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🥨🥓 HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS + BACON & NACHO CHEESE 🧀
Because bacon + cheddar are always a good idea 🤤 I made homemade soft pretzels, nacho cheese for dipping, and bacon to go with it!
PRETZEL DOUGH:
🥨 1½ cups warm water
🥨 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
🍯 Honey — I just eyeballed it
🧂 Salt — eyeballed this too
🧈 1½ Tbsp salted butter, melted
🌾 4–4½ cups bread flour
BAKING SODA BATH:
💧 Water
🥄 Baking soda
TOPPING:
🧈 Melted butter
🧂 Sea salt
HOW I MADE THEM:
1. Mix the warm water, honey, and yeast. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Mix in the salt and 1½ Tbsp melted salted butter.
3. Gradually add 4 cups bread flour, adding a little more if needed.
4. Knead for 5–7 minutes until the dough is soft and slightly tacky.
5. Cover and let rise 45–60 minutes, until about doubled.
6. Preheat oven to 425°F.
7. Divide and shape the dough into pretzels.
8. Bring water + baking soda to a gentle boil. Dip each pretzel for 20–30 seconds, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
9. Brush the pretzels with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt.
10. Bake at 425°F for 8 minutes, or until golden brown. 🥨
11. Brush with a little more melted butter while they’re still hot.
🧀 Serve warm with nacho cheese for dipping + crispy bacon on the side. Bacon + cheddar + homemade pretzels = 🤤🥓🧀🥨
#HomemadePretzels #SoftPretzels #PretzelRecipe #BreadFlour #NachoCheese
Making homemade soft pretzels is such a rewarding experience, especially when you combine them with the perfect sides like crispy bacon and warm nacho cheese dip. From my experience, the key to soft and fluffy pretzels lies in properly proofing the dough — letting it rise until doubled ensures great texture. When shaping the pretzels, keep the dough smooth and try not to over-flour your surface, which can make the pretzels too dry. One important step I learned is the baking soda bath before baking. This alkaline bath gives pretzels their signature golden color and that slightly crispy crust. Be sure to keep the water at a gentle boil and not too harsh to avoid breaking the dough during dipping. After baking, brushing the pretzels with melted butter while hot locks in moisture and adds a lovely sheen. For the nacho cheese dip, I recommend using sharp cheddar for a robust flavor that pairs beautifully with smoky bacon. Crisp the bacon separately and serve it on the side or chopped on top for extra crunch. These pretzels make an excellent snack for game days, parties, or a cozy night in. Plus, homemade snacks always impress guests more than store-bought! If you want to experiment further, try adding garlic powder or herbs to the melted butter for brushing or changing up the cheese dip with a spicy jalapeño twist. Enjoy your baking journey and the delicious results!