Description
These Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels are a delightful homemade treat with a soft, chewy texture and a sweet cinnamon-sugar coating. Perfectly golden and baked to perfection, they come with a creamy vanilla cream cheese dip that adds a rich contrast to the warm, buttery pretzels. Ideal for breakfast, snack, or dessert, this recipe guides you through making the dough from scratch, boiling with a baking soda bath for that traditional pretzel bite, and finishing with a sweet cinnamon sugar toss.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 4 ¾ cups all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast
- ½ cup water (lukewarm)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup whole milk (lukewarm)
For Egg Wash and Boiling
- 1 egg yolk (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp water (for egg wash)
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
Cream Cheese Dip
- ½ cup cream cheese (room temperature)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tbsp heavy cream
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Activate yeast: Place lukewarm milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and yeast in a medium bowl. Stir and let it stand for 10-15 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a stand mixer bowl with the dough hook, combine remaining sugar, flour, kosher salt, and room temperature butter. Mix briefly to combine.
- Add liquids to dry mix: Pour in the warm milk and yeast mixture along with the lukewarm water. Beat at medium speed until ingredients begin to combine.
- Knead dough: Continue to mix at low speed with the dough hook until you form a soft, sticky dough, approximately 5 minutes. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and shape into a smooth ball.
- First rise: Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Shape pretzels: Divide dough into 12 equal portions (~81 grams each). Roll each piece into a 20-inch rope. Form each rope into a U shape, twist both ends twice, then fold the ends down and pinch to seal. Place shaped pretzels on parchment-lined trays and cover to let rise for 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat oven and prepare trays: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Boil pretzels: Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil and add the baking soda. Gently drop pretzels one at a time into the boiling water and boil for 40 seconds on each side, then remove carefully with a strainer or spatula and place back onto the baking trays.
- Apply egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water. Brush this wash evenly over each pretzel dough to achieve a shiny, golden finish.
- Bake: Bake the pretzels for 12-14 minutes until they turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare cinnamon sugar coating: In a large bowl, mix granulated sugar and ground cinnamon together.
- Coat pretzels: Brush each warm pretzel with melted butter, then toss one pretzel at a time in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
- Make cream cheese dip: Using an electric whisk, beat together the cream cheese and softened butter for 2 minutes until creamy. Add confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Mix well until smooth and combined.
- Serve: Serve the warm, cinnamon-sugar coated soft pretzels alongside the cream cheese dip for a sweet, indulgent treat.
Notes
- The baking soda bath step is crucial for authentic chewy texture and the pretzels’ signature crust.
- Make sure the milk and water are lukewarm to properly activate the yeast.
- Allowing the dough to rise twice (before shaping and after shaping) ensures soft, airy pretzels.
- Using room temperature butter and cream cheese leads to a smoother dip texture.
- For extra flavor, you can sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt on pretzels before baking if you prefer a sweet-and-salty contrast.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
