Name: Baked Cinnamon and Sugar Soft Pretzels
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 134 min
Ingredients: 4 ¾ cups all purpose flour; 1 tbsp kosher salt; 2 tablespoons light brown sugar; 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast; ½ cup water (lukewarm); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature); 1 cup whole milk (lukewarm); 1 egg yolk (for egg wash); 2 tablespoons baking soda; ½ cup cream cheese (room temperature); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature); 1 cup confectioners' sugar; 1 tbsp heavy cream; ½ tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup granulated sugar; 3 tbsp ground cinnamon; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)

There is nothing better to me than getting a giant soft pretzel at a county fair, so let's make some homemade cinnamon sugar soft pretzels! These soft and chewy pretzels are made from scratch, and I've included a cream cheese dip. Makes 12 pretzels.

A woman's hand holding a cinnamon sugar soft pretzel.

This post was originally published in October 2020. It has since been updated with new photos.

I always thought making homemade soft pretzels would be tricky, but it turns out soft pretzels are pretty easy to make at home! And as much as I love a savory pretzel at the fair, a soft pretzel recipe with cinnamon? Sign me up.

Just like my other homemade bread recipes, like my soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls, you'll spend a bit of time waiting for the dough to rise but there isn't that much hands on time.

If you've never made homemade cinnamon pretzels before, you'll be surprised to find out how we get that traditional pretzel taste and texture - boiling pretzels in baking soda! They're then baked until golden brown and brushed with melted butter and cinnamon sugar.

I've served them with a cream cheese dip, but I would also love to drizzle over a maple espresso glaze.

Baking Soda is Key!

All the ingredients needed for cinnamon sugar soft pretzels weighed out into small bowls.

All the ingredients needed to make a cream cheese dip.

Flour: I tested these pretzels with all purpose flour, I haven't tried it with gluten free flour!

Baking Soda: This is for the baking soda bath, it won't be added to the dough.

Milk: Make sure to use whole milk and not skimmed milk, it really makes all the difference!

Yeast: Always check the expiration date on your yeast! If you used expired yeast then the dough won't rise.

Making Pretzels

Step 1 and 2 in the cinnamon sugar soft pretzel baking process.

Step 1: Whisk lukewarm milk with the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Leave for 5 minutes until it begins to foam.

Step 2: In a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, place the rest of the sugar, flour, salt and butter. Mix on low speed until combined.

Step 3 and 4 in the cinnamon sugar soft pretzel baking process.

Step 3: Pour in the warm milk mixture and the water. Beat on low speed for 5 minutes, it should be soft and sticky.

Step 4: Take the dough out of the bowl and lightly oil the boil with a baking spray. Place the dough back in and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise for 1 hour, it should double in size.

Step 5 and 6 in the cinnamon sugar soft pretzel baking process.

Step 5: Deflate the dough with your fist and then take the dough out. Divide it into 12 pieces, about 81 grams each.

Step 6: Roll each dough piece into a 20" rope. Shape into a U and twist the ends twice.

Step 7 and 8 in the cinnamon sugar soft pretzel baking process.

Step 7: Bring the ends down and pinch to the bottom of the pretzel. Repeat with the rest of the dough pieces.

Step 8: Place all the pretzels on 2 parchment lined baking sheets and cover with plastic wrap. Let them rise for 20-30 minutes. While those are having a second rise, take a large saucepan and fill with water. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.

Step 9 and 10 in the cinnamon sugar soft pretzel baking process.

Step 9: The pretzels should have risen more and be puffy. Add your baking soda to the boiling water. Carefully drop the pretzels in (my saucepan fit 2 pretzels at a time, you don't want too many in there!) for 40 seconds on each side. Place back on the parchment lined baking tray.

Step 10: Preheat the oven to 375°Fahrenheit/190°Celsius. Brush each pretzel with an egg wash (one egg whisked with a tablespoon of water) to help with browning and bake the trays one at a time for 12-14 minutes.

Once out of the oven, brush with melted butter. Toss in cinnamon sugar and serve.

A cinnamon sugar soft pretzel on a cooling rack.

Making the Best Pretzels

Check the expiration date - check the expiration date of the yeast before you start making this recipe!
Wait before dipping in cinnamon sugar - if you aren't planning on eating or serving these straight away, then don't brush the melted butter and dip in cinnamon sugar. Wait until just before serving, otherwise I found during testing they get a bit soggy.
Don't crowd the pan - soak the pretzels one or two at a time, you don't need to crowd the pan or the pretzels might not soak evenly or become misshapen.