Auntie Annes Pretzels - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 40 Comments

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Enjoy the taste of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels at home with this easy copycat pretzel recipe. These soft pretzels are made to perfection, you’ll love every chewy bite of the best pretzel recipe ever!

Auntie Annes Pretzels - CopyKat Recipes (1)

Table of Contents

Why we love Auntie Annes Pretzels

Auntie Annes Pretzels can be found in shopping malls and airports everywhere. I don’t know about you, but I find Auntie Anne’s Pretzels to be irresistible. It really is the best pretzel recipe ever! With just one bite, these soft pretzels transport you back in time to those Saturdays at the mall with your friends.

Now you can make these timeless Auntie Annes pretzels at home with this copycat soft pretzel recipe. Many, many thanks to Adrienne for this one!

Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

  • Active dry yeast
  • Water
  • Brown sugar
  • Table salt
  • Bread flour
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Coarse salt
  • Butter
Auntie Annes Pretzels - CopyKat Recipes (2)

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Do I Have to Use Bread Flour?

Bread flour really does work better than all-purpose flour. I should add, I use King Arthur Bread Flour and King Arthur All-Purpose Flour for the regular flour. Ithink I have been using King Arthur now for about thirteen years and I love this flour. It’s definitely amazing stuff, and once you’ve started using King Arthur you won’t go back.

How to Make Auntie Anne’s Pretzels:

Making homemade pretzels is easier than you think. Follow these simple instructions:

  1. Start with mixing the yeast with the water.
  2. Add the remainder of the dough ingredients and knead until smooth.
  3. Let rise for at least 1/2 hour.
  4. While the dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath.
  5. After the dough has risen, pinch off bits of the dough and roll into a long rope.
  6. Shape dough rope into a pretzel.
  7. Dip the pretzel into the soda water bath and place on a greased baking sheet.
  8. Let dough rise again.
  9. Bake and brush with melted butter.

See how easy that is!

Auntie Annes Pretzels - CopyKat Recipes (3)

Notes

  • When working with the dough, sometimes flour needs to be added. The amount required can vary quite a bit depending on the type of flour and the humidity. Just add enough flour to make the dough work well.
  • The baking soda water bath gives the pretzels that smooth, glossy finish. It’s just enough to get the outsides to have that delightful sheen on them, but not enough to cook them all the way through. So once you bake them, you get a soft middle with a wonderful chewy exterior. It’s the same step that gives bagels their smooth, shiny surface.

Variations

  • If you would like to try Auntie Anne’s famous Cinnamon Sugar pretzels, try melting a stick of butter in a shallow bowl (big enough to fit the entire pretzel). In another shallow bowl, make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Dip the pretzel into the butter, coating both sides generously. Then dip again into the cinnamon mixture.
  • If you want salted pretzels, salt the pretzels before baking and they will be amazing. Shake on the salt right after dipping and before you put them in the oven. The salt sticks much better this way. Sea salt tastes just as great as pretzel salt and is much better for you. When they’re done, take them out and butter them to death!
Auntie Annes Pretzels - CopyKat Recipes (4)

Recommended Special Equipment

  • Pastry Brush – for brushing on the butter
  • Kosher Salt – to sprinkle on the pretzel
  • SAF Gold Yeast – will give you a much sweeter bread, this is typically not found in most grocery stores.

Can’t get enough pretzels? Try these recipes!

  • Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels
  • Ranch Pretzels
  • Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels
  • Pretzel Brats
  • Chocolate Pretzel McFlurry

Popular Snacks

  • Instant Pot Popcorn
  • Cheetos Popcorn
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  • Kettle Corn
  • Crunch and Munch
  • Reese’s Snack Mix
  • Chex Mix Recipe

Be sure to check out more of my easy snack recipes and the best fast food copycat recipes.

Did you make and love this recipe? Give your review below and make sure you share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!

Auntie Annes Pretzels

Enjoy the taste of Auntie Anne's Pretzels at home with this easy copycat recipe.These soft pretzels are made to perfection and you'll love every chewy bite!

5 from 11 votes

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Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Pretzels

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 392kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 1/8 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoon baking soda
  • To taste, coarse salt
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

  • Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

  • While the 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 the 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 a greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again. Bake in the oven at 450 for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Notes

If you would like to try Auntie Anne’s famous Cinnamon Sugar pretzels, try melting a stick of butter in a shallow bowl (big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another shallow bowl make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Dip the pretzel into the butter, coating both sides generously. Then dip again into the cinnamon mixture.

If you want salted pretzels, salt the pretzels before baking and they will be amazing. Shake on the salt right after dipping and before you put them in the oven. The salt sticks much better this way. Sea salt tastes just as great as pretzel salt and is much better for you. When they’re done, take them out and butter them to death!

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 1608mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 3.1mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen Yang

    Auntie Annes Pretzels - CopyKat Recipes (6)
    Easy and delicious! You can’t eat just one!

    Reply

  2. Valerie

    Stephanie, I remember using your recipe around 2010 or 2011 and remember it being more complex than it is now. Am I just remembering incorrectly or is this recipe the same as it’s always been? The pretzels did not come out the way I remember, it was a lot softer when I made it years ago and more similar to Auntie annes, but this time they were a lot harder (still good, but more bread like than pretzel)

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      Did you happen to use bread flour?

      Reply

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Auntie Annes Pretzels - CopyKat Recipes (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.

What are the ingredients in Auntie Anne pretzels? ›

ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, BROWN SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: DOUGH CONDITIONERS (WHEAT FLOUR, MALT BARLEY FLOUR, ASCORBIC ACID, ENZYMES, SALT, VEGETABLE PROTEIN [CORN-BASED]), YEAST, CALCIUM ...

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

Lye. The dough is simple; take a basic yeast-risen dough that can be readied in an afternoon. But the trick to great pretzels is dipping the pretzels in a liquid wash before baking — and not just any wash, but a combination of water and lye. That's what gives pretzels their terrific color, texture and flavor.

What makes Auntie Anne's pretzels different? ›

Our Original Pretzel only contains 5 grams of fat, and, yes, it is lightly dipped in butter. Since Auntie Anne's Pretzels are made fresh in our stores, you can request your pretzel without butter for a lower calorie option or order your pretzel without salt.

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 makes Annies pretzels so good? ›

Auntie Anne Pretzels are somehow more delicious than your average pretzel. A healthy dose of sugar makes for a tasty dough, and a topping of melted butter and salt makes them positively addictive. Another reason the popular pretzels are so good is they are made and served fresh and warm.

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.

Does Auntie Anne's put butter on their pretzels? ›

ORIGINAL PRETZEL

The original twist that started it all; a simple, buttery and salty soft pretzel that is better than the best. Make it vegan by ordering this item without butter.

Does Shaq own Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

Shaq was the franchise owner of 17 Auntie Anne's Pretzels restaurants. This Aunt Anne's investment made him about $300,000. Shaq has recently sold this franchise due to the lack of people not wanting pretzels according to the Earn Your Leisure interview.

Does Auntie Anne's fry or bake their pretzels? ›

Bite-size salty and buttery Pretzel Nuggets that are baked fresh, portable, and pop-able, just for you.

Why does pretzel dough taste different? ›

They're Boiled, Not Baked.

The dough is first shaped into a long rope and then boiled in water before being baked at a higher temperature than bread. This process creates a distinctive pretzel shape and gives them their unique taste.

Why boil pretzel dough in baking soda? ›

Furthermore, we've introduced the baking soda bath. While it sounds strange, this step is what gives pretzels that iconic flavor, chewy texture, helps deepen their golden color in the oven, and locks in the super soft interior.

What is Auntie Anne's real name? ›

Beiler. Anne F. Beiler is an American businesswoman and founder of Auntie Anne's pretzels.

What is the Auntie Anne's motto? ›

Caring for Other People is Our Purpose.

How is Auntie Anne's made? ›

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 is the sodium hydroxide solution for pretzels? ›

Use around 4% sodium hydroxide in percent of water, so for example 1500g water, 60g sodium hydroxide. One by one, put the rolls and pretzels fully into the solution, for 20 seconds each. I like to keep them in my gloved hands during this time to make it easier to take them out again.

Why did you dip the pretzels in the baking soda water solution? ›

Baking soda raises pH, thus creating a basic solution. This help the browning process during baking, which will occur more in basic pH. Thus, producing the desired flavor and brown color of pretzel.

What does the baking soda solution do for the pretzels? ›

Over the years, I've added a smidge of melted butter to the dough for improved flavor. Furthermore, we've introduced the baking soda bath. While it sounds strange, this step is what gives pretzels that iconic flavor, chewy texture, helps deepen their golden color in the oven, and locks in the super soft interior.

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