Homemade Philly Soft Pretzels with Cheese are an irresistible, cheese covered snack. They’re the perfect combination of soft and chewy that the whole family will love, plus they’re so easy to make.
If you want more easy bread recipes, try my buttermilk biscuits in the air fryer or my easy dinner rolls.
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Why this Philadelphia Soft Pretzel Recipe is a Keeper
I love this recipe because it’s a quick and easy snack. You will definitely want to add this one to your stash of easy bread dough recipes.
- Easy Ingredients: I use common ingredients you often have on hand.
- Delicious Flavor: The philadelphia snack has amazing taste and texture and are a hit every time. They’re even better than hard pretzels.
- Freezes Well: They’re great for making ahead and freezing for later.
- Kid-Friendly: Children enjoy the philadelphia treat and they’re easy for them to eat.
- Crowd-Pleaser: They’re a hit with guests, making them great for entertaining. You can even stuff the pretzels with cream cheese or other fillings.. Especially here in pennsylvania which is the pretzel capital of the world.
What Makes a Philly Soft Pretzel Different?
Greater Philadelphia pretzels are different because of their shape and texture; They’re a figure-8 shape, and chewy, not crunchy. They’re a staple in every Philadelphians life, so you can find a pretzel food cart on every street. I grew up loving them so I had to learn how to make them.
Ingredient Notes for Philly Soft Pretzels Dough
To make a batch of doughy goodness, you will need just a few easy ingredients. If you don’t already have these ingredients in your kitchen, they can all easily be found at the store.
- Yeast: Active dry yeast will yield the best soft and fluffy results for this recipe.
- Flour: All-purpose flour is the go-to choice for this soft pretzel recipe. It provides the right balance of protein and starch, resulting in tender and chewy pretzels.
- Cheese: While you can find pre-shredded cheddar cheese in grocery stores, we recommend you shred the cheese yourself from a block of cheese for better flavor and texture.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make Classic Italian Soft Pretzels
Preparing steps ahead of time can help to save you time and kitchen space when it comes to making the soft pretzels recipe. I love to make the dough in advance to save time later.
- Make the Dough: You can prepare the dough through the kneading stage, then place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
Pro Tip for Crisp Outside and Fluffy Inside
The dough should be relatively soft and slightly sticky. This contributes to the chewy texture. Don’t over-flour it.
How to Make Pennsylvania Dutch Soft Pretzels
Homemade soft pretzels come together in just 5 easy to follow steps. Philadelphia’s culinary masterpiece are so easy to make, you’ll come back to them again and again, even if you’re not a baker.
These are the basic steps for making Homemade Philly Soft Pretzels with Cheese. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Preheat Oven, Prep Baking Pan and Mix Dough
Preheat the oven to 475 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add yeast, warm water, melted butter, sugar and salt to a large bowl. Stir until the yeast bubbles and let sit for 5 minutes. Add 2 ½ cups of flour and ¾ cup of shredded cheese and mix well.
2. Knead the Dough
Place the dough on a clean surface and knead for 5 minutes. Return dough to the bowl, cover with a clean towel and keep in a warm area of your kitchen. Let the dough rise for 15-20 minutes.
3. Make the Baking Soda Bath
In 4 cups of boiling water, add baking soda and stir until dissolved. Take it off the heat and let it cool down to a slightly warm temperature.
4. Fold the Pretzels
Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each segment into 1 inch thick ropes. Form each rod into a U-shape and twist both ends together twice. Then, press the dough together firmly at the bottom.
5. Bake the Pretzels
Dip every pretzel in the warm baking soda water for 2 minutes, then transfer them to the baking sheet. Spread the remaining cheese over the pretzels and bake them until they turn golden brown, or 8-10 minutes.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover PA Soft Pretzels
- Storing: Allow pretzels to cool completely and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.
- Reheating: If you love a warm soft pretzel, you can reheat them in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy with an Easy Philly Cheesesteak or a classic Italian Chopped Salad.
Variations and Substitutions for Soft pretzels with Cheese
This recipe is so versatile. Try taking it to the next level by experimenting with toppings or trying different flour.
- Cinnamon Sugar: For a sweet treat, dip the baked pretzels in melted butter and then roll them in cinnamon sugar.
- Seeds: Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or sunflower seeds add a nutty flavor and visual appeal.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning for extra flavor and texture.
- Flour: Try this recipe with wheat flour or sourdough.
Pretzels and Cheese Bake Recipe FAQs
Serve this recipe with nacho cheese or Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce.
A bald pretzel is simply a pretzel that doesn’t have any salt on it.
A baking soda bath is a water and baking soda mix. Dunking your pretzel dough in this mix is what gives your pretzel’s their distinctive crisp and fluffy texture and savory flavor without the lye.
Since the pretzel was initially made as a reward for children who memorized their prayers, the twisted shape is said to represent a person crossing their arms in prayer.
One of the first pretzel bakeries opened around 1861 in Lititz in Lancaster County, by Julius Sturgis. Making pretzels made its way to the city of brotherly love, and places like the Philly Pretzel Factory and the Federal Pretzel Baking Company opened.
Expert Tips to Make Soft Pretzel
- Let Pretzels Proof: After shaping the pretzels, allow them to proof for a little while before baking. Place the shaped pretzels on a baking sheet and let them rest in a warm, draft-free area for about 15 minutes.
- Parmesan Cheese: For added flavor, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top of the pretzels before baking. The nutty and salty profile of parmesan complements the soft pretzels beautifully.
- Adding Beer: To enhance the flavor of the pretzels, you can replace a portion of the water in the dough recipe with beer. The beer imparts a subtle malty taste and adds complexity to the overall flavor profile.
- Serve with Cheese Sauce for Pretzels: Prepare a simple cheese sauce by melting your choice of cheese with a bit of milk or cream in a saucepan over low heat.
- Bites: Rather than twisting the dough into the classic pretzel shape, make bites. Roll the dough into ropes and chop them into bite sized pieces.
Homemade Philly Soft Pretzels with Cheese
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Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Yeast
- 1 cup Warm water, between 90-110℉
- 1 tablespoon Butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon White sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 3 cups All-purpose flour, plus additional as needed
- 1 cup Shredded cheese, divided
- 4 cups Water
- 4 tablespoons Baking soda
- Flaked Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475℉.
- Mix yeast, warm water, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir until the yeast bubbles and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Add 2 ½ cups of flour and ¾ cup of shredded cheese. Mix well.
- Add more flour as necessary until the dough comes together.
- Take the dough and place it on a clean surface, then proceed to knead it for 5 minutes.
- Return the dough to the bowl, cover it with a fresh kitchen towel, and keep it in a warm area of your kitchen. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, which should take about 15-20 minutes.
- Heat 4 cups of water until it boils, then add baking soda and stir until dissolved. Take it off the heat and let it cool down to a slightly warm temperature.
- Divide pretzel dough into 8 equal pieces and then form them into pretzel shapes.
- To make pretzels, first roll each dough segment into ropes that are 1" thick. Then, form each rope into a U-shape and twist both ends twice at the top. After that, flip the twisted edges to the bottom of the U-shape and press the dough together firmly to hold it in place.
- Dip the shaped pretzels in warm baking soda water for 2 minutes, and then transfer them to a baking sheet that has been lined.
- Spread the remaining cheese over the pretzels and bake them until they turn golden brown, which should take around 8-10 minutes.
Christina’s Notes
- Let Pretzels Proof: After shaping the pretzels, allow them to proof for a little while before baking. Place the shaped pretzels on a baking sheet and let them rest in a warm, draft-free area for about 15 minutes.
- Parmesan Cheese: For added flavor, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top of the pretzels before baking. The nutty and salty profile of parmesan complements the soft pretzels beautifully.
- Adding Beer: To enhance the flavor of the pretzels, you can replace a portion of the water in the dough recipe with beer. The beer imparts a subtle malty taste and adds complexity to the overall flavor profile.
- Serve with Cheese Sauce for Pretzels: Prepare a simple cheese sauce by melting your choice of cheese with a bit of milk or cream in a saucepan over low heat.
- Bites: Rather than twisting the dough into the classic pretzel shape, make bites. Roll the dough into ropes and chop them into bite sized pieces.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.