Vegan Authentic German Pretzels

Delight in the rich traditions of German baking with these Vegan Authentic German Pretzels, a plant-based twist on the classic soft pretzel recipe. Crafted with simple pantry staples, these pretzels achieve their iconic golden-brown crust and chewy texture by taking a quick dip in a baking soda bath—a hallmark of authentic pretzel-making. The dough, made with olive oil instead of butter, is perfectly soft and elastic, ensuring classic pretzel shapes that are both fun to create and satisfying to bite into. Topped with coarse salt for that signature savory finish, these pretzels are the perfect snack, appetizer, or accompaniment to your favorite vegan dips and mustards. Ready in just under two hours, this recipe balances authenticity with accessibility, making it ideal for home bakers searching for a traditional yet vegan-friendly pretzel experience. Perfect for Oktoberfest celebrations or any time a craving for warm, salty goodness hits!

Nutriscore Rating: 57/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 500 grams All-purpose flour
• 7 grams Instant yeast
• 2 tablespoons Sugar
• 300 milliliters Warm water
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 100 grams Baking soda
• 2 tablespoons Coarse salt

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and sugar. Stir to mix the dry ingredients evenly.

Step 2

Add warm water and olive oil to the dry mixture. Use a wooden spoon to stir until a dough starts to form.

Step 3

Sprinkle the surface with a little flour and knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.

Step 4

Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Step 5

Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 6

Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently to release air and divide it into 8 equal parts.

Step 7

Roll each piece of dough into a long rope, about 50 cm in length. Form each rope into a U shape, cross the ends over each other, and press the tips down towards the bottom of the U to form a classic pretzel shape.

Step 8

In a large pot, bring 2 liters of water to a boil, then add the baking soda carefully. Stir to ensure it's dissolved.

Step 9

Using a slotted spatula, gently lower each pretzel into the boiling baking soda water for about 20-30 seconds. This helps achieve the traditional pretzel crust. Remove with the spatula and place on the prepared baking sheets.

Step 10

Sprinkle each pretzel with coarse salt while they are still damp from the baking soda bath.

Step 11

Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until they are dark brown.

Step 12

Remove the pretzels from the oven and let them cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1010.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2194.1

Total Fat 33.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 45346.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 409.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.6g	0%
Total Sugars 26.2g
Protein 54.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 71.5mg	0%
Iron 23.8mg	0%
Potassium 615.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 13.9%

Protein: 10.1%

Carbs: 76.0%