Bavarian Pretzels

Chef John's bavarian pretzels come with a soft center and a beautifully browned, crusty exterior, bejeweled with crystals of salt.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 224 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 pinch flaked sea salt, or to taste
• 0.5 cup warm water
• 3.3333332538605 cups bread flour
• 0.5 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 0.33333334326744 cup baking soda
• 0.5 cup lager-style beer
• 2.5 cups hot water

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Mix brown sugar and warm water until dissolved. Sprinkle yeast over top and let sit for 10 minutes.

Step 2

Add melted butter and beer to the yeast mixture and whisk until combined. Add bread flour and salt. Mix and then knead with your hands or an electric mixer for a few minutes until a dough ball forms.

Step 3

Grease a bowl with 1 teaspoon butter. Place dough in the bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size, about 8 hours, or overnight.

Step 4

Punch down the dough and knead until a smooth ball of dough is formed, about 1 minute. Place back in the bowl, cover, and let rise until dough has almost doubled in size, 2 to 3 more hours.

Step 5

Punch down the dough and divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each one into a ball; let sit for 5 minutes.

Step 6

To form a pretzel, roll a dough ball into a sausage shape, and then press into a small rectangle with your fingers. Fold the outside third of the dough into the center, and press flat with your fingertips, and then repeat with the edge closest to you.

Step 7

Roll the dough into a rope 15 to 18 inches long, with the center (belly) of the rope being twice as thick as the ends. Cross the ends once or twice and fold them back over the pretzel so the ends are just past the belly. Repeat to form remaining pretzels.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven until well browned, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Step 9

Put on some thin, food-safe gloves and transfer a pretzel to the baking soda bath; soak for 20 to 30 seconds, gently splashing liquid over the top of the pretzel to coat. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet that's been greased with cooking spray. Sprinkle the still-damp pretzel with large-grain sea salt. Repeat with remaining pretzels and let rise for 30 minutes.

Step 10

Gather all ingredients.

Step 11

Serve and enjoy!

Step 12

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Place baking soda in an oven-safe dish. Place baking soda in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Let cool, and then whisk into a shallow bowl of 2 1/2 cups hot water until dissolved. Mixture can be strained to remove any dissolved pieces. Reserve until needed.

Step 13

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Use a razor or sharp knife to make a slash across the "belly" of each pretzel. Smaller cuts can also be made on other sides of the pretzel if desired.