Published 6/24/2024 Craving those warm, chewy mall pretzels but want to skip the greasy food court? You’ve come to the right place! We’re ditching the store-bought stuff and whipping up a batch of healthy homemade soft pretzels that are ridiculously easy and insanely delicious. They have warm, fluffy insides with a hint of sweetness and a satisfying crunch on the outside. Plus, this recipe uses some sneaky swaps to make these pretzels a touch healthier without sacrificing any flavor.
What You Need to Make Healthy Soft Pretzels at Home
Active Dry Yeast: Acts as the leavening agent, causing the dough to rise and become light and fluffy. If you don’t have active yeast, you can use instant yeast. Lukewarm Water: Dissolves the yeast and sugar and helps the yeast activate properly. All-Purpose Flour: Provides the foundation and structure for the dough. It contains gluten, which helps the dough rise and gives the pretzels their signature chew. Whole Wheat Flour: Adds a slightly nutty flavor and extra fiber compared to all-purpose flour, making the pretzels a bit more nutritious. Baking Soda: Creates a high pH level in the pretzel bath, giving it that characteristic brown color and pretzel flavor. Stand Mixer: We love our KitchenAid stand mixer for making these pretzels! It comes with attachments like a dough hook, which makes it easy to mix and knead the dough. However, you can totally mix and knead by hand if you don’t have a mixer.
Who knew baking homemade pretzels could be this easy?
How to Make Healthy Soft Pretzels
Step 1: Activate Yeast
Step 2: Make Soft Pretzel Dough
Step 3: Let Dough Rest
Step 4: Roll + Make Pretzels
Step 5: Flash boil
Step 6: Egg Wash + Salt
Step 7: Bake Soft Pretzels
Bake your pretzels at 400ºF for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the pretzels from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
How do I store and reheat leftover pretzels?
Store these in an airtight container. They are good as is after storing, or you can toast them in the oven for 1-2 minutes. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat them, let them thaw on the counter, then reheat.
Can I swap out the salt for something else?
Absolutely! Instead of salted pretzels, you can make cinnamon-sugar pretzels just like you’d find at the mall! Instead of sprinkling salt over the pretzels before baking, bake them without it, then make a cinnamon-sugar mixture on a baking sheet. Brush the warm pretzels with butter and dip them in the cinnamon sugar mixture when they’re warm.
What dipping sauces are best for these whole wheat pretzels?
Vegan Queso Healthy Chili Cheese Dip
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