Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels Recipe - One Little Project (2024)

Hello again! It’s Alicia from The Baker Upstairs, and I have anotherdelicious treat to share with you today. These cinnamon sugar soft pretzels are so soft and chewy, buttery and sweet, and amazingly delicious! They are one of my family’s favorite treats, and I’m excited to share the recipe with you!

When I was in high school, one of my first jobs was working in the china and crystal department at a big department store in the mall. I helped brides choose their registry items, watched people endlessly debate about one flatware set versus another, and sold crystal vases worth more than my car. 🙂 It was a pretty fun job most of the time, but there were times when it was incredibly slow.Sometimes a whole hour would pass without any customers coming into my area, and by the time I had worked there a couple of months, I had the entire tape of music that was played over the PA system memorized.One of the bright spots on a slow night was my break, when I would walk down to the mall food court and buy a soft pretzel and a soda.

Maybe it was just because I was a teenager working for the first time, and relishing the independence it provided, but I swear, nothing had ever tasted as good as those pretzels. They were fresh from the oven, buttery and hot, and so delicious! It was always a really tough choice to decide between a hot salted pretzel with cheese sauce, or a warm and sweet cinnamon sugar pretzel. I loved them both! These cinnamon sugar soft pretzels remind me of those lovely pretzels I enjoyed from the mall all those years ago, but they’re even better because they’re homemade! These days, I bake them with my children, and get to see the joy on their faces as they discover how delicious a hot pretzel can be.

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I adapted these pretzels slightly from my favorite soft pretzel recipe, and they turned out so fantastic! They’re simple and quick to make, and are perfect when they’re fresh from the oven.

We LOVE cinnamon! Here’s a few of our favourite recipes. Don’t forget to save them to your favourite Pinterest boards:

Apple Cinnamon Pound Cake

Cinnamon Sugar Chex Mix

Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels

The full recipe is at the bottom of this point, but here’s what you’ll need:

  • milk
  • yeast
  • brown sugar
  • butter
  • salt
  • flour
  • baking soda
  • cinnamon sugar

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You’ll start by dissolving the yeast in the milk, then adding sugar, butter, salt, and flour to make a soft pretzel dough. Be careful not to add too much flour, because you’ll want the dough to be soft and pliable. Place the dough in a greased bowl to rise, then go do something fun for an hour. 🙂

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I love coming back to a big plump mound of dough. I make a ton of bread, and it still feels like magic every single time!

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Divide the dough into twelve equal sized pieces…

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…and then roll each piece into a long skinny rope. Next, twist each rope into a pretzel shape. I will admit here that I am not the greatest at shaping pretzels, but guess what? They turn out delicious either way!

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They’ll have a quick dip in a warm water and baking soda bath, then they’ll go into the oven to bake. Pull them out when they’re golden brown and beautiful.

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Next, you’ll brush the pretzels with melted butter, thenroll them ina sweet cinnamon sugar mixture.

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The pretzels are chewy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and they have the perfect touch of sweetness from the cinnamon sugar. They’re perfect for a simple dessert, an after-school snack, or even for a game day party! My kids absolutely adore these pretzels and cheer every time I make them. They are definitely one of our favorite treats!

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These pretzels are best within the first 24 hours, so make sure to eat them quickly. Considering how delicious they are, though, I doubt that will be a problem. Just make them once, and you will be totally hooked!

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Print Recipe

4.89 from 18 votes

Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels Recipe

These cinnamon sugar soft pretzels are simple and quick to make, and so delicious! Perfect for game day, snacks, or any time you need a sweet treat!

Prep Time2 hours hrs

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 12 pretzels

Ingredients

for the pretzels:

  • 2 cups warm milk
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
  • 1/4 cup Brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 teaspoons Salt
  • 4 1/2 cups Flour more or less as needed

for the topping:

  • 1/3 cup Baking soda
  • 3 cups Warm water
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk. When the mixture is bubbly, mix in the brown sugar, butter, one cup flour, and salt, and mix until combined.

  • Add the remaining flour, one cup at a time, and mix until a smooth and slightly sticky dough forms. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise about one hour, until doubled in size.

  • After the dough has risen, preheat the oven to 450. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Divide the dough into twelve equal sized pieces, and roll each piece into a long skinny rope. Twist into a pretzel shape.

  • In a medium bowl, mix together the warm water and baking soda until dissolved. Dip each pretzel into the baking soda mixture and place on the prepared baking sheets. Bake 7 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown.

  • In a shallow dish, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. Brush the pretzels with melted butter, then dip them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels Recipe - One Little Project (12)

These cinnamon sugar soft pretzels are simple and quick to make, and so delicious! Perfect for game day, snacks, or any time you need a sweet treat!

Here’s even MORE cinnamon recipes:

Apple Cinnamon Pound Cake:

Cinnamon Sugar Chex Mix:

Cinnamon Sugar Chips:

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes:

Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels Recipe - One Little Project (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret solution for Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 tbsp baking soda. Be certain to stir often. After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet.

Why do you boil soft pretzels before baking? ›

Quick, easy, and fresh weeknight recipes. It turns out that most pretzels are boiled, often in a lye solution, before baking to ensure that the exterior comes out just right.

Do you use baking soda or powder for soft pretzels? ›

As noted above, baking soda is a staple ingredient for making homemade pretzels. Dunking your pretzels in a baking soda bath prior to baking is what enables them to develop their distinctive color and crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside texture.

What is the best salt for homemade soft pretzels? ›

Ideally, you would use pretzel salt when making pretzels. But this type of salt is not always easy to find in the store. That's why many people turn to kosher salt instead. And indeed, these two types of salt have a lot in common.

What is the secret ingredient which makes a pretzel taste like a pretzel? ›

On the one hand, lye gives pretzels their distinctive flavor, kind of a sharp flatness, if that makes sense. It's what keeps a pretzel from tasting like pretzel-shaped bread.

Does Auntie Anne's use lye or baking soda? ›

Well, the cheery ladies were very clear with me: they do NOT use lye. No sodium hydroxide/poison/caustic soda—none whatsoever—in their pretzels. (They do, however, dip their pretzels in a baking soda solution.)

What happens if you don't boil pretzels before baking? ›

Like bagels, pretzels are made in boiling water prior to baking to give them their snappy outsides and chewy insides (messy!). Soft pretzels must be boiled, or dipped in a baking soda bath (or lye if you're gusty and strict with your pretzel traditions).

How do you store soft pretzels so they don't get soggy? ›

Refrigerating soft pretzels can turn them soggy and affect their flavor. Freezing pretzels, however, will help retain their texture and softness. You can freeze most food that's properly stored indefinitely, and the food will still be safe to eat.

What state eats the most pretzels? ›

The area roughly considered to constitute the Pretzel Belt, identified with Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Pennsylvania in general produces 80% of the pretzels consumed in the United States, with many of the top producers located in York County alone.

Why are my soft pretzels bitter? ›

Why Do My Pretzels Taste Bitter? If your pretzels have any sort of a metallic, bitter taste, it all comes down to the baking soda bath.

What makes soft pretzels shiny? ›

Dunking the pretzels in a boiling baking soda solution is easy and produces a beautiful, shiny pretzel. Our alternative finishing option uses a stronger alkaline, baked baking soda.

What makes soft pretzels taste like pretzels? ›

The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. It also gives them their unique and indelible “pretzel” flavor.

What kind of mustard is good for soft pretzels? ›

Dijon mustard or a spicy brown mustard are the typical go-tos, as they add an extra kick to your pretzel snack. However, you can also get the best of both worlds by choosing a cheesy mustard dip. All you need is spicy brown mustard, a cheese spread, and Worcestershire sauce.

What makes soft pretzels brown? ›

Gently dip each “rope” into the soda solution. This alkaline solution is what gives the pretzels their signature dark brown, shiny crust and distinctive flavor. The solution causes a chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction, which results in browning and a distinctive taste.

What solution are pretzels dipped in? ›

Lye is primarily used to make pretzels, and it's the reason for their unmistakable shiny, mahogany color. To prepare, shaped pretzels are dipped in a lye bath, then baked in the oven.

What makes Auntie Anne's pretzels so good? ›

All those pretzels are made and twisted on the spot.

Auntie Anne's definitely doesn't serve pre-made pretzels! Every location receives shipments of the signature flour mixture, which is put in a mixer along with water and yeast. They're baked, brushed with real butter, salted and served right there.

What does Auntie Anne's dip their pretzels in? ›

Choices include Cheese, Hot Salsa Cheese, Sweet Glaze, Caramel, Honey Mustard, Marinara, and Light Cream Cheese.

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