Who doesn’t like Pretzels? I love them with a little salt and some mustard. That being said these easy to make Pretzel Buns go great with any dish.
Many people think making Pretzel buns or loaves is really difficult to make but that is not the case. It’s no different than making regular bread except in this case, you have to boil the dough before you bake it.
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I hear from many people about how their bread never seems to turn out the way it should. You must follow the instructions exactly.
In this case, getting the milk to the correct temperature is as important as how long you need to knead the dough. It’s also critical that you let the dough rise completely.
If you don’t already have a thermometer to test the temperature of the milk, you need the get one! In the meantime, it takes a little less than 1 minute in the microwave on high to reach the desired temperature.
Instant Yeast vs Active Dry Yeast
Instant Yeast Does not need to be dissolved in water before use and can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients. On the other hand, Active Dry Yeast has to be dissolved in warm water with a bit of sugar before use to ensure it’s alive.
Does Yeast Go Bad?
Active Dry Yeast can go bad since it’s a living organism. It typically has a shelf life of 1–2 years when stored properly. To check if your yeast is still active, dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in ¼ cup of warm water. Add 1 packet of active dry yeast, stir, and wait for 5–10 minutes. If the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly, the yeast is still good. If not, it’s time to replace it.
Instant Yeast has a longer shelf life than active dry yeast but can still go bad. To test it, Dissolve ½ teaspoon of sugar in ¼ cup of warm water. Stir in 1 teaspoon of instant yeast. Wait 5-10 minutes. If the mixture foams and bubbles, the yeast is still active. If nothing happens, it’s time to replace it.
Did you know that the boiling point of water is 212°F? This is important to know to ensure you wait for your water and baking soda mixture is ready. Additionally, make sure your water-to-baking soda ratio is correct if you want that reddish color
Recipe Tips
- Ideally the water should be between 105°F-110°F before adding the yeast. Water above 120°F will kill the yeast.
What is Rising & Proofing
Rising is the process where carbon dioxide makes the dough rise and develop flavor. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl (olive oil or non-stick spray) and cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap. The dough should be left in a warm location until it has doubled in size.
Proofing basically means the last rise of the dough in its final shape (e.g. bun, loaf, etc.) before baking. Many factors come into play for how long it will take to prove the dough. You can tell when the dough is ready for baking when the dough springs back after you gently press the dough with your finger.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Easy Pretzel Buns recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Milk, All Purpose Flour, Unsalted Butter, Light Brown Sugar, Active Yeast, Salt, Baking Soda and Egg.
How to Make Easy Pretzel Buns
- Warm milk and butter in the microwave to approximately 100°F to 110°F. The butter will not be completely melted.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk with yeast (room temperature) and brown sugar.
- Stir in the salt and 2 cups of flour and beat for 3 minutes. Gradually add the remaining flour until dough is soft. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Bring to a boil 3 quarts of water and the baking soda. Punch dough down and divide into the desired size of the buns (this will be the shape of your final bread). Boil each dough portion in the solution for a total of 2 minutes, 1 minute on each side. Remove dough portions from water using a slotted spoon and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Mix egg with a little water to create an egg wash and brush each dough portion. Cut a cross on the top of each dough portion.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 400°F then reduce temperature to 350°F and bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes until the buns have a nice dark reddish-brown color.
Easy Pretzel Buns
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Ingredients
- 1 Cup Milk
- 3 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 2 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Active Dry Yeast
- 2 Tsp Salt
- ¾ Cup Baking Soda
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- Warm milk and butter in microwave to approximately 100°F to 110°F. The butter will not be completely melted.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk with yeast (room temperature) and brown sugar.
- Stir in the salt and 2 cups of flour and beat for 3 minutes. Gradually add the remaining flour until dough is soft. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Bring to a boil 3 quarts of water and the baking soda. Punch dough down and divide into the desired size of the buns (this will be the shape of your final bread). Boil each dough portion in the solution for a total of 2 minutes, 1 minute on each side. Remove dough portions from water using a slotted spoon and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
- Mix egg with a little water to create an egg wash and brush each dough portion. Cut a cross on the top of each dough portion.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 400°F then reduce temperature to 350°F and bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes until the buns have a nice dark reddish-brown color.
I just loved making this recipe. It was easy to make and they were very tasty. This recipe is definitely a keeper.