Lactose Free Whole Wheat Soft Pretzels

Total time1 hr 50 min

Prep time30 min

Cook time20 min

4.9

(16)

Soft pretzels have a way of making any occasion feel like a snack-bar moment, and this whole wheat version delivers that chewy, golden-brown magic entirely from scratch. The dough comes together with whole wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and yeast — no butter, no milk, no dairy of any kind — so anyone avoiding lactose can dig in without a second thought. What gives these pretzels their signature deep color and slightly crisp exterior is the baking soda bath, a quick boil that creates that classic chewy bite before the oven even gets involved. A generous brush of beaten egg right before baking locks in a gorgeous mahogany crust, and a shower of coarse sea salt on top is the finishing touch that makes them impossible to resist. The whole wheat flour adds a subtle nuttiness and a little more body than a standard white-flour pretzel, which honestly makes them feel even more satisfying. Serve them warm straight off the rack and watch them disappear fast.

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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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