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Soft Pretzels from Pizza Dough

Side Dish 🥗Lunch 🥪Snack 🍿 German 🇩🇪American

Soft Pretzels from Pizza Dough deliver that classic chewy bite with a tender interior and a lightly crisp, golden exterior. A quick baking-soda bath and a sprinkle of coarse salt give them the signature pretzel flavor you crave, perfect for game days, afternoon snacks, or casual get-togethers. Serve warm with mustard or cheese dip to make the most of their fresh-from-the-oven appeal.

  • Prep20 mins
  • Cook25 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Soft Pretzels from Pizza Dough
  1. 1

    Lightly flour a work surface. Set the dough on the flour and sprinkle a bit more on top. Start kneading, working about 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough until it is soft and supple but not overly sticky, 5 to 10 minutes. Cover with a large bowl and let the dough rest and warm to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.

  2. 2

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly sprinkle it with cornmeal.

  3. 3

    Pour water into a deep skillet. Whisk in the baking soda to make an alkaline bath. Bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat. Adjust the heat to maintain a low simmer while you shape the dough.

  4. 4

    Dust the dough with a light sprinkling of flour as needed to prevent sticking to the work surface. Flatten it slightly and divide into 6 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a round dough ball.

  5. 5

    Form each dough ball into a disk, thinner in the center and thicker around the edges. Poke a hole in the center. Gently pull and stretch until you have a round pretzel shape that is not too thick.

  6. 6

    Transfer the pretzels (in batches if needed) to the simmering alkaline bath. Boil for about 30 seconds per side. Use a slotted spoon to move them to the prepared baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with coarse salt while the pretzels are still wet and sticky. Let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes before baking.

  7. 7

    Place on the center rack of the preheated oven until nicely browned and stretch marks have formed, about 20 minutes. Exact times will vary based on the size and shape of your pretzel.

  8. 8

    Move the pretzels to a wire rack to cool slightly.