Homemade Soft Pretzels with Salsa Verde Cheese Dipping Sauce Recipe
This Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe delivers warm, golden-brown pretzels with a perfect chewy texture and a classic salty crust. Perfectly boiled in a baking soda solution and baked to a deep golden color, these pretzels are complemented by a rich and creamy salsa verde cheese sauce for dipping. Ideal for a snack or appetizer, this recipe guides you through making the dough, shaping, boiling, baking, and preparing a flavorful dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 soft pretzels 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pretzel Dough
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 package active dry yeast (or 2 ¼ teaspoons)
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup melted butter
- Non-stick cooking spray (for greasing bowl)
Boiling Solution
- 10 cups water
- 2/3 cups baking soda
Finishing
- 1 large egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- Pretzel salt (coarse salt for sprinkling)
- Melted butter (for brushing after baking)
Salsa Verde Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 – 4 oz packet Velveeta cheese sauce
- 1/3 cup Salsa Verde
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Activate yeast and prepare dough: Combine warm water, sugar, and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Attach the dough hook, add flour and melted butter, and mix on low speed until combined. Then knead on medium speed for about 4-5 minutes until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the bowl.
- First proofing: Remove the dough, clean and oil the mixing bowl with non-stick spray, return the dough to the bowl, turning it to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm place for 50-55 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven and prepare pans: Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with vegetable oil. Set aside.
- Prepare boiling solution: In a large (8-quart) saucepan, bring 10 cups of water and 2/3 cup baking soda to a rolling boil.
- Shape pretzels: Turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled surface. Divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 24-inch long rope. Form a U-shape, cross the rope ends over each other twice, then fold down to press onto the bottom of the U to shape pretzels. Place onto prepared pans.
- Bake pretzels after boiling: Carefully lower pretzels into the boiling baking soda water one at a time for 30 seconds each. Remove with a spatula and return to the pan. Brush each with egg wash and sprinkle generously with pretzel salt. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes until dark golden brown.
- Cool and butter: Transfer the baked pretzels to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes. Brush with melted butter if serving immediately.
- Make salsa verde cheese sauce – step 1: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour to form a roux paste. Gradually add milk while whisking constantly until thickened.
- Make salsa verde cheese sauce – step 2: Add grated cheddar cheese and Velveeta cheese sauce packet to the roux mixture. Stir until smooth and creamy. Add 1/3 cup salsa verde and stir to combine. Simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve: Serve the warm salsa verde cheese sauce alongside the soft pretzels for dipping.
Notes
- Ensure the water for the yeast activation is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
- Boiling the pretzels in baking soda water is essential for the distinctive crust and flavor of soft pretzels.
- You can adjust the salt on the pretzels according to your preference.
- The salsa verde cheese sauce can be stored refrigerated and gently reheated before serving.
- For softer pretzels, brush with melted butter immediately after baking and cooling slightly.
- Use parchment paper and oil the pans well to prevent sticking.
Keywords: soft pretzels, homemade pretzels, pretzel recipe, soft pretzel recipe, baking soda pretzels, pretzel cheese sauce, salsa verde cheese dip
