Pretzel Buns

This pretzel buns recipe tastes and looks like soft pretzels. The buns are great for sandwiches, as a dinner roll, or swap them in place of a burger bun.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 382 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 2 cups warm milk
• 4 cups water
• 6 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• Sea salt
• 6 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 cup white sugar
• 0.25 cup melted butter
• 0.5 cup baking soda
• 4.5 teaspoons active dry yeast

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Sprinkle yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar over ½ cup warm water (about 100 degrees F, 40 degrees C) in a large bowl. Set aside until yeast becomes foamy, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Add 3 cups flour, milk, shortening, eggs, ¼ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1 ½ teaspoons salt to yeast mixture; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add remaining 3 cups flour, ½ cup at a time, mixing well by hand after each addition, until dough comes together; turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Dough will be sticky.

Step 4

Lightly oil a large bowl. Add dough; turn to coat in oil. Cover the bowl with a cloth; set aside to rise in a warm place (80 to 95 degrees F (27 to 35 degrees C)) until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. Punch down dough.

Step 5

Roll baseball-sized portions dough into "snakes" about 6 inches long; roll each into a spiral to give tops some texture. Set aside.

Step 6

Combine 4 cups hot water and baking soda in a bowl (baking soda does not need to dissolve completely). Dip each bun in baking soda solution; transfer to a baking sheet. Brush buns with melted butter; sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack or brown paper bag.