Description
Delight in these soft, golden Mozzarella Stuffed Soft Pretzels, featuring a gooey mozzarella center infused with fragrant rosemary and complemented by a Parmesan crust. Perfectly boiled in a baking soda bath for that classic chewy texture, these pretzels make a savory snack or appetizer you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Mozzarella Filling
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Baking Soda Bath
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup baking soda
Topping
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh rosemary leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is activated. Add the flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Let Dough Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, mix mozzarella cubes with chopped rosemary and grated Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
- Shape Pretzels: Punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope about 18-20 inches long. Flatten the center of each rope, then place a spoonful of the mozzarella filling in the middle. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges to seal. Shape each filled rope into a classic pretzel shape by forming a U, crossing the ends, and pressing them onto the bottom of the U.
- Prepare Baking Soda Bath: In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water and 1/4 cup baking soda to a gentle boil.
- Boil Pretzels: Carefully dip each pretzel, one at a time, into the boiling baking soda bath for about 30 seconds per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the pretzels generously with grated Parmesan cheese and a few fresh rosemary leaves for extra flavor and aroma.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Bake the pretzels for 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through with melted cheese visible.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the pretzels to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving to enjoy the perfect soft, cheesy bite.
Notes
- Ensure the mozzarella cubes are well sealed inside the dough to prevent leaking during boiling and baking.
- You can substitute fresh rosemary with dried rosemary if fresh is unavailable, but reduce quantity to 1 tablespoon.
- For extra shine on the pretzels, brush them lightly with melted butter after baking.
- These pretzels are best enjoyed warm fresh out of the oven but can be reheated in a toaster oven to restore softness.
- If you prefer, substitute Parmesan cheese topping with coarse salt for a more traditional pretzel flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pretzel
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 30mg