Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins

Pretzels are our weakness, one of the treats we allow ourselves only from time to time, not too often. Kids love them and it's great joy every time we buy them pretzels. It became inevitable that I had to try the homemade pretzels recipe and I started with this version of soft pretzels, very nice and easy to cook.

I replaced the raisins with dried cranberries, but you can use anything you like - bits of chocolate, sugar with cinnamon, raisins, halva, dried plums/apricots, nuts etc. I think you should try them - they are fluffy, tender, a bit flaky and very tasty. The homemade preztels can be a great lunch snack at school or a treat next to the morning coffee, definitely with a little butter on top!

Ingredients
Bakers yeast
25 g
or 10-15g dried yeast
Milk
250 ml
White flour
550 g
Sugar
3 tbsp
Buttermilk/Youghurt/Kefir
150 g
Egg
2 pieces
Vegetable oil
150 ml
Salt
1 tsp
Melted butter
50 g
Raisins
200 g
or anything else you like - chocolate bits, dried cranberries, cinnamon, dried plums, halva etc.
Sesame/poppy seeds
2 tbsp
Step by step
Step 1

Put the yeast, 250ml warm milk, 3 tbsp flour and 1 tbsp sugar in a bowl.

Mix to combine using a whisk, let sit for 10-15 minutes until it starts to foam.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 1
Step 2

After that, add 150g yogurt, 1 egg, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and 150g oil. 

Mix well to combine.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 2
Step 3

Stir in the rest of the flour, mixing with a spoon/spatula at first, until all the ingredients are absorbed into the mixture.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 3
Step 4

Tip out onto the lightly floured table and start kneading with your hands, until smooth and elastic.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 4
Step 5

Let rest in the bowl for about 30-60 minutes.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 5
Step 6

After that, divide the dough into 20 relatively equal pieces.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 6
Step 7

Shape each piece into a small ball and let rest on the table for 15 minutes.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 7
Step 8

Dip your fingers in melted butter and flatten each ball with your hands.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 8
Step 9

Roll out into an elongated oval, as thin as possible.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 9
Step 10

Scatter over the raisins or any other filling you like.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 10
Step 11

And roll into a rope.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 11
Step 12

Overlap the ends and press them into each other when you shape the circle.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 12
Step 13

Repeat for all the pretzels, arrange them in baking sheets lined with parchment paper and let rise for 20-30 minutes.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 13
Step 14

After that, brush with eggwash and sprinkle on top with poppy or sesame seeds, if you like.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 14
Step 15

Bake in the preheated oven to 200 degrees C, for 20-30 minutes or until nice golden brown.

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 15
Step 16

They are wonderful when warm, but cold as well. I froze some (after baking-cooling) and I reheated them when I needed.

Enjoy!

Homemade Soft Pretzels, with Raisins - Step 16
Quantity: 20 pcs ()
Prep time:
60 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 60 min
Source: Youtube Lena Li