Instant Pot Soft Pretzels—soft pretzels are easier to make than you think! Use your Instant Pot to speed up the proofing process and to boil the pretzels. These taste as good as Pretzel Maker or Auntie Anne’s! Serve with nacho cheese sauce or a cinnamon cream cheese sauce to bring the pretzels to a whole new level.
Instant Pot Soft Pretzels
Warm soft pretzels right out of the oven! What could be better?! These Instant Pot pretzels are worth the bit of effort it takes to make them. The Instant Pot cuts the proofing time in half and can also be used for the 30 second boiling process the pretzels need. You can make these pretzels without the Instant Pot but it is a handy tool to make it faster and easier.
How to use Instant Pot to proof dough
If you have a yogurt function on your Instant Pot you can use your IP to proof dough (raise dough) faster. It works so well. All you do is oil the pot so that the dough doesn’t stick. Place the dough in the bottom of your pot. Then select the yogurt button. Use the adjust button to cycle through until the light is on the “less.” My pot says 24 hours on the display. Then cover the pot with a glass lid or a plate. DO NOT use the normal Instant Pot lid. If you do the dough might raise so high that it pushes the valve up and indicates to the pot that there is pressure. You won’t be able to open the pot and the lid will be stuck. Let the dough double in size (or follow the instructions in your recipe). My dough only took 30 minutes to raise as opposed to the normal hour it would have taken sitting on the counter.
Why boil the pretzels
Dropping each pretzel into boiling water for about 30 seconds makes the interior of the pretzel quickly puff up and begins the crust formation. If you don’t boil, you’ll lose out on the chewiness you’d expect from a pretzel.
Why the baking soda
The baking soda is what gives the pretzels their brown and shiny crust and their distinctive flavor. When I opened my oven I oohed and aahed at the amazing brown color. Because of the basic/alkaline solution, the browning reaction can happen more rapidly. You only cook these pretzels for 10-15 minutes and they look amazing!
How to serve the pretzels
For a savory twist (pun intended) serve these soft pretzels dipped in mustard or in nacho cheese sauce.
For a sweet twist serve the pretzels without the coarse salt on top and dip them in a cinnamon cream cheese dipping sauce (YUM!). The recipe for the dipping sauce is listed in the recipe card below.
You can get creative with other pretzel dipping ideas! Try hummus, ranch, french onion dip, chocolate, caramel, spinach artichoke dip, honey mustard, etc.
Pretzels taste best warm but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and served cold too. You can also pop a leftover pretzel into the oven for 10 seconds.
In the mood for bread? Try these other recipes…
What equipment do I need?
- Instant Pot: I used my 6 quart Instant Pot* but you can also use the 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Slotted Spoon or Spatula*
- Baking sheet: I love this USA pan* so much I want to marry it. No parchment or baking sprays are required and the pretzels just slide off.
Instant Pot Soft Pretzels
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Soft pretzels are easier to make than you think! Use your Instant Pot to speed up the proofing process and to boil the pretzels. These taste as good as Pretzel Maker or Auntie Anne’s! Serve with nacho cheese sauce or a cinnamon cream cheese sauce to bring the pretzels to a whole new level.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry or instant yeast
- 4 cups flour
- 3 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil, divided
- 2/3 cup baking soda (yes it’s actually 2/3 cup!)
- 1 egg, beaten
- coarse salt (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl mix the water, salt and sugar. Add yeast and let rest 5 minutes until yeast starts to foam (if using active dry yeast, if using instant yeast you don’t need to let rest).
- Add flour and 2 Tbsp oil and mix with a wooden spoon until dough forms.
- Add the remaining 1 Tbsp of oil into Instant Pot liner and swirl around. Place the dough into the Instant Pot liner. Cover Instant Pot with a glass lid or a plate and set the YOGURT button to LESS. Click adjust until it says less and the time should read 24 hours on the display. After 30 minutes remove the dough from the Instant Pot and set aside.
- Fill Instant Pot with about 8 cups of water and add in the baking soda. Turn Instant Pot to the saute setting (“more”).
- Heat oven to 450° F.
- While the water is heating up cut the dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into thin ropes. With the dough length, form a U-shape. Then, cross the ends of the U. Cross the ends over each other again, with an end in each hand. With an end in each hand, flip the ends down to the curve of the U-shape. The ends should overlap the dough just a little bit. To set the pretzel shape, press down where the ends of the dough cross.
- Drop a pretzel into the (now boiling) water for 30 seconds. The baking soda solution gives pretzels their signature brown color. Don’t leave in the water for longer than that or the pretzels will develop a metallic taste. Use a slotted spoon to remove the pretzel and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pretzels.
- Use a pastry brush to brush each of the pretzels with the beaten egg.
- If desired, sprinkle the pretzels with coarse salt.
- Bake the pretzels for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with mustard, nacho cheese sauce or cinnamon cream cheese dipping sauce (recipe below).
For cinnamon cream cheese dipping sauce:
For a sweet treat don’t sprinkle the pretzels with salt. Then make this cinnamon cream cheese dipping sauce to go with your pretzels.
- 4 oz cream cheese , softened
- 2 Tbsp butter , softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp milk
In a mixing bowl using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Stir in powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla and mix until combined. Add milk and whip until fluffy, about 2 minutes longer. Store leftovers in refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Category: Bread
- Method: Instant Pot/Oven
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I used my Kitchenaid stand mixer to make the dough by mixing it for 10 minutes on setting number 2. Dough was soft and elastic. I did use bread flour rather than All Purpise flour. My dough took 70 minutes to rise in my IP. I was shocked because I have proofed my dinner roll dough in my IP before as a time saver. These Pretzels were perfect; I can’t thank you enough for such a wonderful recipe. Family favorites were the ones baked with Everything Bagel spices topping them and those topped after baking with melted butter and then a cinnamon sugar combination. Yum
★★★★★
if your IP has a sous vide button proof the dough at 90 degrees for 30 minutes
Thank you!
Love this! We double everything because we are a family of 9, but I am guessing I don’t need to double the 8 cups of water and the baking soda for boiling. What do you think? Long time follower here! Thanks for all you do!
You are right!
Yum – these were delicious and easy thanks!
★★★★★
You’re welcome!
I found my pretzels tasted like metal and I did them 30 seconds. Is that because I did pretzel bites instead?
★★★★★
Oh my! How weird. I am not sure what the reason for that would be!
I just tried again and did it 10 seconds in the water bath and it worked this time! Good to know!
Okay good to know thanks!!
What do you think about using the baking function on the Air Fryer Lid to bake these pretzels instead of an oven? Obviously, one could only bake the number of pretzels that can fit onto the trivet or whatever vessel is used. Our oven is a tiny one (it’s an RV oven) and doesn’t work all that well.
You could try it! I am not sure what setting or how long. If you do try it let me know how it goes!
I just. Got my ip. I want to cook a 3 lb thawed turkey breast. Please tell me how to do it. Thanks.. Jacqueline
Here’s a good recipe: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/instant-pot-turkey-breast/#wprm-recipe-container-15827
Used the Air Fryer Lid to bake these in the IP. My setting was for 15 min, but it looked like I should’ve reduced the time to maybe 10 min at 390. And, I encountered problems with my dough. First time, but certainly not the last! So, yes these can be finished in the IP using the Air Fryer Lid, bake button at 390-degrees at 10 min.
Okay good to know! Thank you.
Loved these! I made them for the first time tonight. Super easy recipe and so delicious. I’ve been craving soft pretzels and they definitely hit the spot. What’s the best way to store them and how long do they stay fresh?
★★★★★
I would put them in an airtight container for up to a week. Better yet, freeze in a ziploc bag and they’ll stay good for up to 3 months.
These were awsome will be doing them again
★★★★★
So glad you liked them Nancy!
My dough was really sticky? Your dough looks so much better. How can I fix that?
Add a bit more flour until it gets to desired consistency
Just want to say Thank you, for all your recipes made my life so much easier.keep up with the great work.
Thank you so much!
HI Karen
Just wondering how the IP works when you don’t have a yogurt button function?
Just raise the bread in a bowl on the counter if you don’t have a yogurt button. It will take 60 minutes to raise. But will still turn out great!
These were so good and easy to make. Family is requesting more with different flavors like jalapeno and cheese. Oh only used 1 teaspoon of salt.
Thanks for the recipe
That flavor sounds fantastic!!
Where do I find the recipe for that stuff that looks like cheese sauce? I’m getting sonic vibes 😋😋
Lol, it was just a can of nacho cheese sauce!
If you used your regular instant pot lid and the lid got stuck, you can use a chop stick to push the valve down while open it
Thanks for the tip!
Could these be made GF? I use the Bob’s 1to1 flour for baking but not sure if it would work for this recipe. It does NOT work for GF bread in my bread machine😢.
I really don’t know. I have zero experience with gluten free flour. If I were you I would make this recipe that is specifically gluten free: https://www.snixykitchen.com/the-best-gluten-free-soft-pretzels/
Can I use self-raising flour rather than yeast and flour?
No, self raising flour is just flour with baking powder and salt. You really need the yeast for the recipe to work properly. 😊
Does this require a special type of bread flour or just plain all purpose flour?
I used all purpose flour
Is there a way to make soft pretzels if you do not have a yogurt button?
Yes Pam, you can. Instead of proofing the dough in the Instant Pot just proof it in the mixing bowl on the counter top. Cover it with plastic wrap. let the dough proof for 60 minutes. Hope this helps!