Sweet and Savory Soft Pretzels

We’ve been KNEADING to tell you - it’s National Pretzel Day! Which in true Chef’s Life fashion influenced us to make this deliciously soft, buttery, and very easy pretzel recipe! And trust us these are every bit worth the extra elbow grease… 💪🏼 🥨 Thank us for the free arm workout later.

What you need for the DOUGH:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1 cup warm water

What you need for the TOPPING:

½ cup very hot water
2 tablespoons baking soda
Coarse, kosher salt or sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Dipping Sauces:

Sweet 🍨:

1 package cream cheese
Chef’s Life Blending Oil (until desired consistency)
1/4 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon, divided
2 tbsp. butter, melted
2 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. of milk

Mix all ingredients with hand mixer until fully incorporated!

Ranch 🍶🌾🚜:

1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
Chef’s Life Blending Oil (until desired consistency)
Ranch Seasoning (or if you want to get fancy use ingredients below)

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Mix all ingredients with hand mixer until fully incorporated!

What to do:

In a large bowl, add flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Mix. Add water. Mix well, adding more flour, if needed, a bit at a time to form a soft, smooth dough. It should be soft but not overly sticky.
Knead for 4-5 minutes until the dough is soft and stretchy. Then let the dough rise in a covered bowl, lightly sprayed with Chef’s Life Cooking Spray (Butter Flavor if you have it). Let it rest for 20-30 minutes (or up to 60 minutes) until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 500°F and lightly grease two sheet pans with Chef’s Life Cooking Spray.
Transfer dough to a lightly greased work surface, roll it out evenly (don’t roll it too thin! We like our pretzels THIQUE and fluffy), and cut dough into thick strips.
Combine the very hot water and baking soda. Whisk.
Dip each pretzel bite/strip in the baking soda solution. Let excess liquid drip off before placing the pretzel pieces on the baking sheets.
Sprinkle pretzel pieces with coarse, salt or sugar. Allow them to rest, uncovered, for about 10 minutes.
Bake for 7-8 minutes until golden brown.
Remove pretzels from the oven, and immediately coat with melted butter + Chef’s Life Olive Oil (you can use a basting brush or spoon - like we did!). Keep brushing the mixture on until you’ve used it ALL. Serve warm or at room temperature.