Caffeine Free Soft Pretzels with Salt
Warm, chewy, and finished with a satisfying crunch of coarse salt, these homemade soft pretzels are the kind of snack that disappears fast. The dough comes together with pantry staples — flour, yeast, butter, and a little sugar — so there's nothing mysterious hiding in the ingredient list. That quick dip in a baking soda bath is the real secret, giving each pretzel its signature deep-brown crust and that unmistakable slightly alkaline chew you just can't fake. A generous brush of egg wash before baking locks in that glossy, bakery-style finish. Since every ingredient here is naturally free of stimulants, this is a genuinely worry-free bake for anyone keeping caffeine out of their diet — no swaps or substitutions needed. Serve them straight from the oven with mustard or your favorite dip, and don't be surprised if the whole batch is gone before they've had a chance to cool.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
For the dough
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110°f / 43°c)
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the baking soda bath
- 10 cups water
- ⅔ cup baking soda
For finishing
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp coarse pretzel salt or flaky sea salt
Instructions
- 1
Combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and let stand for 5 minutes, until foamy and fragrant.
- 2
Add the fine salt, melted butter, and flour to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until the flour is incorporated, then increase to medium speed and knead for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth, pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl, and springs back when poked.
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