This Copycat Mall Pretzel Recipe is the closet recipe to those super amazing pretzels sold at the mall. After experimenting with a secret ingredient, that changed an ordinary pretzel recipe to amazing! A must-try pretzel recipe, especially during this quarantine time!
Homemade pretzels are easy to make, especially if you have a kitchen-aid mixer! The mixer does the kneading so you’re not doing any arm workouts and the pretzels are done in a reasonable time! My children absolutely love these pretzels and one of my sons even commented “they’re the best ever”! If you like Pretzel Time Pretzels or Auntie M’s then are you in for a treat!
After making batches of pretzels one day, I decided to experiment. I added baking powder to one and let me tell you, they came out so fluffy, so soft and so close to those mall pretzels, that I was just amazed! I even texted my friend the same day to share the excitement because it’s truly exciting when you have a successful trial of attempting to replicate something! You seriously need to try these pretzels! This recipe makes 6 pretzels that you may want to double on, because they will go quick!
How to make Copycat Mall Pretzel Recipe:
Mall Pretzels (Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
Mall Pretzels Dough:
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- 2 cups + 2 Tbsp of all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tbsp butter melted
Baking Soda Solution:
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 tbsp baking soda
Butter Topping:
- 6 tbsp butter melted
- coarse salt
Instructions
How To Make Mall Pretzels:
- Microwave the milk and water for 45 seconds or until warm. Stir in the yeast and allow to proof 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and melted butter. Pour in the proofed yeast mixture and knead 7 minutes over medium-high speed. (Dough should be smooth and tacky.)
- Lightly grease the top of the dough and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Meanwhile in a shallow bowl, dissolve the baking soda in water. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 410°F. Cut dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll and stretch each piece into a 30" rope. Then holding the ends, make a U-shape and twist twice. Pinch ends to the pretzel.
- Dip Pretzels in the baking soda solution and immediately place onto a sheetpan. Bake 8 minutes. Dip in the melted butter topping and sprinkle with coarse salt.
Notes
- Dust pretzels with a cinnamon sugar mixture for dessert Pretzels!
- Make a Mustard dip by mixing 2 Tbsp mayo, 1 tsp yellow mustard and 1 Tbsp brown sugar.
Nutrition per serving
Pretzel Finds:
Q&A
Does Auntie Anne’s fry pretzels?
The pretzels at Auntie Anne’s are made fresh at each location! Each location is sent a signature flour mixture that then gets prepared by adding water and yeast. Employees then bake the pretzels and finish them off with butter and salt.
What is the purpose of the baking soda bath for pretzels?
A baking soda solution is the browning agent for pretzels. Without it they remain pale and lack in texture. Pretzels take as quick as 8 minutes to bake and if you omit the soda solution bath they will not brown in time for exceptionally soft pretzels.
Ingredients needed to make Mall Pretzels:
- milk
- water
- yeast
- brown sugar
- butter
- salt
- baking powder
- flour
- Baking soda solution
What kind of salt do you use for pretzels?
Any coarse food grade salts can be used for Pretzels. Coarse salt is bigger in texture making it more visible on foods.
How do get salt to stick to pretzels?
The best way to make salt stick to pretzels is to brush the pretzels with butter before sprinkling on the salt.
Tips
- Use a coarse salt to get those big white specks on your pretzels!
- A baking soda solution gives pretzels there brown color don’t skip it!
- Dust with a cinnamon sugar mixture for a dessert pretzel!
- Broil over hi for an extra minute for to get evenly browned pretzels.
Other Copycat Recipes to explore:
- Frontega Chicken Panini Sandwich Recipe {Panera Bread Copycat}
- Shrimp Scampi Fritta Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat)
- Sizzling Chicken and Cheese (TGI Friday Copycat)