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Homemade soft buttery Pretzels with an amazing Salsa Verde Cheese Dipping Sauce. They’re so easy to make you’ll wonder why you waited so long to make this delicious treat at home!

Have you ever had a craving that you just can’t shake? I’ve been craving Hot Buttery Soft Pretzels, the kind like you get at the mall, for months!

I’d wake up in the morning craving them, and go to bed at night sad that another day had passed… my cravings not met! Sniff, sniff!

I decided it was time to break down and make some! However, true confessions…I’d never made homemade pretzels, and to be honest, they intimidated me a bit. Years ago my daughter would make homemade pretzels from a boxed mix we’d purchase at the market. She took it upon herself to make them herself…I just enjoyed the benefits of her labors. So I was clueless! (Not the first or last time in my life! I assure you!)

I wanted a homemade pretzel that was chewy on the outside, but not so chewy they were tough! They also had to be fluffy and soft on the inside.  The perfect combo…for the perfect “pull” when you tug them apart for dipping.

Speaking of “dipping”…that requires an amazing cheese sauce to dunk those buttery sticks of delight into! Not your typical cheese sauce, but one with rich warm flavors! A Salsa Verde Cheese Sauce seemed like the perfect solution…and boy is it ever! The world of Pretzel dunking will never be the same!

I found an amazing Homemade Pretzel recipe from Alton Brown on the Food Network. It’s quick, easy, and in my ever so humble “carb expert” opinion, the BEST pretzel recipe out there!

I can’t believe how easy, and fun, these Home Soft Pretzels are to make! So let’s get baking! 

How To Make Homemade Chewy Soft Pretzels

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine hot water, sugar, and kosher salt.

TIP: Be sure the water temperature is 110 to 115 degrees. Water that is too hot can kill the yeast! You do not want to be a yeast killer! It makes rising to new heights difficult! (That was really bad! The puns are rolling off the finger tips today my friends!) 

Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. You can lightly mix the yeast into the warm water. I find it helps to activate the yeast.

Mixing the Pretzel Dough

Add 2 cups of flour and 1/4 cup melted butter, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed. Add an additional 2 ½ cups of flour. Continue mixing on low speed until all the ingredients are well combined. 

Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

TIP: It’s important to increase the speed so that the dough will knead and cling to the dough hook. 

Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl, or use a new clean bowl…I’m all about saving on washing dishes, oil the bowl well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl. Turn dough over so oil side is up.

Cover dough with plastic wrap.

TIP: I love the reusable plastic covers that I purchase in the plastic wrap aisle. You can wash and dry them and reuse them. They’re super handy!

Place the covered dough in a warm place for about 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.

Preheat the oven to 450° degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Set the pans aside.

In a large pot, 8 quarts or larger, bring 10 cups of water and 2/3 cups of baking soda…YEP…2/3 cups baking soda, to a rolling boil.

How To Shape Pretzels

While the water is coming to a boil, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface. I used my counter top and sprayed it with non-stick cooking spray. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.

Roll out each piece of dough into an a 24-inch rope…just like making snakes with play dough! (I may or may not do that particular activity with the grandkids! It’s why I’m an expert!)

Make a “U” shape with the rope…

Holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and twist…not your body…the dough. I know you were thinking about doing a little happy dancing!

Press the ends onto the bottom of the “U” in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place the formed pretzels onto the parchment-lined half sheet pans.

Hot Water Bath for Pretzels

Now for some FUN! Seriously this part is fun…but you need to be careful because that’s BOILING HOT water! This step is what makes the outside of the pretzels chewy! 

TIP: I ALWAYS place the pot on the BACK burner to prevent it from tipping over and spilling! Please always use caution when working with boiling fluids. 

Carefully place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. I used a large flat spatula to place the pretzels into the boiling water and to gently splash water over the top of each pretzel. Slide the spatula under the pretzel and remove from the boiling water.

Note: They’ll rise slightly in the boiling water. 

Return the pretzels to the half sheet pan. Brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture, or “egg wash” and sprinkle with pretzel salt. (This step adds the final “chewy” factor and allows the salt to stick!) 

Bake until golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving!

You can bake them longer, until they are darker than mine…but I felt this was perfect!

If you’re going to eat them immediately…and I double dog dare ya not to…brush them with melted butter!

If you want to store the pretzels then I recommend waiting to brush them butter until ready to serve. Overnight the melted butter can dissolve the salt and make your pretzels look like they have a serious medical condition. They still taste amazing…they just don’t look at pretty!

Look how YUMMY!! Are ya drooling yet? Well hold on…we still need to make that EPIC Salsa Verde Cheese Sauce. I made mine while the pretzels were baking.

How To Make Epic Pretzel Cheese Dip

In a small sauce pan melt 2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat.

Whisk in 2 Tablespoons Flour until smooth, whisk in 1 cup of milk and stir until slightly thickened. Add 1 Cup grated cheese, continuing to stir.

Add in one pouch of Velveeta Cheese Sauce. Stir until smooth and creamy over low heat.

Now to “Kick up” this cheese sauce! Add in 1/3 cup Salsa Verde and salt to taste.  Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. If the sauce thickens too much, add more milk until you reach the desired consistency. 

This one simple addition makes the most incredible cheese sauce! It does not make it “spicy hot”…it just adds an incredible depth of flavor that pairs beautifully with these perfect chewy soft homemade pretzels!

It was love at first “dunk”…by my fourth dunk we were in an official relationship!

These big soft buttery pretzels are the PERFECT Game Day snack…or they’re a great “Save the Crazed Mom” with Carbs treat!! Either way it’s a WIN!!

I can’t lie…after the photo shoot of these delectable gluten laden delights…I just sat there…eating! I couldn’t stop myself. They’re AMAZING!!! If you can stop after one bite…you’re a better person than I am!

If you liked these delicious treats….you’ll love these other Game Day Recipes!

• Mini Tostada Bites
• Easy Philly Cheese Steak Sliders
• Grilled Citrus Spiced Wings
• Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Peppers
• Copy Cat Winger Wings
• Homemade Naan Bread from Sandra’s Easy Cooking
• Navajo Tacos with Fry Bread

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting today! I’d love to have you follow Norine’s Nest on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest where I share my favorite recipes every day!

Happy Nesting Friends!

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