Description
These Honey Butter Soft Pretzel Candy Canes are a festive and delicious twist on traditional pretzels. Soft, chewy, and generously coated in a sweet honey butter glaze, they make a perfect holiday treat or snack. Shaped like candy canes, they add a fun seasonal flair, combining the classic pretzel taste with a buttery honey finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 stick salted butter, at room temperature or melted
Toppings & Boiling
- 1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for brushing onto pretzels before baking)
- 1/4 cup baking soda (for boiling)
- Pretzel salt (for sprinkling)
Honey Butter Glaze
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Add the warm water, honey, and butter. Using the dough hook, mix until the flour is completely incorporated, about 4-5 minutes. If the dough feels sticky, gradually add flour by 1/4 cup increments. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or up to 1 hour to rest.
- Prepare for Shaping: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and aid even baking.
- Shape the Pretzels: Punch down the dough gently to release air. Divide it in half, then cut each half into 8 equal pieces for a total of 16 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into ropes approximately 8-12 inches long. Take two ropes at a time, twist them around each other, then shape the twisted rope into a candy cane form. Place each shaped pretzel onto the prepared baking sheets. Cover with a cloth and allow them to rise for 15 minutes until they become puffy.
- Boil the Pretzels: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and carefully add the baking soda. Lower two pretzel candy canes at a time into the boiling water. Boil each batch for 3 minutes to achieve the characteristic chewy texture. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the water, letting excess water drip off, then transfer them back to the parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Prepare for Baking: If the candy cane shapes have loosened during boiling, gently reshape them. Brush each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk mixture for a golden finish. Sprinkle with pretzel salt evenly over each pretzel to add flavor and texture.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 22-25 minutes or until the pretzels are golden brown and cooked through.
- Make Honey Butter and Glaze: While baking, combine 6 tablespoons melted salted butter with 3 tablespoons honey in a small bowl, stirring until smooth. Once the pretzels finish baking, remove them from the oven and brush each generously with the honey butter mixture.
- Final Bake and Serve: Return the glazed pretzels to the oven for an additional 1-2 minutes to set the honey butter glaze. Remove and serve warm for the best taste and texture experience.
Notes
- Make sure the water for activating yeast is warm but not hot (about 110°F) to avoid killing the yeast.
- You can adjust the length of the dough ropes to size preference for smaller or larger pretzels.
- Using pretzel salt is key to get the authentic pretzel flavor and crunch, but coarse kosher salt is a good substitute.
- Allow the pretzels to cool slightly before serving to let the honey butter glaze set but still enjoy them warm.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container; reheat slightly to soften before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Honey Butter Soft Pretzel Candy Canes, holiday pretzels, soft pretzels, festive snack, honey butter pretzels, twisted pretzels, candy cane shaped pretzels
