Here, by popular demand, is the recipe for Vegan Hot Buttered Pretzels. I do want to urge everyone to make a batch of homemade vegan butter (recipe available here) first. It really is a necessary ingredient in this recipe. It isn’t hard, and it is so worth it to make your pretzels irresistible.

– Linda Nelson

Vegan Hot Buttered Pretzels

Ingredients for the dough:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup warm water, or 1 cup warm vegan beer

Baking soda wash:

1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda

Toppings:

coarse salt
3 tablespoons melted vegan butter

I have also made cinnamon sugar pretzels and chocolate glazed pretzels, too, but the crowd pleasers remain the buttered and salted ones.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl, and whisk to combine. Add the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until the flour is mostly incorporated. Turn out on a floury surface and knead for five minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and flip the dough over once so the top surface is oiled. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and allow it to rise in a warm spot for 30 minutes.

Oil a baking sheet.

Move the dough to a lightly floured work surface, divide into six equal pieces, and allow to rest for five minutes.

Mix the 1/2 cup water and the baking soda in a small bowl. Make sure the baking soda is all dissolved.

Roll each piece of dough into a long, thin rope (about 20 inches). Form into a pretzel shape (there are many tutorials online for this.) Brush each pretzel with the baking soda wash. This will give them that nice, rich, brown color.

Space the pretzels on the baking sheet and bake for 4 to 5 minutes before rotating the pan. Bake for an additional 4 or 5 minutes or until golden brown.

Brush with the melted vegan butter, salt to taste, and enjoy.

These are best straight out of the oven, but they are really good even once they cool. They can also be re-warmed in the microwave.