Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels (Printable)

Soft, pillowy pretzels baked golden and coated with fragrant cinnamon sugar for a tasty treat.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
02 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
03 - 1 tbsp granulated sugar
04 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1 tsp salt
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

→ Water Bath

07 - 10 cups water
08 - 2/3 cup baking soda

→ Topping

09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 cup granulated sugar
11 - 2 tbsp ground cinnamon

# How To Make:

01 - Combine warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a large bowl; let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture; stir until a dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.
05 - Preheat oven to 450°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Bring 10 cups of water and baking soda to a boil in a large pot.
07 - Divide dough into 8 equal portions, roll each into 20-inch ropes, and twist into pretzel shapes.
08 - Dip each pretzel, one at a time, into the boiling water bath for 30 seconds; remove with a slotted spatula and place on baking sheets.
09 - Bake pretzels for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
10 - Brush pretzels generously with melted butter while still warm.
11 - Mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow dish; dredge each buttered pretzel until fully coated.
12 - Serve pretzels warm.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • They're warm and chewy on the inside with a crispy, sweet cinnamon sugar shell that makes you reach for another one.
  • The baking soda bath gives them that authentic pretzel chew you can't fake, and the whole process is more forgiving than you'd think.
  • They come together in under two hours and fill your kitchen with a smell that rivals any bakery.
02 -
  • The baking soda bath is non-negotiable if you want that authentic chewy texture, and skipping it leaves you with regular bread shaped like a pretzel.
  • Don't overthink the rising time, because pretzels are forgiving and will still turn out great if they rise a bit less or a bit more than an hour.
  • Apply the cinnamon sugar while the pretzels are still warm, because the heat helps the coating stick and meld into the exterior.
03 -
  • If your water bath temperature drops below boiling, the pretzels will be dense instead of chewy, so keep the heat high and work quickly.
  • Room temperature yeast is fine, but lukewarm water truly does make a difference in how fast and evenly your dough rises.
  • Save any extra cinnamon sugar in a jar for toast, coffee drinks, or sneaking spoonfuls when no one's looking.
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