🎉 Introduction
Soft pretzels are already a favorite snack with their chewy, golden crust and buttery flavor. But take it up a notch by stuffing them with mozzarella cheese, and you get the Mozzarella Stuffed Soft Pretzels — the perfect fusion of warm pretzels and cheesy breadsticks.
These are fantastic for parties, family movie nights, or game-day spreads. With a simple homemade dough, a quick baking soda bath, and a sprinkle of coarse salt, you’ll have bakery-style pretzels right in your kitchen — but with that melty mozzarella surprise inside.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Large mixing bowl
- Stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Whisk
- Saucepan (for baking soda bath)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush
🛒 Ingredients
🥚 Fresh Produce:
- 1 large egg yolk, beaten with 1 tbsp water (for egg wash)
🌾 Dry & Pantry:
- 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 ¼ tsp)
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup baking soda (for water bath)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
🧈 Dairy:
- 2 oz unsalted butter, melted
- 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks
💧 Liquids:
- 11 ½ cups water (1 ½ cups for dough, 10 cups for soda bath)
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1 – Make the Dough
- Warm 1 ½ cups water until about 110°F (lukewarm).
- Stir in sugar and yeast; let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix in melted butter, salt, and flour gradually until dough forms.
- Knead 5–6 minutes by hand or mixer until smooth and elastic.
- Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
Step 2 – Shape & Stuff Pretzels
6. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
7. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces.
8. Roll each into a rope about 14–16 inches long.
9. Wrap each rope around one mozzarella stick, pinching seams closed tightly.
10. Shape into traditional pretzel twist or logs.
Step 3 – Soda Bath
11. In a saucepan, bring 10 cups water and ⅔ cup baking soda to a boil.
12. Carefully drop pretzels in, one at a time, for 20–30 seconds.
13. Remove with slotted spoon and place on baking sheet.
Step 4 – Bake
14. Brush pretzels with egg wash.
15. Sprinkle with coarse salt.
16. Bake 12–14 minutes, until deep golden brown.
Step 5 – Serve
17. Brush with melted butter (optional) and serve warm with marinara or ranch dip.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 12 stuffed pretzels
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Rise Time: 1 hour
- Bake Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: ~1 hour 40 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
- Best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container for 2 days.
- Reheat in oven at 350°F for 5–7 minutes or air fryer 2–3 minutes.
- Freeze baked pretzels up to 2 months; reheat directly from frozen.
🥄 Variations
- Garlic Butter: Brush baked pretzels with garlic butter.
- Pizza Pretzels: Add pepperoni before wrapping the cheese.
- Spicy Kick: Sprinkle with chili flakes or Cajun seasoning.
- Mini Bites: Cut dough and cheese into smaller pieces for bite-sized snacks.
❓ 10 FAQs
- Do I have to use string cheese?
String cheese melts perfectly and is easy to wrap, but blocks of mozzarella cut into sticks work too. - Why do I need a baking soda bath?
It gives pretzels their chewy texture and golden crust. - Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes, refrigerate overnight after the first rise. - What dipping sauces pair best?
Marinara, cheese sauce, ranch, or honey mustard. - How do I stop cheese from leaking out?
Pinch dough seams tightly and make sure cheese is fully covered. - Can I make these without yeast?
No, yeast is essential for the soft pretzel texture. - Do I need coarse salt?
Yes, it gives that authentic pretzel bite. - Can I use whole wheat flour?
Yes, replace half the flour with whole wheat for a nuttier flavor. - Can I make them smaller?
Absolutely — make mini mozzarella pretzel bites. - Do they taste like Auntie Anne’s pretzels?
Yes, but with melty cheese inside for extra indulgence.
🏁 Conclusion
These Mozzarella Stuffed Soft Pretzels are everything a snack should be: chewy, golden brown, salty, and filled with gooey cheese. With a simple dough and fun soda bath, you’ll get bakery-style pretzels at home — perfect for parties, family nights, or satisfying that soft pretzel craving.
Mozzarella Stuffed Soft Pretzels – Gooey, Cheesy & Homemade
These are fantastic for parties, family movie nights, or game-day spreads. With a simple homemade dough, a quick baking soda bath, and a sprinkle of coarse salt, you’ll have bakery-style pretzels right in your kitchen — but with that melty mozzarella surprise inside.
Ingredients
✨ Kitchen Essentials You’ll Love
Quick picks I trust for better results, faster prep, and easier cleanup.
-
🍳
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
-
⚡
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric
-
🔥
CHEFMAN Digital Air Fryer XL 10L
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Equipment
Method
-
Warm 1 ½ cups water until about 110°F (lukewarm).
-
Stir in sugar and yeast; let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
-
Mix in melted butter, salt, and flour gradually until dough forms.
-
Knead 5–6 minutes by hand or mixer until smooth and elastic.
-
Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
-
Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
-
Divide dough into 12 equal pieces.
-
Roll each into a rope about 14–16 inches long.
-
Wrap each rope around one mozzarella stick, pinching seams closed tightly.
-
Shape into traditional pretzel twist or logs.
-
In a saucepan, bring 10 cups water and ⅔ cup baking soda to a boil.
-
Carefully drop pretzels in, one at a time, for 20–30 seconds.
-
Remove with slotted spoon and place on baking sheet.
-
Brush pretzels with egg wash.
-
Sprinkle with coarse salt.
-
Bake 12–14 minutes, until deep golden brown.
-
Brush with melted butter (optional) and serve warm with marinara or ranch dip.
Notes
Best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container for 2 days.
Reheat in oven at 350°F for 5–7 minutes or air fryer 2–3 minutes.
Freeze baked pretzels up to 2 months; reheat directly from frozen.
🥄 Variations
Garlic Butter: Brush baked pretzels with garlic butter.
Pizza Pretzels: Add pepperoni before wrapping the cheese.
Spicy Kick: Sprinkle with chili flakes or Cajun seasoning.
Mini Bites: Cut dough and cheese into smaller pieces for bite-sized snacks.
❓ 10 FAQs
Do I have to use string cheese?
String cheese melts perfectly and is easy to wrap, but blocks of mozzarella cut into sticks work too.
Why do I need a baking soda bath?
It gives pretzels their chewy texture and golden crust.
Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes, refrigerate overnight after the first rise.
What dipping sauces pair best?
Marinara, cheese sauce, ranch, or honey mustard.
How do I stop cheese from leaking out?
Pinch dough seams tightly and make sure cheese is fully covered.
Can I make these without yeast?
No, yeast is essential for the soft pretzel texture.
Do I need coarse salt?
Yes, it gives that authentic pretzel bite.
Can I use whole wheat flour?
Yes, replace half the flour with whole wheat for a nuttier flavor.
Can I make them smaller?
Absolutely — make mini mozzarella pretzel bites.
Do they taste like Auntie Anne’s pretzels?
Yes, but with melty cheese inside for extra indulgence.
🏁 Conclusion
These Mozzarella Stuffed Soft Pretzels are everything a snack should be: chewy, golden brown, salty, and filled with gooey cheese. With a simple dough and fun soda bath, you’ll get bakery-style pretzels at home — perfect for parties, family nights, or satisfying that soft pretzel craving.
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