Germany · Central Europe

German Soft Pretzels (Laugenbrezel)

Name: German Soft Pretzels (Laugenbrezel)
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 8 pretzels
Cuisine: Germany
Ingredients: 500 g (4 cups) bread flour; 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) warm water; 7 g (2 tsp) instant yeast; 10 g (2 tsp) salt; 30 g (2 tbsp) butter, softened; 1 tsp sugar; 1 liter water + 50 g (1/4 cup) baking soda (food-safe dip); Coarse pretzel salt

Chewy lye pretzels with a deep mahogany crust

🛂 Passport Stamp No.006 · Postmarked in Germany

40m

Prep

15m

Bake

8 pretzels

Makes

Intermediate

Level

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Postmark · Germany

🏛 A little history

The pretzel's looped knot is one of the oldest bread shapes in Europe, long associated with monasteries; the crossed 'arms' are often said to represent arms folded in prayer.

The southern German Laugenbrezel gets its glossy brown skin and unique flavor from a dip in alkaline solution before baking. It is a staple of Bavarian bakeries and beer gardens.

👩‍🍳 Let's bake!

Mix flour, water, yeast, salt, butter, and sugar; knead 8 minutes until smooth. Rise 1 hour.
Divide into 8 pieces. Roll each into a 50 cm rope, thick in the middle and thin at the ends.
Form a U, twist the ends twice, and press them onto the bottom curve to make the classic shape.
Rest the shaped pretzels uncovered in the fridge 30 minutes (helps the skin set).
Bring the water and baking soda to a gentle simmer. Dip each pretzel 30 seconds and lift out with a slotted spoon.
Place on a lined sheet, slash the thick belly, and sprinkle with coarse salt.
Bake at 220°C (425°F) for 13–15 minutes until deep brown.

💡 Chef Axl's tips

A baking-soda bath is the safe home substitute for food-grade lye.
Slashing the belly lets it open into the classic split.

Pantry

All-Purpose Flour

The everyday workhorse for cakes, cookies, and breads.

🧺 Pantry staple

Pantry

Sugar

Sweetens and helps bakes turn golden and tender.

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Pantry

Butter

A rich, creamy base for doughs and frostings.

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Pantry

Eggs

They bind, lift, and enrich almost every bake.

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Tools

Parchment Paper

Non-stick lining so nothing sticks to the pan.

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Tools

Rolling Pin

Tapered hardwood pin for smooth, even rolling.

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Tools

Bench Scraper

Cuts dough and scoops up your workspace in one move.

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German Soft Pretzels (Laugenbrezel)

🏛 A little history

👩‍🍳 Let's bake!

💡 Chef Axl's tips

Shop this recipe

All-Purpose Flour

Sugar

Butter

Eggs

Parchment Paper

Rolling Pin

Bench Scraper

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