Brezeln - German Pretzel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes German pretzels different? ›

The main difference to note between the more “American-style” pretzels and German pretzels is an ingredient called lye. Put simply, it's a “bath” pretzels soak in before the cooking is completed. Baking soda can be a substitute, however lye is the more “traditional” method.

Bretzel is the German word for what we know as pretzel. When creating his own pretzel company in 1911, Adolph Benzel gave his central Pennsylvania bakery the name of Benzel's Bretzel Bakery. A hundred years later, the name on the door of the family-owned business remains the same.

Unlike their American counterpart, Bavarian pretzels pack a denser, chewier inside and a darker, crispier outside. And there's a certain "tang" to the Bavarian-style pretzel that sets it apart from other soft pretzels. But best of all, it doesn't need to be dipped in cheese or drenched in butter to taste delicious!

But it's the distinctive "pretzel" flavor that makes this bread extraordinary. That comes from dipping the shaped dough in an alkaline solution — traditionally a small amount of food-grade lye dissolved in water — before baking.

Pretzels in Germany

The major difference between pretzels in different regions is their thickness. For example, the Swabian pretzels have thin “arms” and a fat “belly." They are quite rich in fat content. Whereas, in the Bavarian region the “arms” are thick and they have thin “bellies” to avoid the extra fat.

Unfortunately, pretzels have more carbs and twice as much sodium compared to typical salted potato chips, so pretzels may not be the healthier choice depending on your health needs. Hard pretzels can, therefore, be a good alternative to chips if you're lowering your fat or caloric intake.

The pretzel, known as "Brezel" in German, is a type of baked bread product that is typically twisted into a distinctive knot-like shape. Its origin is often attributed to Germany, specifically to the region of Bavaria, although its precise beginnings are somewhat debated.

The German name "Brezel" may derive also from Latin bracellus (a medieval term for 'bracelet'), or bracchiola ('little arms'). The pretzel has been in use as an emblem of bakers and formerly their guilds in southern German areas since at least the 12th century.

In the centuries following, the pretzel made its way into history books and European culture. By 1440 the pretzel's form was a symbol of good luck, long life and prosperity. By 1450, Germans ate pretzels and hard-boiled eggs for dinner on Good Friday – the day of fasting.

German-style pretzels are also rolled with a fat belly and thin arms. The belly is slashed with a knife and splits open as it bakes. Finally, and most importantly, German-style pretzels, are dipped in a lye solution, while American soft pretzels usually rely on an easier baking soda dip.

What is an Oktoberfest pretzel? ›

The main thing that sets the pretzels served at Oktoberfest (and throughout Germany) apart from their soft American counterparts is the use of lye to form a dark chewy crust.

Furthermore, we've introduced the baking soda bath. While it sounds strange, this step is what gives pretzels that iconic flavor, chewy texture, helps deepen their golden color in the oven, and locks in the super soft interior.

Bake longer

If you're not baking your pretzels long enough, they'll come out pale and dull. It's important to bake them until they're a deep golden brown. Likewise, the dough inside is cooked through and won't taste raw or doughy when you bite into it.

All those pretzels are made and twisted on the spot.

Auntie Anne's definitely doesn't serve pre-made pretzels! Every location receives shipments of the signature flour mixture, which is put in a mixer along with water and yeast. They're baked, brushed with real butter, salted and served right there.

Unlike American soft pretzel, which are nice and plump, German-style pretzel dough is a slightly leaner dough with less butter in it. The Bavarian pretzel dough first starts out with a pre-ferment, which allows for the yeast to get a kick start and give the pretzel more flavor and dimension.

Another theory suggests that the pretzel may have originated in Southern Germany as a form of pretiola, a type of Roman unleavened bread that was twisted and salted. Over time, the pretiola evolved into the pretzel we know today, gaining popularity in various regions of Germany.

The German name "Brezel" may derive also from Latin bracellus (a medieval term for 'bracelet'), or bracchiola ('little arms'). The pretzel has been in use as an emblem of bakers and formerly their guilds in southern German areas since at least the 12th century.

Pretzels and Mustard

Germans do not put mustard on pretzels or really on bread at all. When asked I got the clear answer that mustard goes with the sausage (Wurst) not the pretzel. They may commonly be eaten together, especially sweet mustard with Weisswurst in Bavaria, but the mustard goes with the meat not the bread.