These Sourdough Discard Pretzels are a fun and easy appetizer or snack, and perfect for a game day spread! This is also an easy recipe that is great to make with beginner bakers like kids or family members. Serve them with Beer Cheese (for Pretzels), Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, or your other favorite dipping sauces!
I love this recipe so much! I've made them several times now. They're easy to make, look great, and every time I bite into one, I'm amazed all over again at how tasty they are.
- Nadine
Why you'll love this recipe
- Sourdough Discard Pretzels are easy to make and great for beginner bakers or making with kids and family!
- Pretzels freeze well so you can enjoy some now and save some for later.
- If you're not baking with eggs, you can easily replace the egg wash with melted butter or even water.
- This recipe is very adaptable; you can easily top with cinnamon sugar, cheese, or your other favorite topping.
- Try these Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels, too!
- Thse pretzels are a great appetizer for game day or a party! They're always a huge hit (be prepared: you won't have any leftovers!).
- Looking for other sourdough discard snacks? Try these Sourdough Discard Bagels and Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots, too!
Ingredients
As long as you have sourdough discard, you likely have everything you need!
- Sourdough discard: The sourdough discard should be unfed and at room temperature for this recipe. This recipe is designed for a sourdough starter with a 1:1 ratio (when you feed your sourdough starter, it's with 1 part flour and 1 part water). If your starter uses a different ratio, you may need to modify some of the ingredients in this recipe.
- Learn more about how to make a sourdough starter.
- Flaky sea salt: Maldon Sea Salt is my favorite flaky sea salt for finishing the pretzels. You can also use pretzel salt!
See full recipe below for detailed directions.
Substitutions & Variations
This is a very adaptable recipe and there are a few simple substitutions you can make:
- Use active sourdough starter: If you'd like to use active sourdough starter instead of discard, you can! To do so, omit the yeast and replace the sourdough discard with active sourdough starter (200g). You will also need to increase the rise times.
- Omit the egg wash: If you're not baking with eggs, you can use melted butter or even water in place of the egg wash. The purpose here is to help the salt stick to the pretzels and also give the pretzels some of their classic color.
- Use different toppings: Flaky salt is the classic pretzel topping, but you could also top these with everything bagel seasoning or another topping of your choice!
- Pair with sausages or hot dogs: Try these Sourdough Discard Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket and these Sourdough Discard Pretzel-Wrapped Hot Dogs.
- Interested in other pretzel variations? Try these Sourdough Discard Pretzel Bites and this Sourdough Discard Jumbo Pretzel, too!
How to Make Sourdough Discard Pretzels
These Sourdough Discard Pretzels come together in just a few easy steps. The full recipe with detailed directions is at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: Combine warm water, brown sugar, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy (if it doesn't foam, your yeast is dead and you'll need to start over with fresh yeast).
- Step 2: Add the sourdough discard, flour, salt, and butter, and mix until combined. Change speed to medium and knead until dough is smooth, 4-5 minutes. You can also knead by hand.
- Step 3: Transfer the dough to a large, greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise 60-90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Step 4: Divide the dough into 8 equal-sized pieces (this doesn't have to be precise, but if you prefer, you can use a kitchen scale so the pretzels are exactly the same size).
- Step 5: On a smooth work surface (you'll need some traction), roll each piece into a rope, approximately 18-24 inches long.
- Step 6: Create a U shape with the dough.
- Step 7: Fold the ends of the rope over like a heart, make one twist, the press the ends into the bottom of the pretzel. Cover the pretzels while you preheat the oven and prepare the boiling water.
- Step 8: Boil each pretzel for 20-30 seconds on each side. Shake off excess water, and transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet with a slotted spoon or spatula. This boiling step helps create the pretzel crust and is crucial! The longer the boil, the thicker the crust.
- Step 9: Lightly brush each pretzel with egg wash.
- Step 10: Sprinkle with flaky sea salt (or your chosen toppings) and bake until golden brown.
Variation: Sourdough Discard Pretzel Bites
An easy variation of this recipe is to make Sourdough Discard Pretzel Bites or Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites.
Instead of shaping the dough into the classic rounded pretzel, follow the below directions for delicious pretzel bites.
- Shaping step 1: Roll each piece of dough into an 18-24 inch rope.
- Step 1: Use a sharp knife to cut each rope into 1-inch pieces. They don't have to be perfect!
- Step 3: Boil the pieces for 30 seconds.
- Step 4: Transfer the boiled pieces to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and separate into individual pieces so they don't stick together. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
You will bake the pretzel bites in the same way as the regular pretzels. Just keep an eye on the time as they may not need quite as much baking time.
Tip: If you don't separate the pieces of dough on the baking sheet, they will start to stick to each other as they're baking. It's not a bad thing and they'll be delicious, but they will clump together, so try to spread them out so they have some room on the baking sheet.
Expert Baking Tips
- Make sure to knead the dough long enough! If your pretzels are looking shaggy or not smooth, it's likely you didn't knead the dough until it was completely smooth.
- Be patient with the rise. Rise times will vary depending on the temperature of your room. If your room is warmer, you may need less rise time. If your room is colder, you may need more rise time.
- Press the ends of the pretzels into the bottom of the U when shaping. You don't want to just lay the dough on top of itself - this will unravel. Really press the ends of the pretzel into the bottom of the pretzel shape.
- Make sure the pretzels pass the float test. When you boil the pretzels, they should float. If they do not, cover the unboiled dough with plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes, then try again.
- Pretzels might float immediately, or they may initially sink, then rise to the top to float. Either way, this is floating!
- If the pretzel sinks to the bottom and does not come up, or sticks to the bottom, they need more time to rise.
- Serve with your favorite dips, like this Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce or this Beer Cheese (for Pretzels)!
Troubleshooting Pretzel Issues
There are a few issues that can come up when making pretzels. Below are a few ways to work through those challenges!
- Pretzels are sticking to the parchment paper: There are a few things that could cause this.
- Make sure to shake off the excess water after the boiling step before transferring to the baking sheet. Excess water can make the pretzels sticky.
- If you have excess egg wash pooling beneath the pretzels, this can make them sticky. You only need to use enough egg wash for the toppings to stick to the bites.
- Check the type of parchment paper you're using. Some are not designed for higher baking temperatures (and we're baking at a high temperature for this recipe!). I recommend using this parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (such as a Silpat mat).
- Pretzels have a metallic taste: If your pretzels have a metallic taste, this could be from the baking soda in the boiling step (don't skip this step, you need it!). You may want to try a different kind of baking soda (I use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda). But it could also be from your egg wash! Make sure you're using fresh eggs (eggs that have been sitting in your fridge for longer can have a more alkaline taste) and whisk your egg wash thoroughly before brushing it on the pretzels.
- Pretzels are unraveling and not holding their shape: Make sure you knead the dough until it is smooth. As you're shaping the pretzels, really push the ends of the pretzels in the bottom of the U-shape. It shouldn't just be laying on top - you want to truly push these together!
Storage
There are easy options for either room temperature or freezer storage. I like to save a few pretzels to eat same day, and then freeze the rest to enjoy later!
Room Temperature Storage: If you're going to eat them quickly (the next day or so), keep them in a paper bag at room temperature. If they harden, you can put them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make them soft and warm again.
Freezer Storage: Once fully cooled, transfer the pretzels to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to reheat, place them in the microwave for about 60 seconds or until they're soft and warm again.
Recipe FAQs
Every sourdough starter is different. You may need to adjust the flour or water content of the recipe to reach the right dough consistency. If your dough is too wet, add 1 Tablespoon of flour at a time, mixing thoroughly, until you reach the desired consistency. If your dough is too dry, add 1 Tablespoon of water at a time, mixing thoroughly, until you reach the desired consistency.
You can use pretzel salt, too (of course!), but regular kosher salt or table salt is too fine and will melt right into the dough.
If you don't knead your dough long enough, it will look like it's not completely smooth. That will lead to shaggy-looking pretzels.
If your pretzels unravel when you boil them, you didn't press the ends into the bottom of the U-shape enough when shaping them (you can press hard!). After they're boiled, you can still shape and press them together if you need to!
More Sourdough Discard Pretzel Recipes
If you tried these Sourdough Discard Pretzels or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you! Happy Baking!
Sourdough Discard Pretzels
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons warm water
- 1 Tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 200 grams (about ¾ cup) sourdough discard unfed, at room temperature
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
For Boiling
- 10 cups water
- ⅔ cup baking soda
For Topping
- 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 Tablespoon water to make an egg wash
- Flaky sea salt for topping
Instructions
- Combine the warm water (1 cup + 2 Tbsp) and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment*. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let sit for 5 minutes or until the yeast begins to foam.
- Add the sourdough discard, flour, and salt and mix on low speed. While the mixer is running, pour in the melted butter and mix until combined. Change to medium speed and continue to knead until a smooth dough forms, about 4-5 minutes (you can also knead by hand if preferred).
- If needed, add more flour or water (1 Tablespoon at a time) to reach your desired consistency. The dough should be fairly sturdy, smooth and not sticky.
- Transfer the dough in a ball to a large, oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 60-90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Line 2 half-sheet baking trays with parchment paper or a baking mat (such as a Silpat mat) and set aside.
- Turn the dough out onto a smooth, dry work surface (no need to flour or oil, you'll want some traction). Divide into 8 equal-size pieces (this doesn't need to be exact). Roll each piece into a 24-inch rope**. Make a U-shape with the rope, then cross the ends of the rope over each other like a heart. Twist the ends together and push down at the bottom of the U. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel while you prepare the next step.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Bring 10 cups of water and ⅔ cup baking soda to a boil in a large pot. Make sure to add the baking soda to the water before it boils to avoid a bubbly mess!
- Place the pretzels in the boiling water, one by one, for 20-30 seconds on each side. A longer boil will create a thicker crust. The pretzels should float (called "passing the float test"); if not, see notes section below. Remove the pretzels from the water using a slotted spatula and shake off excess water. Return the pretzels to the baking sheet. Lightly brush each pretzel with egg wash and sprinkle with flaky sea salt***.
- Bake until golden brown, approximately 13-15 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool fully. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Tracie Simons says
I have never made soft pretzels before. These turned out to be amazing! I alwas concerned because my discard is whole wheat but it didnt matter. I am going to make vegan pretzel bites for an upcoming girl's weekend. These are definitely going in my regular rotation!
Jodi says
I was so nervous about trying these pretzels that I made 2 batches in case I messed up the first one! And you know what? Both came out amazing! I weighed out one batch and not the other. I definitely recommend making them all the same-ish size! They were soft, chewy and incredibly delicious! I also made the beer-cheese dip. OMG to die for!
Jessica Vogl says
Love it, and love that they both turned out for you!
Liv says
Nowhere in the recipe does it say to let rest and rise. When you read the notes about the float test then it mentions rising. Very disappointed in the results.
Jessica Vogl says
Hi Liv! I'm sorry you had a hard time finding that! The first rise is mentioned in step 4 ("Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 60-90 minutes, or until doubled in size"). The second rise, a brief resting time, is mentioned in step 6 ("Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel while you prepare the next step"). Regardless, I appreciate your feedback and will look into making this more clear.
Michael says
Can I make these through the boil step and then wait several hours to egg wash and bake? I would cover after the water bath step.
Jessica Vogl says
I wouldn't recommend it. If you needed to find some time (a few hours), you could shape the pretzels, then cover and place them in the fridge. When you're ready, let them come to room temp, boil and bake.
Anna Dandrade says
This recipe yields the softest pretzels I've made. I didn't have unsalted butter so just omited the salt the recipe called for. Topped with cinnamon sugar...delish.
Erin Lee Fry says
I love this recipe so much but today I goofed and spaced on the butter. It’s rising fine but should I toss it and start over? Is this going to result in a terrible pretzel?
Jessica Vogl says
Bake it anyhow! No point in wasting it!
Laurie says
Made these with sourdough discard but used vegan butter (works just as well). They look and taste lovely. Only bug was that they stuck to parchment paper a bit after baking…so maybe a light coating of oil or crisco or something on the parchment is the only thing i would change. I always purchased pretzel salt from iHerb as it holds up better than flake salt does when storing pretzels. These were great, thank you!
Adri says
Followed the directions pretty much exact, weighed everything out. The pretzel dough itself was great, but after boiling and baking there were 2 things I noticed. First, my pretzels taste very strongly of the baking soda, next time I would halve the amount I put in with the water. Second, all my pretzels stuck to the paper. Next time I would omit the parchment and simply grease the pan, the few pretzels that didn’t fit on the piece of parchment paper (so they were on just the baking tray) came off far more easily.
Annette says
So Good!
Andrea Flohr says
Easy and amazing and gone in no time at all!
Tiffani says
Delicious recipe! I made them vegan by substituting plant-based butter and using aquafaba in place of the egg-wash. May want to mention for inexperienced bakers to make sure the bagels come to a second rise after shaping. Also, I rotated my bagels in the oven about halfway through the bake, and pulled them a minute or two early as they were getting perfectly dark. Will definitely make again!
Hayley Giacomo says
This recipe is so good!! If I want to make them for a large gathering, is there a way you recommend keeping them warm? I’m going to make a few batches ahead of time and freeze them, but trying to figure out how best to serve them for a large group!
Jessica Vogl says
Hi Hayley! I responded to your email earlier today, but let me know if you don't see it!
Ivy says
Do you need to use yeast?
Jessica Vogl says
You could use active starter instead of discard and then omit the yeast.
Lauren says
When in the timeline did you freeze them? Before/after boiling/baking? Did you cook them from frozen? Curious how to get this to last longer.
Lauren says
Hi:) can you use instant yeast with this recipe?
Jessica Vogl says
Yes, you could!
Lauren says
Can I prep these ahead of time if I wanted to bring them to a party? Is it better to boil & bake them and simply reheat?
Jessica Vogl says
Depends how much ahead of time! You could let the dough rise in the fridge overnight, then shape / boil / bake the next day (if that timing works for you). If you want to make them several days in advance, then I would recommend baking them completely, freezing, and reheating before you're ready to serve.
Kerry Kelly says
Love these. Making them for (at least) the 10th time.
If I let the dough rise overnight in the fridge, do i then need to let them sit before making the pretzels?
Jessica Vogl says
Yes, I would let the dough come to room temperature after refrigerating.
Brittney says
These pretzels were delicious! I used 100g discard and 100g active starter (as I didn’t have enough of each and my discard was still a bit bubbly) and waited for about 4 hours for the dough to rise. I will make these again
Amanda says
I made these last night and they were really nice! I’m going to make bagels with this recipe next weekend!
Jessica Vogl says
So glad you loved them! If you're going to make bagels, I'd recommend this recipe: https://www.thisjess.com/sourdough-discard-bagels/
Lydia Lin says
Another amazing recipe! The pretzels were perfect. Thank you!
Jenny says
My teens said this is the best thing I’ve ever made! They absolutely loved these so so much. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Jessica Vogl says
I love that! Thank you for sharing!
Kate says
I used active starter so mine took about 4.5 hours to rise as the recipe expected! Really yummy! And they look super cute, worked as pretzel buns.
Laura Crowe says
This recipe was so easy! I’m seriously not going to spend a lot of time that keeps me from being outside and enjoying spring. Pretzel bites was our choice as hubs doesn’t really like pretzels. My oven is spot on with it’s temperature, but at 8 minutes, they were ready to come out. I drizzled butter on them in a bowl once completely cooled and then sprinkled Parmesan herb on half and cinnamon sugar on the other half. So darn good!