ISO Help with Soft Pretzels

[baking]

Hi

I was trying to make soft pretzels today. Every time i put in the pretzels to bake in the oven, the pretzels would actually harden up and not remai n soft. They also dont expand in the oven as much as it should. Any ideas why this is the case?

I put it in for 10mins at 220 degrees. Is it the oven? Also i may have put in extra yeast accidentally. Could that be the reason? Please help.

 

[Dawgluver]

Oh dear, baking and pretzels are not my thing. Be patient, someone who knows should be here shortly.

Welcome to DC!

 

[merstar]

Did you boil them first? I've never made them, but I've read that you need to boil them before baking.

 

[baking]

Well no, I didnt boil them as such but they were dipped into hot water solution (with baking soda) for a second each. That is just to give them the crustier outer coating.

Unfortunately my pretzels become crusty all throughout. I dont think its because of the boiling but of course am not sure which is why i am here.

 

[Addie]

I don't have an answer for you, but I want to welcome you to DC. This is a fun place to be. And we seem to have an answer to every problem. These are wise folks here, some who have been baking and cooking for a long time. Boiling seems to me to be your answer. But I have only made them once. So what do I know.

 

[DaveSoMD]

If you are an amazon prime member you can borrow this Kindle book for free...

Pretzel Baker: Recipes and Techniques for Professional Results: Anne Boulley, Al Boulley: Amazon.com: Kindle Store

I downloaded it when they were running it as a Kindle free-be. It has some great tips and recipes in it for making pretzels and might be able to tell you what's not right.

 

[larry_stewart]

Ive been making soft pretzels for years. Ive switched to Alton Browns recipe from this website.

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe : Alton Brown : Recipes : Food Network

Soft pretzels cook kinda like bagels. They need to be boiled in the baking powder solution ( as you mentioned) but as I do ( and in the recipe) you do this for 30 seconds per pretzel( I flip them 1/2 way through the boiling process)

Also, the temp to cook them at in the recipe I used is 450 F for 12 - 14minutes

I not sure why yours are hardening up so much at 220. Ah, your at 220 C which is about the same temp. Make sure they are a decent size. The only thing I can guess, is maybe your pretzels are too thin or flat and are dehydrating during the cooking process.

As a tip, what I do after they are done cooking, is I melt some salted butter and mix in a little sugar to give it a very slight sweetness to it, and brush it over the pretzels.

 

[larry_stewart]

Here is the video that goes along with the recipe link I mentioned above. Sometimes a visual will help more.

Homemade Soft Pretzels Videos : Food Network

 

[MrsLMB]

When I make soft pretzels I don't boil them.

I do drop them into a pot of boiling water with baking soda, but it's only a dip and a flip then out and onto the baking sheet.

Top with desired amount of salt and bake at 425F for about 8 - 9 minutes.

Always come out golden brown and nice and soft inside.

Larry I am going to try your suggestion of brushing with butter, salt and sugar after they are done with my next batch .. sounds really good !

 

[larry_stewart]

Larry I am going to try your suggestion of brushing with butter, salt and sugar after they are done with my next batch .. sounds really good !

Gives it a little of that 'Auntie Annes Pretzel' taste to it. salty / savory.

I also dont make the typical pretzel shape. every time i do, each one looks worst than the next. So I convinced my kids that we are making " snake pretzels" and they think its the coolest think and saves me the embarrassment of making ugly looking pretzel wannabe's

To this day , ad the age 16 and 18, they still call them snake pretzels

 

[MrsLMB]

Gives it a little of that 'Auntie Annes Pretzel' taste to it. salty / savory.

I also dont make the typical pretzel shape. every time i do, each one looks worst than the next. So I convinced my kids that we are making " snake pretzels" and they think its the coolest think and saves me the embarrassment of making ugly looking pretzel wannabe's

LOL Oh yeah ... my pretzel shapes are a bit frightening at times too. I had the grands over one time and we made soft pretzels. The youngest who was 4 at the time looked at me, scrunched up her nose, squinted her eyes and said "Grandma who do you think you are fooling with THAT?" Then she showed me how to make a pretzel LOL Anyway, it matters not what the shape is .. so long as they taste good !

 

[salt and pepper]

I make them almost like bagels. That is to let the dough rise for 1 hour then punch down and cut them into ropes, roll out each rope to about 20" and shape into a pretzels. Lay them out on a sheet pan and let the rise for another 20 minutes; (covered) with a linen towel. Boil a quart or two of water with 1/2 cup of baking soda. Place in boiling water for 30 seconds on each side and back on the baking pan. Bake @ 350 until desired color is reached, about 25 minutes or so. Add corse sea salt and eat warm.

 

[larry_stewart]

Those look great. I knew i shouldnt have looked at this thread right before going to sleep. I guess Ill be dreaming about soft pretzels all night long lol, which is not such a bad thing

 

[Addie]

Those look great. I knew i shouldnt have looked at this thread right before going to sleep. I guess Ill be dreaming about soft pretzels all night long lol, which is not such a bad thing

No Larry, you will be dreaming of "snake" pretzels. Now don't blame me if you have nightmares!

 

[larry_stewart]

Seems like those Snake Pretzels will always come back to haunt me

 

[GA Home Cook]

another good way is not to make the pretzel shape, but cut them in bite size pieces. Save's the embarrassment.