Best Soft Puffy Pretzel Sticks Recipes

SOFT HOMEMADE PRETZELS

Steps:

• Stir yeast into 1 cup warm water in a large bowl; beat in flour, sugar, shortening, and salt to make a dough. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.
• Place dough into a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal-size pieces. Roll each piece into a rope 18 to 20 inches long.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Shape each rope of dough into a pretzel on the prepared baking sheet; let pretzels rest for 5 minutes. Beat egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl and brush yolk mixture over each pretzel; sprinkle each with coarse salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pretzels are golden brown, about 15 minutes.

SOFT JUMBO PRETZEL STICKS (SUPER EASY)

Steps:

• 1. Roll each piece of dough into a 5" rope. Place on a large prepared baking sheet. Cover with saran wrap sprayed with non-stick spray, place in a warm spot and let rise for about an hour.
• 2. Place 2 quarts of water in a large saucepan. Add baking soda and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low. Gently place each stick in the soda water and simmer gently for 15 seconds per side.
• 3. Drain on a wire rack and return to prepared baking sheet. (I use parchment paper.) Score lightly every inch or so, if desired. Combine egg with 1 TB. water to make an egg wash. Brush each with egg wash and sprinkle with course salt.
• 4. Bake at 375 degrees for 5-10 minutes until golden brown.
• 5. SERVING SUGGESTIONS: I like mine with honey mustard or yellow mustard, but a melty cheese sauce is also delicious. On game day, I serve with my Wisconsin Beer Dip. (Recipe in comments section.) Also excellent served with Cheddar Potato Soup.

SOFT PUFFY PRETZEL STICKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir the brown sugar into 2 cups of warm water until dissolved.
• Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the vegetable oil and 3 cups of the flour. Knead in the remaining 2 3/4 cups flour; dough will be slightly sticky.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead until silky, about 3 minutes. If the dough is very sticky, knead in up to 1/4 cup more flour.
• Transfer dough to a large oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 450*F. Line 3 large cookie sheets with parchment paper; butter the paper.
• Punch dough down and turn out onto a floured surface.
• Knead dough lightly, flatten it out, and cut into 24 pieces.
• Roll each piece into a 9" stick about 1/2" thick.
• Transfer sticks to the cookie sheets, spacing them 2" apart. Let stand, uncovered, until puffed, about 25 minutes.
• In a large, deep skillet, stir the baking soda into 2 qts. water and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium.
• Using 2 slotted spoons, carefully transfer 6 pretzel sticks at a time into the simmering water for 30 seconds, turning once.
• Add about 1 cup of hot water to the soda mixture before cooking each batch of pretzels.
• Drain pretzels on paper towels, then return them to the cookie sheets.
• Brush pretzels with the egg wash and sprinkle with salt. Bake until richly browned, about 10 minutes. Serve warm.
• The baked pretzels can be stored overnight in an airtight plastic storage bag. Reheat before serving.

SOFT PRETZEL STICKS WITH HONEY MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, honey, and yellow mustard in a small bowl, and store in the refrigerator while preparing pretzel sticks.
• Mix yeast and brown sugar in a small bowl; add warm water, and whisk until sugar dissolves. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Mix flour and salt together in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Add canola oil and gradually pour in the yeast mixture, kneading until smooth and silky, 4 to 5 minutes. If the dough is very sticky, knead in more flour.
• Shape dough into a ball and transfer to a large greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
• Punch down the dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Flatten into a rectangle and cut into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a stick about 7 inches long. Place sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; let rest uncovered for about 25 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Pour about 5 quarts of water in a large, deep pot; stir in baking soda. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Carefully place pretzel sticks in the simmering water in batches for 30 seconds, flipping after 15 seconds. Remove from water and let drain on paper towels.
• Transfer the sticks back to the baking sheet. Brush lightly with butter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with the honey mustard dipping sauce.