, and asking the right questions before you buy the salty snack. “Many store-bought brands of both hard and soft pretzels do not contain eggs or milk, so they would be considered vegan,” says Palmer.

Are most soft pretzels vegan? ›

Hard pretzels, the same as soft pretzels, have the same original ingredients and are vegan-friendly. The difference between the two is the process. Soft pretzels are authentic pretzels and usually come with dipping sauces.

How do you store homemade soft pretzels? ›

Individually Wrapped: Wrap each pretzel in plastic wrap to protect against dry air. Room Temperature for Short-Term: Store them in an airtight container at room temperature if enjoying within a couple of days.

How long do homemade soft pretzels last? ›

If desired, you can cover and refrigerate the boiled/unbaked pretzels for up to 24 hours before baking in step 7. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve warm with spicy nacho cheese sauce. Cover and store leftover pretzels at room temperature for up to 3 days.

How do you store soft pretzels so they don't get soggy? ›

Room Temperature: The best way to store your pretzels at room temperature is by using a bread box. Bread boxes let the right amount of air circulate so your bread (or pretzels!) remain moisture-free without going stale. If you don't have a bread box, you can opt for a paper bag or a storage container.

How long are homemade soft pretzels good for? ›

For example, if you want to eat it as a soft pretzel, possibly with a dipping sauce or cheese, then I'd try to eat it within 24 hours if you're using non-refrigerated shelf storage, within a week if you store it in the fridge, and probably within a month in the freezer.

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