Dairy Free Whole Wheat Soft Pretzels
Soft pretzels have a reputation for being a treat you grab at a mall or ballpark, but homemade ones are genuinely in a different league — chewy on the inside, deeply browned on the outside, and finished with those satisfying crystals of coarse salt. The whole wheat flour gives these a slightly nutty, earthy backbone that makes them feel more substantial than the pale, doughy versions you'd find under a heat lamp. Olive oil and honey round out the dough beautifully, keeping everything tender without a drop of butter or milk in sight. The real magic happens in the baking soda bath, which is what gives each pretzel that signature chewy crust and rich, dark color before it even hits the oven. It's a classic technique that requires no special dairy-free swaps — the recipe is simply built that way from the start. Whether you serve them warm with a grainy mustard or just eat them straight off the rack, these are the kind of bake that makes your kitchen smell incredible and disappears fast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
For the dough
- 1 cup warm water (about 110°f / 43°c)
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the baking soda bath
- 8 cups water
- ⅓ cup baking soda
For finishing
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp coarse sea salt or flaky salt
Instructions
- 1
Combine the warm water, yeast, and honey in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl). Let stand for 5–8 minutes, until the surface is foamy and the mixture smells yeasty.
- 2
Add the whole wheat flour, fine sea salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook (or stir with a wooden spoon) until a shaggy dough forms, then increase to medium speed and knead for 6–8 minutes, until the dough is smooth, slightly tacky, and pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl. If kneading by hand, turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
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