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pennsylvania dutch soft pretzels

(5 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Jeanne Ballough
Reynoldsville, PA

These pretzels are great. They taste just like the ones I had from a Dutch family in Chambersburg, PA. They are easy to make, and really good.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Don't let the pretzel-making process intimidate you. It's easy and they turn out delicious. They are a soft baked pretzel and while the shape may not be perfect, but they're fun to make. The pretzels bake until slightly crisp on the outside while staying soft and chewy on the inside. Serve with a little German mustard or nacho cheese for a yummy game day snack.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(5 ratings)
yield 16 serving(s)
prep time 1 Hr
cook time 15 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For pennsylvania dutch soft pretzels

  • 4 1/2 tsp
    active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 c
    warm water
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 4 c
    bread flour or artisan flour
  • 1/2 c
    additional bread flour
  • SODA SOLUTION
  • 1/2 c
    warm water
  • 2 tsp
    baking soda
  • pretzel salt

How To Make pennsylvania dutch soft pretzels

Test Kitchen Tips
If you can't find pretzel salt, substitute sea salt. Also, if you find that there isn't enough soda solution in your baking dish just double the recipe (we used an 8x8 baking dish and found we needed to).
  • Dissolving yeast in water.
    1
    Dissolve yeast in water.
  • Adding dissolved yeast to flour.
    2
    Add salt and flour to a bowl. Add dissolved yeast. Mix together.
  • Kneading dough on a floured surface.
    3
    Add some flour to the counter. Knead dough until smooth.
  • Covering the dough with a towel.
    4
    Cover with a cloth and let rise 15 minutes.
  • Dough divided into equal portions.
    5
    Divide dough into 16 portions.
  • Pieces rolled into a log shape.
    6
    Roll each piece into narrow rolls.
  • Dough formed into a pretzel shape.
    7
    Shape pretzel dough.
  • Dough dipped into the soda solution.
    8
    Dip each piece in soda solution.
  • Sprinkling dough with salt.
    9
    Sprinkle with salt.
  • Pretzels placed onto a baking sheet.
    10
    Place on a greased cookie sheet.
  • Pretzels baking in the oven.
    11
    Bake at 450 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Start to watch the pretzels at 15 minutes to prevent burning.
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