Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (2024)

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These sourdough pretzels without yeast are soft, delicious and easy to make – a great way to use up an abundance of sourdough starter!

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (1)

Pretzels – who doesn’t love them? Even I will admit that they are hard to pass up – when I make them I feel like stuffing my face silly. The smell just intoxicates the house and the paralyzes everyone that walks into the front door.

Having a great pretzel recipe that you can make with your sourdough starter is a must. While you can make pretzels with yeast if you are in a pinch, there isn’t anything quite as satisfying as maintaining your starter (in this case, ours is named “Sid”..).

A starter needs love and attention on a regular basis. It’s almost like having another person to care for in the house (except a starter is unemployed & lives with his or her parents). 😉

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (2)

Really though ~ a sourdough starter can help you make popovers, beer bread, bagels & english muffins. The discard can be used to make sourdough crackers (which are delicious with homemade cheese).

Which almost leads me to ask – what can’t it be used for?

Sourdough Pretzels

These sourdough pretzels come together pretty quickly and require a much smaller prep window than the typical sourdough bread.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (3)

Add the warmed milk, butter, sugar, sourdough starter and flour in your KitchenAid. Use the dough hook and mix just until a soft ball of dough forms.

Turn out onto a lightly floured counter and knead for 2-3 minutes. Then form the dough into a smooth ball of dough and place into a lightly-oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest/rise for 2 hours.

The dough should double in size.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (4)

Once the dough has risen, turn out onto a lightly floured counter. Punch the dough down and knead lightly for a brief minute or two.

Then separate the dough into 12 equal pieces.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (5)

Roll out each piece into a long strip 26-30″ in length. If you are slow to roll out the pieces, then cover the balls of dough with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (6)

Once the dough strips have been rolled out, shape them into a pretzel (YouTube is great for this!) and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. You will need to use 2-3 cookie sheets to fit all the pretzels nicely.

Once they are all shaped, place the cookie sheets in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. The goal is to allow the pretzels to harden just enough that they can be dunked in the water bath. Though you can bypass the freezer step, it’s quite a challenge to dunk them in the water bath without them coming “undone”.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (7)

With the pretzels in the freezer, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Fill a large gallon stockpot 3/4 of the way with water; bring to a strong simmer. Add 1 tbsp baking soda allow to dissolve.

Remove the pretzels from the freezer; add them to the water (4 at a time), and allow to simmer until they float to the top. Gently remove from their bath and place back on the cookie sheet.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (8)

Brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with your choice of toppings. Bake at 450 degrees F for 14-15 minutes until lightly brown. They will be hard when tapped (but will soften as they cool).

Remove and allow to cool before enjoying.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (9)

Enjoy your pretzels with melted cheese or marinara sauce, or simply as-is. Keep them in a large gallon Ziploc bag.

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (No Yeast)

These sourdough pretzels without yeast are soft, delicious and easy to make - a great way to use up an abundance of sourdough starter!

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword pretzels

Prep Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes

Servings 6

Author Sheryl

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 C. milk warmed to 110 degrees F
  • 1.5 C. sourdough starter* recently fed
  • 4 C. all-purpose flour

Water Bath

  • 1 Tbsp baking soda
  • 12 C. water

Egg Wash

  • 1 ea. egg beaten
  • 2 tsp sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Warm the milk (to 110 degrees F); add to mixer with butter, sugar, and sourdough starter.

  • Add the flour and mix well until the dough forms a soft ball.Turn out onto a lightly floured counter and knead for 2-3 minutes. Then form the dough into a smooth ball of dough and place into a lightly-oiled bowl.

  • Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest/rise for 2 hours.

  • Once the dough has risen, turn out onto a lightly floured counter. Punch the dough down and knead lightly for a brief minute or two.Then separate the dough into 12 equal pieces.

  • Roll out each piece into a long strip 26-30" in length. If you are slow to roll out the pieces, then cover the balls of dough with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out.

  • Once the dough strips have been rolled out, shape them into a pretzel and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. You will need to use 2-3 cookie sheets.

  • Place the cookie sheets in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. The goal is to allow the pretzels to harden just enough that they can be dunked in the water bath.

  • With the pretzels in the freezer, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Fill a large gallon stockpot 3/4 of the way with water; bring to a strong simmer. Add 1 tbsp baking soda allow to dissolve.

  • Remove the pretzels from the freezer; add them to the water (4 at a time), and allow to simmer until they float to the top. Gently remove from their bath and place back on the cookie sheet.

  • Brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with your choice of toppings. Bake at 450 degrees F for 14-15 minutes until lightly brown. They will be hard when tapped (but will soften as they cool).

  • Remove and allow to cool before enjoying.

Notes

  • Water can be substitue for milk in this recipe.
  • Store pretzels in a ziploc bag to keep them fresh. May need to reheat them the next day before enjoying.

Can I use Sourdough Discard?

I haven't tried using discard - but if you want to give it a try, I'd love to know how they turn out for you!

If you make these pretzels, please please rate the recipe a 5 and leave a comment – I’d love to know how they turned out!

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (11)

Sourdough Pretzels Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are sourdough pretzels a healthy snack? ›

Sourdough pretzels are a healthy snack because they include all the health benefits found in sourdough bread. Plus, they are baked, not fried, but still give you the crunch you crave from a satisfying snack. Sourdough pretzels also contain fewer calories and less fat and sugar than other snacks.

Are sourdough pretzels high in carbs? ›

Sourdough hard pretzels contains 70 calories per 21 g serving. This serving contains 0 g of fat, 2 g of protein and 15 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 1 g sugar and 1 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Sourdough hard pretzels contains 0 g of saturated fat and 0 mg of cholesterol per serving.

How do you soften hard sourdough pretzels? ›

Place the pretzel on a baking sheet and bake it for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. If you use the microwave to reheat pretzels make sure to adjust the power to 50% to avoid them from becoming tough.

What does the baking soda solution do for the pretzels? ›

Furthermore, we've introduced the baking soda bath. While it sounds strange, this step is what gives pretzels that iconic flavor, chewy texture, helps deepen their golden color in the oven, and locks in the super soft interior.

Are pretzels better for you than potato chips? ›

This is because chips tend to be processed a lot more in oil compared to pretzels which makes it more calories dense, and have its distinct flavor. So if you are looking to lose weight and still want something to crunch on, pretzels are a better option compared to chips.

Can I eat sourdough on a low carb diet? ›

Look for bread with no more than 10 grams of carbohydrates per slice. These breads are typically labeled as low in carbohydrates on the packaging. Sourdough bread is another low-carb bread option, often containing half of the carbohydrates found in one slice of white bread.

Can you eat too many pretzels? ›

The carbs in pretzels aren't bad for you unless eaten in excess. Sodium. Too much sodium causes many problems for people. The problems typically start in the kidneys when they struggle to eliminate the excess sodium.

Are pretzels healthy for weight loss? ›

Pretzels may be better than some fatty chips, but four out of five nutrition experts surveyed by Time say if you're trying to eat healthy, pretzels shouldn't be your go-to snack. Although pretzels are low-fat, they are also pretty paltry on the protein and fiber front, and they can be quite high in sodium and carbs.

Why did my sourdough turn out chewy? ›

The bread is heavy, hasn't puffed up in the oven and has a moist, dense texture inside. CAUSE - gummy sourdough can be caused by a starter that's too young or inactive and or under fermentation.

How to store sourdough pretzels? ›

Room Temperature Storage: These Sourdough Discard Pretzel Bites are best fresh. If you're planning to eat them within 1-2 days, store them at room temperature in a paper bag. If they harden, you can reheat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make them soft and warm again.

Why do my pretzels taste metallic? ›

When you eat a traditional pretzel, you may notice a slightly metallic taste, which is a result of the chemical reaction between the lye and the dough. However, the overall flavour of the pretzel is more complex than just the taste of lye.

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

The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. It also gives them their unique and indelible “pretzel” flavor.

Why do you boil pretzel dough before baking? ›

Boiling the dough causes it to instantly puff, creating a chewy interior and giving the exterior a head start on forming a crisp crust. The baking soda also produces pretzels with a deep golden brown and cracked appearance. Don't skip it!

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 sourdough a healthy snack? ›

The type of flour used — all-purpose, whole wheat, rye — can affect the nutritional content of sourdough bread, says Wee. But generally speaking, sourdough bread is a healthy option and can be eaten regularly as part of a nutritious, balanced diet.

Are pretzels a healthy snack for weight loss? ›

Pretzels may be better than some fatty chips, but four out of five nutrition experts surveyed by Time say if you're trying to eat healthy, pretzels shouldn't be your go-to snack. Although pretzels are low-fat, they are also pretty paltry on the protein and fiber front, and they can be quite high in sodium and carbs.

Are sourdough pretzels easy to digest? ›

Sourdough Pretzel FAQ:

Yes, most definitely. They are the perfect salty snack. Since the dough is fermented, the vitamins and minerals are more bio-available for your body to absorb, and there is less gluten making them easier to digest.

How many calories are in sourdough hard pretzels? ›

Dietary Needs
Nutrition Facts
About 13 Servings Per Container
Serving size1 oz. (28g/1Pretzel)
Amount per serving
Calories110
18 more rows

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