Description
These Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels are a warm and delightful treat, boasting a soft, chewy texture with a sweet cinnamon-sugar coating. Perfect for breakfast, snack time, or dessert, they combine the comforting flavors of homemade dough with a lightly crisp, golden crust, brushed with butter and dusted generously in cinnamon sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups warm milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (more or less as needed)
Baking Soda Bath
- 1/3 cup baking soda
- 3 cups warm water
Topping
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted (for brushing)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm milk and yeast. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Stir in the brown sugar, melted butter, and salt into the yeast mixture, ensuring everything is well combined to create a sweet, flavorful base for the dough.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients, mixing well until a soft dough forms. Then knead the dough for 5 to 7 minutes on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Cover the dough with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size, allowing the dough to develop flavor and texture.
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Make Baking Soda Bath: In a shallow bowl, mix the warm water with the baking soda. This bath will give the pretzels their characteristic chewy crust and golden color.
- Shape Pretzels: Divide the risen dough into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a rope and shape into classic pretzel forms by twisting the ropes appropriately.
- Bake Preparation: Dip each pretzel briefly into the baking soda bath for a few seconds, then place them carefully on the prepared baking sheets to set before baking.
- Bake: Bake the pretzels for 8 to 10 minutes or until they turn golden brown and develop a nice crust.
- Butter and Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Immediately after baking, brush each hot pretzel with melted butter. Then toss or sprinkle them generously with a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for a sweet and aromatic finish.
- Serve: Serve the cinnamon sugar soft pretzels warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- For a more pronounced pretzel flavor, allow the dough to ferment longer or refrigerate overnight for a slow rise.
- If desired, adjust the cinnamon-sugar ratio to suit your preference for sweetness or spice.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Make sure the water is warm but not hot when activating the yeast to avoid killing it.
- These pretzels can be frozen after shaping and baked fresh when needed; just add a few extra minutes to baking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
