German pretzel buns, also known as “Brezelbrötchen” or “Laugenbrötchen” in German, are a delicious and popular type of bread roll in Germany. They are made from a dough that is similar to traditional pretzels, which gives them their distinctive flavor and texture.
We have always loved German pretzel buns over at our house. When the kids were young, we would look for them at the grocery store. As the boys got older, and Bruce started to make everything from scratch, he decided to take on an authentic German recipe. I am the last of 7 children, and my mother, Ida, is one of 12, from a German family. Weekly Ida would make bread dough to make rolls, and loaves of bread. I can see the smile she would have had on her face, sitting at our kitchen table when Bruce pulled these delicious rolls out of the oven.
The first time Bruce made these homemade pretzel buns I remember how quickly they were gobbled up by our sons. The scent is what I can imagine is at German bakeries! We use these for sandwich buns for grilled chicken and hamburgers, but you could also shape them for hot dog buns!
Ingredients for German pretzel buns:
Bread flour: Bread flour provides the structure and gluten needed to give the buns their characteristic chewy texture.
Table salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the dough, making the buns more delicious. It also contributes to the development of the gluten network, which affects the texture.
Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness to the dough, balancing the savory flavors, and also helps in the browning of the crust during baking.
Active dry yeast: Yeast is the leavening agent that causes the dough to rise, creating a light and airy interior in the buns.
Warm Water: Warm water is essential for activating the yeast and creating the dough. It also helps to hydrate the flour and form the gluten structure.
Milk: Milk adds richness and a slightly tender crumb to the buns, contributing to their texture.
Butter: Butter enriches the dough, providing moisture and flavor, making the buns softer and more delicious.
Baking soda: Baking soda is used to create the alkaline solution in which the buns are briefly dipped before baking. This baking soda bath is responsible for the distinct brown and shiny crust of pretzel buns and imparts a unique flavor.
Egg: Egg is used to create an egg wash that is brushed on the buns before baking, giving them a glossy appearance and adding a slight sheen to the crust. It also helps the course salt stick to the buns during the baking process.
Coarse sea salt: Coarse sea salt is typically sprinkled on the surface of the buns before baking, enhancing their flavor and contributing to the traditional pretzel appearance.
Equipment you will need:
- Large pot
- Slotted spoon
- 2 Sheet pans
- Parchment paper
- Sharp knife
- Wire rack
- Large bowl
- Small bowl
- Wooden spoon
How you will make these German pretzel buns:
- Whisk the flour, salt and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Make sure there are no clumps of brown sugar. Whisk in the yeast. Melt the butter in a large bowl, then add the milk and warm water. Heat this mixture for a little bit in the microwave, or on the stove top. You just want it to be warm, not hot.
- Pour milk mixture into the flour and stir with a spatula until just combined. Cover with a moist dish towel for 15 minutes and leave at room temperature for the first rise.
- Lightly flour a surface and dump out the pretzel dough. Tuck the rough edges underneath and place in a lightly oiled large bowl. Rub about a tablespoon of vegetable oil onto the top of the dough to prevent cracking. Cover with a warm moist towel and let raise in a warm place for about an hour. For best results, we use our proofing setting on our oven, but you can also sit on top of your dryer!
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Dust your hands with flour, lay a piece of dough on the palm of one hand, tucking the edges under and roll it for about 10 seconds until its top is round and firm. You want to create surface tension so that your buns are not flat. Create dough balls by pinching the ends under and rolling in your hands. Place the balls onto a parchment -lined baking sheet with the smooth side up. Cover with plastic wrap and let raise for 20 – 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Make a baking soda bath by bringing 4 inches of water to a rolling boil in a large stockpot. Whisk in the baking soda.
- Whisk together the egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of water.
- Drop the buns, smooth side down, into the boiling water bath for 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, turn over for another 30 seconds. Use a strainer to remove the buns one at a time and place back onto the parchment.
- Use a sharp knife to cut an “X” into the top of each roll. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle coarse sea salt on top. Bake at 425 F. for 20 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through. You will see a dark brown crust. Cool on wire racks for at least 30 minutes.
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 2 sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Slotted Spoon
- Pastry Brush
- Sharp Knife
Ingredients
Ingredients for German Pretzel Buns:
- 5 ½ cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup milk
- 3 Tablespoons butter melted and cooled
Ingredients to prepare the German Pretzel Buns:
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons water
- Flaked sea salt or coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, salt and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Make sure there are no clumps of brown sugar. Whisk in the yeast. Melt the butter in a large bowl, then add the milk and warm water. Heat this mixture for a little bit in the microwave, or on the stove top. You just want it to be warm, not hot.
- Pour milk mixture into the flour and stir with a spatula until just combined. Cover with a moist dish towel for 15 minutes and leave at room temperature for the first rise.
- Lightly flour a surface and dump out the pretzel dough. Tuck the rough edges underneath and place in a lightly oiled large bowl. Rub about a tablespoon of vegetable oil onto the top of the dough to prevent cracking. Cover with a warm moist towel and let raise in a warm place for about an hour. For best results, we use our proofing setting on our oven, but you can also sit on top of your dryer!
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Dust your hands with flour, lay a piece of dough on the palm of one hand, tucking the edges under and roll it for about 10 seconds until its top is round and firm. You want to create surface tension so that your buns are not flat. Create dough balls by pinching the ends under and rolling in your hands. Place the balls onto a parchment -lined baking sheet with the smooth side up. Cover with plastic wrap and let raise for 20 – 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Make a baking soda bath by bringing 4 inches of water to a rolling boil in a large stockpot. Whisk in the baking soda.
- Whisk together the egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of water.
- Drop the buns, smooth side down, into the boiling water bath for 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, turn over for another 30 seconds. Use a strainer to remove the buns one at a time and place back onto the parchment.
- Use a sharp knife to cut an “X” into the top of each roll. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle coarse sea salt on top. Bake at 425 F. for 20 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through. You will see a dark brown crust. Cool on wire racks for at least 30 minutes.
Nutrition
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Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners
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Double Cheese Popovers
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Spicy Turkish Red Lentil Soup
I cannot wait to make these! They are so pretty!
Chef Mimi,
I think you are going to be as obsessed with them as we are. I can not tell you how many times we have made them over the years!
I can’t wait to make these! Burgers on pretzel buns are my favorite!
I never would have guessed these were homemade. They look phenomenal!
The smell of these buns while they were baking was incredible and they tasted even better!
These pretzel buns took our burgers from drab to fab! They were so delicious!
These rolls were fantastic; the whole family was impressed! Plus, the kitchen smelled incredible while these rolls were baking. The hard part was waiting for them to cool! 🙂 Highly recommend!