These homemade Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels have a deliciously soft and chewy interior with a crisp outer layer. The tender and pillowy inside is enhanced by a sweet and buttery coating.
Just like your favorite pretzels from the mall, these homemade treats are coated in fragrant cinnamon sugar. You’ll fall heads over heels for the balance of warm spice and sugary goodness with every comforting bite!
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💚 About This Recipe
If you've ever had a craving for a sweet and salty pretzel from the mall but didn't want to leave your house, this recipe is perfect for you! Pair homemade soft pretzels with a cinnamon sugar coating and a sprinkle of salt for the ultimate flavor pairing.
There's little prep work required for these cinnamon sugar pretzels, and they bake up perfectly every time! Best of all, you probably have most of the ingredients on hand already.
Pair them with these Pretzel Bites with Olives and Parmesan for another yummy savory snack!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- active dry yeast - don't be intimidated by the inclusion of yeast--it's actually easy to work with as long as you have some patience!
- warm water - activates yeast and hydrates the flour, helping to form the dough.
- granulated sugar - adds sweetness and feeds the yeast, promoting fermentation and rise.
- olive oil - or another neutral oil that won't add too much flavor.
- honey - provides some additional natural sweetness.
- all purpose flour - forms the main structure of the pretzel dough.
- coarse sea salt - contrasts with the cinnamon sugar for the perfect flavor balance.
- baking soda - ensures the outsides of the pretzels get a bit browned while the insides stay soft and fluffy.
- cinnamon - provides the warm cinnamon flavor.
🔪 Instructions
- Combine yeast with hot water and sugar, then cover with a towel and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes.
- Using a wooden spoon, stir in the olive oil and honey.
- Add flour and half the salt. Mix until the dough starts to pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Dump onto a floured surface and knead well, then return to the bowl and cover. Allow the dough to rise for about an hour, or until approximately doubled in size.
- Separate the risen dough into about 16 even pieces and roll into thin strips. Fold into pretzel shapes.
- Dip into a mixture of baking soda and water, then into a bowl with cinnamon and sugar. Bake for 8 minutes at 450 degrees F. Sprinkle with the other half of the salt.
❔ FAQs
Typically, lye is used to coat the outside of soft pretzels before cooking. Lye can be dangerous to work with as it's high on the basic scale and can be caustic, so this recipe uses baking powder instead.
I recommend using a coarse salt for soft pretzels. It works perfectly as both a topping and an ingredient in the pretzel dough, and will add a delicate flaky texture to the top of your pretzels.
The reason pretzels are coated in water and baking soda (or lye) is to give them their iconic pretzel flavor, promote outer browning, and preserve the chewy interior. In scientific terms, the basic mixture alters the pH of the dough on the surface and causes the starch to "gelate," which makes the very outside of the pretzel cook faster. The more you know!
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Give your mixing bowl a light brush of oil before returning the kneaded dough. This will make it easier to remove after.
- For the first step, ensure your yeast has taken on a foamy appearance after 5 minutes. If it isn't foamy, the yeast may be dead. In this case, you'll need to start over with fresh yeast.
- For dry dough, add water a teaspoon at a time until you're happy with the consistency.
📌 Make these super easy cinnamon sugar pretzels for a nostalgic and comforting snack anytime! Even novice bakers will delight in learning the process of letting dough rise and then bake.
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- Feeling adventurous? Try substituting this spiced sugar for the cinnamon sugar!
- This recipe can be used as a starting point for plain soft pretzels as well. Simply omit the cinnamon sugar before baking.
- You could also dip them in just cinnamon or just sugar for a different take.
- Dust your cinnamon sugar soft pretzels with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate sauce or caramel to turn them into a yummy dessert.
- Easily make this an autumnal treat by adding nutmeg, cloves, and ginger to the cinnamon sugar for pumpkin spice soft pretzels!
🥫 Storage and Reheating
Keep your pretzels in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag at room temperature. They should last 5 days or so. You can also freeze them for up to a month. Allow them to thaw in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
These soft pretzels can easily be reheated for about 30 seconds in the microwave. Wrap them in a slightly damp paper towel to keep them soft.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
To give your cinnamon sugar pretzels an extra sweet twist, drizzle with Homemade Chocolate Sauce or an Easy Chocolate Glaze. You can also serve them alongside other snacks like this Sweet Nutty Crunch or Coconut Banana Matcha Muffins for an after-school feast!
✔️ More Cinnamon Recipes You'll Love
- Pan Fried Cinnamon Bananas - A fan favorite, these super easy bananas are covered in a yummy cinnamon coating and make for a tasty and healthy snack!
- Cinnamon Pretzels and Peanuts - If you prefer a snack with a nice crunch, make this simple snack mix that has the same sweet and salty flavors of these soft pretzels.
- Banana Cinnamon French Toast - Bring the flavor of cinnamon into breakfast or brunch with this super comforting and tasty French toast dish.
- Fireball Pumpkin Pie - Can't forget about dessert! This autumnal treat from Country Living in a Cariboo Valley uses cinnamon whiskey for a fun new take on pumpkin pie.
Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels
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📋 Recipe Card
Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzels
Ingredients
For the pretzels:
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 ¼ cups warm water
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tablespoon coarse sea salt
- ½ cup baking soda
For the cinnamon sugar:
- ⅛ cup sugar
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast, water, and sugar and cover the bowl with a towel for 5 minutes.1 tablespoon active dry yeast, 2 ¼ cups warm water, 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- After 5 minutes, stir in the olive oil and honey with a wooden spoon.1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey
- Add the flour and half of the sea salt. Mix the ingredients until a shaggy dough begins to form and the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.5 cups all-purpose flour, ½ tablespoon coarse sea salt
- Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 2-3 minutes. After kneading the dough, return it to the mixing bowl and cover with a towel. Allow the dough to rest for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, divide it into 16 equal sized pieces and roll them out into strings about 6-8 inches in length. Fold the strings over each other to form a pretzel shape.
- Dissolve the baking soda in 2 cups of water.½ cup baking soda
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a medium bowl.⅛ cup sugar, ½ tablespoon cinnamon
- Dip the pretzels in the baking soda mixture and then in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Place the pretzels on a baking sheet and sprinkle with the remaining salt. Bake at 450 degrees F for 8 minutes.
Notes
- Make sure that your yeast is foamy after it sits for 5 minutes (in step 1). If it is not foamy, the yeast most likely died and you will need to start over with fresh yeast.
- Honey provides the same amount of sweetness as granulated sugar but is not processed. You can substitute sugar for the honey if you prefer.
- If your dough seems dry, add more water a tablespoon at a time. Depending on your location and elevation, you may need more or less water.
- Store your leftover pretzels in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 5 days.
- These pretzels are delicious reheated in the microwave for about 30 seconds. To keep them soft, wrap them in a damp paper towel before microwaving them.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Lisa Grant says
Homemade pretzels are the best! Better than any pretzel shop!
Kristin King says
I totally agree, and they aren't very difficult to make!