Making homemade soft pretzels is a fun and delicious activity for the whole family.

Serve with mustard, cheese, or any favorite dipping sauces.

This recipe for homemade soft pretzels is far easier than you might imagine.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels on a tray to serve with pretzel dip

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A dip in gently boiling water with addedbaking sodagives the pretzels their characteristic flavor and texture.

Lastly, the pretzels are baked to finish cooking and get a beautiful brown glow.

Learn how to make soft pretzels, and serve the finished pretzels with your favoritemustard or cheesesauce.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels ingredients

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To make soft pretzels, you’ll need:

Why Cook Pretzels in a Baking Soda Solution?

You might wonder why pretzels need to take a dip in a baking soda solution before baking.

If making a sweet variety, pair with chocolate sauce orcream cheese frostingfor a decadent touch.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels baked and ready to serve

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Serve the pretzels with small bites, like a crudite platter,charcuterieor cheese board, or fruit platter.

Don’t forget the beer if serving adults.

Serve leftover pretzels withcheddarorpotato soupfor a truly satisfying hot lunch or dinner.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels blooming the yeast in the mixing bowl

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Line baking sheet with parchment paper rectangles:

Preheat oven to 375F.

Divide pretzel dough evenly:

Punch down dough, and divide it into 12 equal portions.

Keeping remaining dough covered, gently deflate 1 dough portion to release any large air bubbles.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels adding the flour and butter to the dough

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(Very lightly dust surface with flour only if needed to prevent dough from sticking to surface.)

Bend rope into a U shape.

Cross rope about 3 inches from ends.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels mixing the dough until it’s smooth and elastic

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Twist ends around each other once.

Gently stretch and open pretzel shape, if necessary, and place on a prepared parchment paper rectangle.

Repeat procedure with remaining dough portions and parchment paper rectangles.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels letting the dough rise

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Cover dough pretzels, and let rest in a warm place (75F) for 15 minutes.

Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using parchment rectangles to support dough, carefully add 2 pretzels, parchment side up, to boiling water.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels preparing the baking sheet

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Remove and discard parchment.

Repeat boiling procedure with remaining pretzels.

Brush pretzels with egg wash.

Sprinkle evenly with coarse kosher salt or everything bagel seasoning.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels portioning the dough

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Let cool on pans 10 minutes.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Standard, hard pretzels are baked without boiling, and have a crisp, hard texture.

Southern Living Soft Pretzels rolling out the dough into a log

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Southern Living Soft Pretzels crossing the ends of the dough over each other

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Southern Living Soft Pretzels twisting the ends of the pretzel into place

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Southern Living Soft Pretzels letting the pretzels rest on parchment paper

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Southern Living Soft Pretzels boiling the pretzels

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Southern Living Soft Pretzels lifting the pretzels out of the water

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Southern Living Soft Pretzels brushing the pretzels with egg wash

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Southern Living Soft Pretzels sprinkling the pretzels

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Southern Living Soft Pretzels on the pan afte baking

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall