No Yeast Buttermilk Pretzels

Let’s talk about pretzels. To me, a warm pretzel is just about the best thing out there. I used to be intimidated to make them, not because they were hard but because they do (or should I say did) take a bit of time. But once I tried a homemade pretzel there was no going back.

Most pretzel recipes are made with yeast, which makes it a difficult recipe to make right now seeing as yeast is next to impossible to find. So, I decided I needed to figure out a way to make a pretzel that was every bit as delicious without using yeast. And guess what, I figured it out! Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to a yeast pretzel now that I have this. It’s so easy and takes a fraction of the time because there’s not time needed for the dough to proof. I promise you, once you make these pretzels you will not go back!

Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 Tbsp salted butter, melted

1/2 Tbsp honey

1 1/2 cup all purpose or bread flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp oil (canola or vegetable)

1 egg

1/2 Tbsp pretzel salt or coarse salt

1/2 cup baking soda

10 cups water

To make:

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine melted butter and honey.

In a large bowl, add buttermilk and butter mixture and combine.

Add flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt to buttermilk mixture and fold together until combined.

Remove dough from bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Knead for 1-2 minutes to fully combine. Add flour as needed. The dough shouldn’t be sticky.

Using your hands, roll the dough into a log and cut into 4 equal sections. Take 1 section at a time and roll into another log. Cut that into 3 equal sections.

Taking each small section, roll into a rope about 6” long. Use oil to grease logs if needed to help roll.

Take rope and tie into a knot. Place on lined baking sheet. Continue this process until all 12 knots have been made.

In a shallow sauce pan, bring the 10 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add 1/2 cup baking soda slowly as the water will foam up.

Add the knots to the boiling water, making sure not to overcrowd. I did 4 knots at a time. Boil for 30 seconds. Remove knots with a slotted spoon and place on 2nd cookie sheet. Continue this process until all knots are boiled.

In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1 Tbsp water to form an egg wash.

Using a pastry brush or spoon, brush egg wash over pretzel knots and then sprinkle with coarse salt.

Place in then oven and bake for 12 minutes.

Serve warm with butter, honey, cheese, whatever your heart desires.

Enjoy!