Description
Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Sticks bring German bakery magic to American kitchens with a crispy exterior and sweet cinnamon coating. Warm pastry lovers savor these simple snacks that deliver nostalgic comfort and delightful crunch in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F / 43°C)
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- 2 ¼ tsps active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsps ground cinnamon
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- 6 cups water
- ⅓ cup baking soda
- Cream cheese frosting or caramel sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Yeast Activation: Whisk yeast with warm water and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Allow the mixture to become frothy and develop for 5 minutes.
- Dough Preparation: Blend salt and melted butter into the yeast mixture. Gradually incorporate flour, kneading until a smooth, elastic dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes to develop gluten structure.
- First Rise: Transfer dough to a greased container, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm spot until volume doubles, approximately 1 hour.
- Shaping and Boiling: Divide risen dough into 12-16 equal portions. Roll each into 6-8 inch sticks. Prepare a boiling water bath and quickly submerge pretzel sticks for 20-30 seconds per batch.
- Baking Process: Preheat oven to 425F. Arrange boiled pretzel sticks on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until they achieve a deep golden brown color, about 10-12 minutes.
- Finishing Touch: Brush freshly baked pretzels with melted butter, then generously coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Ensure complete coverage for maximum flavor.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve warm, accompanied by cream cheese frosting or caramel sauce for an indulgent dipping experience.
Notes
- Yeast Activation Tip: Ensure water temperature is between 100-110°F to activate yeast without killing it; too hot or cold water will prevent proper rising.
- Dough Consistency Check: Knead until dough becomes smooth and elastic, with a slight tacky feel; overworking can make pretzels tough and dense.
- Baking Soda Bath Technique: Quickly dip pretzels for exact 20-30 seconds to achieve that classic pretzel shine and crispy exterior without becoming soggy.
- Coating Perfection: Apply melted butter generously before rolling in cinnamon-sugar to ensure maximum flavor and even sugar coverage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg