Papa Drexler's Bavarian Pretzels

4.6
(304)

Try this German pretzel recipe for traditional Bavarian pretzels. They're fun to make and go great with a mug of beer!

Looking down at a golden-brown, salty, Bavarian pretzel.
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Prep Time:
40 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 large pretzels
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided, or more as needed

  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast

  • 1 teaspoon white sugar

  • 1 ⅓ cups water

  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 3 tablespoons baking soda

  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

  • 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt, or to taste

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make Bavarian pretzels.

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  2. Whisk 1 cup flour, yeast, and sugar together in a bowl. Stir in water and softened butter until well combined. Let stand until bubbles begin to form, about 15 minutes.

    Flour, sugar, yeast, butter, water and sugar mixed together, letting sit until bubbles begin to form.

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  3. Stir salt into yeast mixture, then gradually stir in 2 1/2 cups flour until dough can be picked up in a ball.

    Salt and flour added to yeast mixture.

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    Mixture mixed until dough can be picked up.

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  4. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes, adding more flour if needed.

    Dough kneaded until smooth and elastic.

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  5. Divide dough into 6 pieces and let rest for a few minutes.

    Dough divided into 6 pieces, letting rest.

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  6. Roll one piece into a 15-inch rope, then loop and twist rope into a pretzel shape. Place onto a baking sheet and form remaining pretzels. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.

    Pieces rolled out and shaped into pretzels, then placed on a baking sheet.

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  7. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.

  8. Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a pot. Stir in baking soda and remove from the heat.

    Water coming to a boil and baking soda added.

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  9. Dip pretzels into the water bath for about 45 seconds, flipping over about halfway through.

    Pretzels dipped in a hot water bath.

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  10. Transfer soaked pretzels to the prepared baking sheet; brush with melted butter and sprinkle with salt.

    Soaked pretzels transferred to a baking sheet, brushed with butter and sprinkled with salt.

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  11. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

    Pretzels baked until golden-brown.

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Test Kitchen Tips

This recipe was tested in our test kitchen in April 2023 and our testers found that the recipe benefited from up to 2/3 cup more flour than the original 3 cups in the recipe. We increased the flour to 3 1/2 cups in the recipe, but you may find that you need up to 3 2/3 cups to achieve a workable dough.

467 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

342 Calories
9g Fat
57g Carbs
8g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 342
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 3099mg 135%
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 8g 17%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 100mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.