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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  • Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

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

Can you freeze homemade soft pretzels? ›

Store the baked pretzels in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. The longer they're frozen, the more the pretzel salt will dissolve into the pretzels, but they'll still taste great. Defrost by letting them sit on the counter for about an hour. Or, simply microwave for about 30 seconds.

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.

How do you freeze Philly soft pretzels? ›

In the event that you were unable to eat all of your pretzels, you may freeze the pretzels in a zip-lock bag; to reheat the pretzels, simply take them out of the bag and heat in a toaster oven or microwave oven.

Do homemade 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.

How long do soft pretzels last in the freezer? ›

Recommended shelf life of non-refrigerated/frozen product is 6 - 10 days, beyond that product may mold. If refrigerating product leave in sealed packaging, product can keep for up to 1 month. If storing in freezer at 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit, product can keep from 4-6 months.

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.

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.

How long do homemade soft pretzels last? ›

How long do soft pretzels last? Soft Pretzels are best eaten the same day and even better when still slightly warm. If you do have leftovers, then you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

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

Soft pretzels have a shorter baking time

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.

Is lye the same as baking soda? ›

Lye is a stronger alkaline than baking soda or sodium bicarbonate, with a pH reading ranging from around 13 to 14. Its base of sodium hydroxide is created commercially by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution, as well as reacting calcium hydroxide with sodium carbonate, according to the FDA.

How do you keep homemade pretzels soft? ›

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 do you keep homemade pretzels from getting soggy? ›

Storing Freshly Baked Soft Pretzels

For those times when you have freshly baked soft pretzels, here's how to keep them tasting great: Cool Before Storage: Let pretzels cool completely to avoid moisture build-up. Individually Wrapped: Wrap each pretzel in plastic wrap to protect against dry air.

Are Philly soft pretzels dairy free? ›

We use no added sugars or eggs to make our pretzels. They are also dairy free and fat free! This makes them a great snack between meals. Another added benefit of our product is that it is Kosher/Parve certified!

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 do you freeze and reheat soft pretzels? ›

Once the pretzels are frozen, store in a freezer bag or container until you are ready to heat & eat. To reheat your pretzels – Preheat oven to 350°. Place pretzels on a baking sheet, and bake for about 4-6 minutes.

How long are homemade soft pretzels good for? ›

Enjoy your pretzels within 3-4 days. Refrigerator: Once cooled, store pretzels in a resealable bag or container. If you're stacking them, put a piece of parchment paper between each pretzel.

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