Homemade German-style Soft Sourdough Pretzel recipe

In a small bowl or jar, mix the Levain ingredients. Cover and keep it at a warm temperature for 12 hours.

Add the flour, water, salt, softened butter, diastatic malt powder, and levain into the bowl of a mixer. Mix on speed 1 for 2 to 3 minutes until all the ingredients are incorporated. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes. Then, mix on speed 2 for 4-6 additional minutes until the dough becomes smooth and cohesive.

After the first hour of bulk fermentation, give the dough one set of stretches and folds. Return the dough to the bulk container and let it rest until it's time to divide.

Divide the dough into twelve 115 g rectangular pieces. Preshape each rectangle into a tapered cigar shape. Let the pieces rest for 15 minutes, covered with plastic.

Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper. Starting with the first preshaped piece, shape the dough into pretzels by pressing down and rolling it away from and then toward your body. Spread out the dough and make it thin. Maintain a bulge in the centre of the rope.

Fold the dough to form a pretzel shape. Fold one side over the other, then fold again. Press the tips into the sides to seal.

Let the dough proof uncovered on the counter at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, transfer the baking sheets with the pretzels to the fridge for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat your oven to 230°C with two racks positioned at the bottom and top third. Mix 940 g of cool water with 38 g of food-grade lye using a stainless steel whisk or spoon.

With gloves on, dip each shaped pretzel into the lye bath for 15-20 seconds. Transfer the pretzels to a cooling rack on top of parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

Score each pretzel with a razor blade and sprinkle pretzel salt on top. Bake at 230°C for 10 minutes. Rotate the pans and reduce the oven temperature to 220°C. Bake for an additional 8-12 minutes until the pretzels turn a deep brown colour.

Remove from the oven and let the pretzels cool. Enjoy them warm for a delightful treat.