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A homemade pretzels recipe that is simple, healthy and amazingly delicious is just what your recipe collection needs. Try this one and thank me later!

A collage shows homemade pretzel dough formed into knots as well as a few freshly baked pretzels with course salt

When was the last time you had a big, soft, fluffy pretzel?

If it’s been a while, then you need to try this recipe ASAP! These pretzels reminds me of my school days when my friends and I would shop at the mall and pick up a giant, salty pretzels and cheese dip to snack on. So yummy and the highlight of every shopping trip!

The local pretzel shop is long gone, but I still get to enjoy big, soft, fluffy pretzels because now I’m making them at home. These babies are a lot healthier and more delicious than anything I ever picked up at the mall. Using whole grain freshly milled flour gives these pretzels amazing flavor and nutrition! Trust me.

Don’t be intimidated to make pretzels. A few basic ingredients, a few simple steps and suddenly you’ve got yourself some knock-out-good snacks. I’ll show you how it’s done.

The Benefits of Freshly Milled Flour
Supplies and Ingredients
- Pretzel Recipe Supplies
- Pretzel Recipe Ingredients
How to Make this Whole Grain Pretzels Recipe
Storing Homemade Pretzels
Printable Recipe Card for Homemade Pretzels Recipe
Pretzel Recipe Serving Suggestions
Where to Buy Pretzels Recipe Ingredients and Supplies
More Recipes and My Cookbook!

A handful of soft, homemade pretzels topped with sesame seeds sit on a wooden cutting board

The Benefits of Freshly Milled Flour

First, let me introduce you to the secret ingredient that is going to make all of your homemade breads 10x better – fresh milled whole grain flour.

No it won’t taste too dark or have a texture that feels heavy. In fact, I think you’ll love seeing how light, fluffy and delicious breads made with freshly milled grains can be. This recipe is no exception.

I freshly mill all of my flour from wheat berries. You can more about the benefits of freshly milled flour here or in my Keeper of the Home Yeast Bread Cookbook, which has my favorite tried and true yeast bread recipes.

In a nutshell: you get the best nutrition and flavor within the first hours and days after milling your grains. You also get to customize your flour texture and grain blends while saving money. Plus it’s an easy-peasy process that takes very little time. Totally worth the small amount of effort it requires!

Supplies and Ingredients

Pretzel Recipe Supplies

A stand mixer with a dough hook attachment or a large mixing bowl and spoon
Sheet pans for baking

Whole wheat pretzels made with freshly milled flour and sprinkled with sesame seed toppings

Pretzel Recipe Ingredients

Dough Ingredients:

1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons brown sugar or sucanat
1 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 ½-3 cups (330 grams) freshly milled whole grain flour

For Boiling:

8 cups water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ cup baking soda

For Toppings:

1 egg yoke wash (egg yoke + 2 tablespoons water)
Any toppings you want on the pretzels (sesame seeds, flaky sea salt, cinnamon sugar, etc.)

How to Make this Whole Grain Pretzels Recipe

Activate the Yeast

In a mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, add the water, yeast and sugar. Mix and let sit for 5-10 minutes.

Mixing the Pretzel Dough

To the bowl, add the salt, melted butter and flour. Mix these ingredients together until well incorporated.

Mix/knead the dough for at least 5 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic.

First Rise

Oil a bowl and coat the dough in the oil, then cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled. This should take about 1 hour.

Shaping and Second Rise

Prepare a full sized sheet pan by spraying with non-stick spray or lining with parchment paper.

Dump your dough onto a slightly wet or lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, if wanting smaller pretzels. Divide into 4 sections for bigger pretzels.

Dough for a homemade pretzel recipe has been shaped into a circle and cut into 8 equal-sized portions

Shape each portion into a round ball, place on a baking sheet and cover. Let them rest and rise for another 20-30 minutes.

Round balls of pretzel dough are arranged on a metal baking sheet

Shaping the Pretzel

Working one ball of dough at a time, roll them out into a long rope or log shape. Roll the risen dough balls on the countertop until they are about 18 inches long. Keep the center of the rope slightly thicker than the ends.

A piece of bread dough has been rolled into a long log prior to being shaped into a pretzel

Form the dough strand into a U-shape. Twist the ends together 2 times and fold the twisted ends down towards the bottom of the U-shape and press the seams together. I recommend watching a few tutorial videos online, for a good visual on making a pretzel shape.

A long rope of pretzel dough has its ends twisted together to begin forming a pretzel shape

An uncooked pretzel is shaped and waiting to be baked

Boiling the Pretzel

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.

While preheating the oven, prepare a baking soda bath by bringing the 8 cups of water to a boil. Bring it back down to a simmer and try to keep it there while working with your pretzels.

Add the baking soda and brown sugar to the simmering water.

Add 1-2 pretzels into the boiling water and boil for 15-20 seconds on each side. This will help create the pretzel’s chewy texture. Use a big slotted spoon to flip and remove from the boiling water. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.

Two rows of whole grain pretzels made with fresh milled flour line a metal baking sheet before baking

Baking Instructions

Paste the egg wash over the pretzels, and sprinkle on your toppings.

Bake for 12-15 minutes. Watch them closely and remove them if they become too golden brown.

Storing Homemade Pretzels

If you have any leftover pretzels, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, or in the fridge for up to a few days. Pop them in the microwave for a few seconds if you prefer a warm pretzel.

Printable Recipe Card for Homemade Pretzels Recipe

An arrangement of homemade whole grain pretzels made with freshly milled flour

Whole Grain Pretzels with Fresh Milled Flour

Created by TIDBITS & Company

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Ingredients

For the Dough

1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons brown sugar or sucanat
1 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 ½-3 cups (330 grams) freshly milled whole grain flour

For Boiling

8 cups water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ cup baking soda

Toppings

1 egg yoke wash (egg yoke + 2 tablespoons water)
Any toppings you want on the pretzels (sesame seeds, flakey sea salt, cinnamon sugar, etc.)