German Soft Pretzels (Classic Bavarian Style)

Soft, chewy, and perfectly golden, these homemade German soft pretzels have a classic bakery-style bite with a crisp exterior and fluffy center—easy to make and impossible to resist!

These German soft pretzels are soft and chewy on the inside, golden and slightly crisp on the outside, and just like the classic Bavarian pretzels you’d find at Oktoberfest. Made with a traditional baking soda bath and simple pantry ingredients, this homemade soft pretzel recipe is easier than you think — and absolutely worth it!

• 5 cups bread flour
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 1 ⅓ cups lukewarm water
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• pretzel salt or flaky sea salt

• 6 cups boiling water
• 2 tbsp baking soda