Homemade Soft Pretzels with Sea Salt

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-30 · Updated 2026-04-30

Warm, golden-brown soft pretzels with a chewy crust and a tender crumb, sprinkled with coarse sea salt—perfect for a comforting snack or appetizer. This German-inspired recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, turns all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, warm water into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 8, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups (110°F) warm water
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 tbsp coarse sea salt
• 4 tbsp, melted unsalted butter

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups warm water, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast; stir gently and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add 4 cups all-purpose flour and 2 tsp salt to the yeast mixture and stir until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for about 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Step 3: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 450°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper; bring 10 cups water and 1/4 cup baking soda to a boil in a large pot.
5. Step 5: Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, roll each into a 24-inch rope, and shape into a pretzel; carefully drop each pretzel into the boiling baking soda water for 30 seconds, then remove with a slotted spoon and place on the baking sheet.
6. Step 6: Brush each pretzel with 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter and sprinkle with 2 tbsp coarse sea salt.
7. Step 7: Bake pretzels for 12-14 minutes until deep golden brown, then transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.