Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (2024)

by Heather

This Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Recipe is a long-standing go-to in my family. The buttery, chewy, slightly sweet pretzel dough that just melts in your mouth. These pretzels are by far one of our favorites. They never last long around here, I usually have to make a double batch just to keep hubby and the teens satisfied.

Have you ever taken a trip to the mall JUST for the warm chewy deliciousness of an Auntie Annes pretzel? You are not alone! There should be a secret support group for this addiction. The warm chewy center. The golden outer crust. The tangy sea salt perfectly placed around the top………… Ohhhh just heaven on a plate (or in a cup if you choose the wonderful little bites perfect for dipping!)

Helpful tools used to make this recipe:
Kitchen Aid Stand MixerAuntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (1)|Glass Baking BowlsAuntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (2)|Baking Sheet PanAuntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (3)|Kitchen Timer

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (4)

Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!

Now you can make this irresistiblecopycat recipeyourself and enjoy your pretzel addiction in the comfort of your own home. No one ever needs to know how much you crave these salty little bites of heaven. Ok, now I sound like the little devil on your shoulder telling you to do the really bad things. I’m really just trying to help you here! I promise I am. You will thank me after you make these just once! They are as close to the original as it can get from home. Give this recipe a try and let me know how they come out for you!

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (5)

When it comes to food, we love trying to recreate our favorite restaurant dishes at home. That also includes fast food and snack ideas as well. Like CopycatTaco Bell Loaded Potato GrillersandMcDonald’s Shamrock Shake.

One of our absolute favorite snacks, hands down, has to be the iconic Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Slightly sweet with a golden, buttery pretzel crust. Making these delicious pretzels is easier than you might think. Sure, they do take a little time. Trust me, they are so worth it. Here is how you can make our version of Copycat Auntie Anne’s pretzels right from home.

Copycat Recipe: How to Make Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

Helpful tools used to make this recipe:

Kitchen Aid Stand MixerAuntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (6)|Glass Baking BowlsAuntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (7)|Baking Sheet PanAuntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (8)|Kitchen Timer

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (9)

Ingredients for Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Recipe

  • 1 Cup whole milk (you can also use a whole milk substitute if you are out)
  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 1/4Cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoonsbaking soda (or a baking soda substitute)
  • 1 1/2 Cups warm water
  • Coarse salt
  • 2 Tablespoonsbutter, melted in asmall bowl
Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (10)

Directions for Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Recipe

  1. Warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove top for about one minuteto 110º. If it’s too hot it will kill the yeast. You should be able to comfortably keep your finger in it.
  2. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 3 minutes
  3. Add the butter and sugar.
  4. Add the flour 1 cup at a time and then add the salt.
  5. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes with a stand mixer, or by hand until smooth and elastic. Sprinkle with flour as you knead if the dough is too sticky
  6. Place the dough in a greased bowl turning once and cover with plastic wrap.
  7. Let it rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size.
  8. *TIP: preheat your oven on the lowest “warm” setting while you are mixing the dough. Turn it off before you begin kneading the dough. Place the covered dough in the warm oven for 1 hour.
  9. Remove from the warmed oven
  10. Preheat the oven to 400º.
  11. Combine the warm water and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.


  1. Punch down dough and turn it out on to a lightly floured surface.
  2. Divide into 12 – 16 equal pieces
  3. Roll the dough all out into logs as thin as you can.
  4. Shape each piece ofthe dough into pretzel shapes (see the video above), then dip them in the baking soda water.
  5. Place on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt.
  6. Bake for 7-11 minutes or until browned.
  7. While hot, brusheach pretzel with melted butter. Serve with The Perfect Cheese sauce (recipe below).

Recipe Note:

Makes 6 large pretzels or 12 – 16 small pretzels

Check out the video above to see how easy it easy to shape your pretzels!

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (11)

Ingredients for Auntie Anne’s Cheese Sauce (perfect for dipping!)

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 C milk
  • 8 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • pinch of salt

Instructions for Auntie Anne’s Cheese Sauce

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
  2. Whisk in the flour and cook for 30 seconds, whisking constantly.
  3. Slowly whisk in the milk until no lumps of flour remain.
  4. Stirring constantly, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat until it thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
  5. Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the shredded cheese until all of the cheese has melted.
  6. Add a pinch of salt, if needed.
  7. Serve warm. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave on medium power at 30-second intervals.
Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (12)

If the sweeter version of these perfect pretzels is more your taste, try dipping them in cinnamon sugar mixture once they come out of the melted butter! Delicious!!

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (13)

Print Recipe

4.48 from 23 votes

Copycat Recipe Auntie Anne's Pretzels with Cheddar Dipping Sauce

The buttery, chewy, slightly sweet pretzel dough that just melts in your mouth.

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time11 mins

Rise time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 36 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Auntie Anne's Pretzels with Cheddar Dipping Sauce

Servings: 12

Calories: 127kcal

Author: Daily DIY Life

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup whole milk
  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 2 1/4 Cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 Cups warm water
  • Coarse salt
  • 2 Tablespoons butter melted in a small bowl

Instructions

  • Warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove top for about one minute to 110º. If it's too hot it will kill the yeast. You should be able to comfortably keep your finger in it.

  • Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 3 minutes

  • Add the butter and sugar.

  • Add the flour 1 cup at a time and then add the salt.

  • Knead the dough for about 10 minutes with a stand mixer, or by hand until smooth and elastic. Sprinkle with flour as you knead if the dough is too sticky

  • Place the dough in a greased bowl turning once and cover with plastic wrap.

  • Let it rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size.

  • Remove from the warmed oven

  • Preheat the oven to 400º.

  • Combine the warm water and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.

  • Punch down dough and turn it out on to a lightly floured surface.

  • Divide into 12 - 16 equal pieces

  • Roll the dough all out into logs as thin as you can.

  • Shape each piece of the dough into pretzel shapes (see the video above), then dip them in the baking soda water.

  • Place on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt.

  • Bake for 7-11 minutes or until browned.

  • While hot, brush each pretzel with melted butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 754mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (14)

Just look at that golden, buttery crust. They are incredible! Don’t just take my word for it, try making up a batch of these for yourself and see.

Check out our entire guide of copycat recipes. And let us know what you want us to do next!

More Copycat Recipes

Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese

Wingstop Ranch Dressing

Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

Chipotle Fajita Veggies

KFC Copycat Coleslaw

Red Lobster Stuffed Mushrooms

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

A lot of our recipe was based off intuition and common knowledge of a pretzel recipe, but there were some parts that were taken directly from Auntie Anne's method. Take, for example, their "secret ingredient," which Auxer describes as something that was accidentally added to the recipe — we guessed sugar.

What are the ingredients in Aunty Anne pretzels? ›

ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, BROWN SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: DOUGH CONDITIONERS (WHEAT FLOUR, MALT BARLEY FLOUR, ASCORBIC ACID, ENZYMES, SALT, VEGETABLE PROTEIN [CORN-BASED]), YEAST, CALCIUM ...

What makes Auntie Anne's pretzels different? ›

Our Original Pretzel only contains 5 grams of fat, and, yes, it is lightly dipped in butter. Since Auntie Anne's Pretzels are made fresh in our stores, you can request your pretzel without butter for a lower calorie option or order your pretzel without salt.

What is the secret ingredient which makes a pretzel taste like a pretzel? ›

Lye. The dough is simple; take a basic yeast-risen dough that can be readied in an afternoon. But the trick to great pretzels is dipping the pretzels in a liquid wash before baking — and not just any wash, but a combination of water and lye. That's what gives pretzels their terrific color, texture and flavor.

Does Auntie Anne's use lye or baking soda? ›

Well, the cheery ladies were very clear with me: they do NOT use lye. No sodium hydroxide/poison/caustic soda—none whatsoever—in their pretzels. (They do, however, dip their pretzels in a baking soda solution.)

What makes Annies pretzels so good? ›

Auntie Anne Pretzels are somehow more delicious than your average pretzel. A healthy dose of sugar makes for a tasty dough, and a topping of melted butter and salt makes them positively addictive. Another reason the popular pretzels are so good is they are made and served fresh and warm.

Does Shaq own Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

Shaq was the franchise owner of 17 Auntie Anne's Pretzels restaurants. This Aunt Anne's investment made him about $300,000. Shaq has recently sold this franchise due to the lack of people not wanting pretzels according to the Earn Your Leisure interview.

Does Auntie Anne's make their own pretzels? ›

5. All those pretzels are made and twisted on the spot. Auntie Anne's definitely doesn't serve pre-made pretzels!

Is Auntie Anne's and Wetzel pretzels the same? ›

Wetzel's Pretzels was founded in 1994 and is based mainly in California, with few stores out-of-state. Auntie Anne's on the other hand, was founded in 1988 in Pennsylvania, and remains the nationally recognized brand.

What is the most popular item at Auntie Anne's? ›

Original Pretzel

The original twist that started it all; a simple, buttery and salty soft pretzel that is better than the best.

Does Subway own Auntie Anne's? ›

Both Cinnabon and Auntie Anne's are part of Focus Brands, the Atlanta-based operator owned by Roark Capital, the private equity group trying to buy Subway.

What is Auntie Anne's real name? ›

Beiler. Anne F. Beiler is an American businesswoman and founder of Auntie Anne's pretzels.

What's the difference between a pretzel and a soft pretzel? ›

Soft pretzels can usually be baked in 15 minutes; hard pretzels, meanwhile, must be baked for up to an hour. The longer baking time further dries out the pretzel. And, as we have discussed, the lack of moisture is what gives the hard pretzel its brittle texture.

Why boil pretzel dough in baking soda? ›

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.

What is the secret solution for pretzels? ›

In a 2-qt baking dish, combine the baking soda with 2¼ cups warm water. Stir until the baking soda is dissolved; set aside. (Dipping the pretzel dough in a baking soda solution gives the pretzels a nice golden brown crust.)

What do they dip Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

Choices include Cheese, Hot Salsa Cheese, Sweet Glaze, Caramel, Honey Mustard, Marinara, and Light Cream Cheese.

What does baking soda and lye have to do with making pretzels? ›

Lye has a pH of around 13 whereas baking soda has a pH of around 8. This extra alkalinity accelerates the Maillard reaction, allowing that caramelization to develop on the exterior of the pretzels. That ultra-deep color and slightly crispy, crunchy exterior crust is only made possible with lye.

Are Auntie Anne's pretzel dogs beef or pork? ›

Pretzel Dog Packages

Our classic Auntie Anne's Pretzel dough wrapped around a Nathan's Famous®, all beef hot dog. Individually wrapped and available by the dozen.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Duane Harber

Last Updated:

Views: 6352

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duane Harber

Birthday: 1999-10-17

Address: Apt. 404 9899 Magnolia Roads, Port Royceville, ID 78186

Phone: +186911129794335

Job: Human Hospitality Planner

Hobby: Listening to music, Orienteering, Knapping, Dance, Mountain biking, Fishing, Pottery

Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.