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soft pretzels piled on baking sheet with bowl of cheese dip
5 from 1 vote
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Salted Soft Pretzels with Cheese Dip

These salted soft pretzels are made with a super simple 6 ingredient dough and bake up chewy on the outside & soft on the inside. 
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings9 large pretzels
Coursebreads
CuisineAmerican
AuthorSloane

Ingredients

For the soft pretzels:

  • 283 g (1 ¼ cup) water, warmed to 110 degrees F
  • 12 g (1 tablespoon) granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon instant yeast
  • 240 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
  • 240 g (2 cups) bread flour
  • 28 g (2 tablespoon) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For boiling:

  • 68 oz (8 cups) water
  • 120 g (½ cup) baking soda

For topping:

For the cheese dip:

  • 21 g (1 ½ tablespoon) unsalted butter
  • 15 g (2 tablespoon) all-purpose flour
  • 227 g (1 cup) whole milk
  • salt + pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 113 g (1 cup) sharp cheddar
  • 113 g (1 cup) gruyère
  • 56 g (¼ cup) cream cheese
  • Roland® Spicy Chili Onion Crisp, for topping

Instructions

For the soft pretzels:

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the water, sugar, and yeast. 
  • Add in the flours, melted butter, and salt. Mix on medium high spreed for about 5 minutes until smooth and passes the windowpane test.*
  • Place the dough in a large lightly greased bowl, cover, and proof overnight in the fridge or in a warm environment for about one hour or until doubled in size.
  • Once the dough has proofed, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Line a second baking sheet with nine 4" individual parchment squares. 
  • Divide the dough into 9 pieces, weighed about 85-90g. 
  • To shape the pretzels, roll into a long, skinny rope (about 24" long). Take the two ends and cross them over each other three times, then bring the bottom U part of the dough over and pull the twist through to the top, slightly pressing the ends into the dough. (see photos above for reference)
  • Transfer the shaped pretzel to an individual parchment square, and repeat with the rest of the dough. 
  • Cover the pretzels and proof for about 30 minutes. 
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, and bring a pot of water to a simmer. 
  • Once the pretzels have proofed, turn the water down to low heat and slowly add the baking soda. 
  • Bathe the pretzels (about 2 at a time) for 30 seconds on each side, then place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
  • Brush each with an egg white and sprinkle with coarse salt.*
  • Bake for about 12-15 minutes until deeply golden. 

For the cheese dip:

  • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until a slightly thick roux forms. 
  • Pour in the milk, stirring frequently until it comes to a simmer. 
  • Whisk in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dijon mustard. 
  • Turn the heat down to low, and add in the cheddar, gruyère, and cream cheese. Mix frequently until melted and smooth. 
  • Pour into a bowl, and top with Roland® Spicy Chili Onion Crisp
  • Serve with the salted soft pretzels and enjoy!

Notes

  • Windowpane Test: The windowpane test is used to tell when the brioche has developed enough gluten. To check if the dough is ready, tear off a small piece and carefully spread it out to see if you can see the light through it without it tearing. If it tears, mix for another minute and check again.
  • Shaping the Pretzels: When shaping the pretzels, do not use flour on your surface. The dough needs to be slightly sticky in order to roll into a smooth rope. 
  • To Make Ahead: If baking these pretzels a day ahead of time, hold off with the salt, as it makes the pretzels soggy. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1pretzel | Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 4129mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 506IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 271mg | Iron: 2mg
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