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No Boil Soft Baked Pretzels Recipe: Auntie Anne’s Copycat

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Auntie Anne’s copycat no boil soft baked pretzels are so delicious and easy to make. Make pretzel shapes or pretzel bites in a variety of flavors!
Auntie Anne's copycat no boil soft baked pretzels are so delicious and easy to make. Make pretzel shapes or pretzel bites in a variety of flavors!
These no boil soft baked pretzels are one of our FAVORITE things to make. My boys asked me to make a big batch to take to a party this afternoon so it was the perfect time to snap a few updated photos and refresh this post that is almost 12 years old! My friend just texted me and said that all of the boys are devouring the pretzels at the party and they’d like the recipe!
pretzels on cooking rack
Years ago, before the days of Pinterest, it wasn’t as easy to find amazing recipes online! I actually had a website that I’d go to and occasionally buy them. Can you believe that? This Auntie Anne’s copycat no boil soft baked pretzels recipe cost me a whopping $.89 in 2007. It’s been worth every penny, lol. The measurements are a bit odd, as you’ll see, but just go with it. We like making them into pretzel bites or pretzel rolls, too!
I don’t mind boiling dough in recipes when I feel it’s really necessary. I boil my homemade parmesan bagels and that’s what gives them their chewy texture, but for these pretzels a warm bath in water and baking soda works just fine and saves time!

8 pretzels on cooling rack

 

No Boil Soft Baked Pretzels Recipe

scroll down for a printable version of this recipe and frequently asked questions!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups warm water

1 T. plus 1/4 tsp. yeast

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cups plus 2 T powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vegetable oil (plus more for oiling bowl)

butter for brushing

kosher salt for sprinkling

cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling, optional

Pretzel Bath:

2 c. warm water

1/4 c. baking soda

Instructions:

Dissolve yeast in the warm water in a small bowl or cup. Let sit for a few minutes.
Combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add water with yeast and vegetable oil. Stir with a spoon and then use your hands to form the dough into a ball.
Knead the dough 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Dough will be nice and smooth when it’s ready. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and store it in a warm place for 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.

pretzel dough on floured surface

When dough has risen, preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Make a bath for the pretzels by combining the baking soda with the warm water and stir until baking soda is mostly dissolved.

Note: The baking soda separates from the water easily. So stir it every couple of minutes as you are dipping the pretzels to make sure that there is an even distribution of powder/water mix on each pretzel.
pretzel dough divided into 12 sections
Remove the dough from the bowl and cut into 12 pieces.
Note: the original recipe makes 8, but I like making 12 smaller pretzels. It’s up to you!
pretzel dough shaped

Shape the soft baked pretzels as follows:

1. Roll each section into a long 24″ rope.
2. Bring the ends up and twist twice.
3. Bring the ends down and pinch firmly.

pretzel dipped into water

Dip each pretzel into the bath solution. Drip dry. Arrange on 2 cookie sheets that have been sprayed with non-stick spray.

If you want salted pretzels, sprinkle pretzels with kosher salt. Don’t salt any pretzels that you plan to coat with cinnamon/sugar.

Bake one pan at a time. Bake 5 minutes, then spin the pan halfway around and bake another 4 or 5 minutes or until golden.

pretzels on baking sheet
Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.
If you want the cinnamon/sugar coating, brush with butter and sprinkle a heavy coating of cinnamon/sugar onto the entire surface of the pretzel.
finished pretzels with salt

How many pretzels does one batch make?

8-12 pretzels.

Can I use this no boil soft baked pretzels recipe to make pretzel bites?

Do I need to boil these pretzels?

Many recipes call for boiling pretzels, but these simply need to be soaked in baking soda and warm water. They come out chewy and delicious!

What do you put on soft baked pretzels?

The options are endless! My favorite topping are kosher salt and butter, but you can add garlic powder with parmesan cheese, cinnamon and sugar, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, jalapeño slices—pretty much ANYTHING.

Do I need to use an egg wash to get golden brown pretzels?

Not with this recipe! I’d definitely recommend brushing with butter at the end. It makes all the difference.

How do you reheat a soft baked pretzel?

To reheat these pretzels, simply microwave for about 8 seconds. Most will be eaten the first day so you won’t even need to worry about leftovers!
Print

No Boil Soft Baked Pretzels Recipe

Auntie Anne's copycat soft baked pretzels are so delicious and easy to make. Make pretzel shapes or pretzel bites in a variety of flavors! No boiling required.

Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword homemade, quick, soft pretzels
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups warm water
  • 1 T. plus 1/4 tsp. yeast
  • 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cups plus 2 T powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. vegetable oil plus more for oiling bowl
  • butter for brushing
  • kosher salt
  • cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling optional

Pretzel Bath:

  • 2 c. warm water
  • 1/4 c. baking soda

Instructions

  1. Dissolve yeast in the warm water in a small bowl or cup. Let sit for a few minutes.
  2. Combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add water with yeast and vegetable oil. Stir with a spoon and then use your hands to form the dough into a ball.
  3. Knead the dough 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Dough will be nice and smooth when it's ready. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and store it in a warm place for 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.
  4. When dough has risen, preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  5. Make a bath for the pretzels by combining the baking soda with the warm water and stir until baking soda is mostly dissolved.
  6. Remove the dough from the bowl and cut into 12 pieces.
  7. Shape the soft baked pretzels as follows:
  8. Roll each section into a long 24" rope.
  9. Bring the ends up and twist twice.
  10. Bring the ends down and pinch firmly.

  11. Dip each pretzel into the bath solution. Drip dry. Arrange on 2 cookie sheets that have been sprayed with non stick cooking spray.

  12. If you want salted pretzels, sprinkle pretzels with kosher salt. Don't salt any pretzels that you plan to coat with cinnamon/sugar.

  13. Bake one pan at a time. Bake 5 minutes, then spin the pan halfway around and bake another 4 or 5 minutes or until golden.

  14. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.
  15. If you want the cinnamon/sugar coating, brush with butter and sprinkle heave coating of cinnamon/sugar onto the entire surface of the pretzel.

Recipe Notes

*This dough can be made using a Kitchenaid machine and dough hook. It can also be made in a bread machine on the dough cycle.

*The baking soda separates from the water easily. So stir it every couple of minutes as you are dipping the pretzels to make sure that there is an even distribution of powder/water mix on each pretzel.

*The original recipe makes 8, but I like making 12 smaller pretzels. It's up to you!

*If you want the cinnamon/sugar coating, brush with butter and sprinkle a heavy coating of cinnamon/sugar onto the entire surface of the pretzel.

Looking for some creative dipping sauces for your soft baked pretzels? Here are 5 easy dipping sauce recipes in 5 minutes from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

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Comments

  1. C says

    September 21, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    Excellent, just made them but rolled & knotted to make as garlic knots which came out a bit dense but very good. Do you think the recipe would work the same with using just whole wheat flour? That used to be my favorite Aunt Anns pretzels but they are so hard to find anymore.
    Thanks for posting, Chantal

    Reply

  2. Brandy @ Gluesticks says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:06 am

    Chantal, I’ve made them using 100% whole WHITE wheat flour since it is lighter in baking and they were really good. I just made the pretzel sticks, not the knotted ones (too lazy, and the time I made them like the real pretzels was the time they came out a little doughy too). I’ll have to try making some garlic ones! Thanks!

    Reply

  4. gail says

    March 8, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    I love those pretzels from the Mall! I’m pinning this so I can try this someday.

    Featuring your recipe on Talk of the Town next week! Thanks for sharing with us there!

    gail

    Reply

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