Are you ready for some keto snack recipes?! Because I have a feeling that this low carb gluten-free keto soft pretzels recipe is about to become your new favorite. Breads and baked goods are always the foods that I missed when going low carb. They are also the foods that are the most difficult to recreate in a low carb/keto way. But this gluten free soft pretzel recipe? You’ll forget you had anything to miss. The great thing about fathead dough (which is what these low carb pretzels are made of) is that it has the chew of a flour-based dough. It’s also incredibly easy to mix together, which means keto soft pretzels are in your near, near future and that is a good thing.
How To Make Keto Soft Pretzels
Ready to learn how to make the best gluten-free pretzels ever? Hint: they happen to be low carb, too. 😉
Proof the yeast
Let’s get that yeast started. Now, I don’t want you to be afraid of yeast. (Full disclosure, I was until these!) Stir together just a tiny bit of coconut sugar and warm water, then stir in the yeast and let it sit for 10 minutes to proof. Don’t be afraid of the sugar – it will not be in the final product. (More on that below!) TIP: Be sure to not use boiling water. It should be warm, but doesn’t need to be HOT. The yeast is ready when it’s frothy and at least doubled in volume:
Melt The Cheeses
This step might be a little strange if you haven’t worked with mozzarella dough before. You can check out my fathead pizza crust post for more on that. Microwave or use a double boiler to heat mozzarella and cream cheese together, until you can stir them to be super smooth:
Mix The Flours
Meanwhile, grab your food processor and mix together blanched almond flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, and eggs. TIP: The xanthan gum is optional, but highly recommended for chewy pretzels. If you omit it, they will be more like a regular bread texture.
Form The Fathead Dough
When the yeast is ready, add it to the food processor and pulse. Add the melted cheeses and mix again. Look at the beautiful, fluffy dough you end up with:
I have more tips on working with fathead dough below!
Chill The Dough
Now, the dough will be super sticky so you’ll need to chill it for 15 to 20 minutes to be easy to work with.
How To Form Gluten-Free Soft Pretzels
When the dough is cool to the touch (but not frigid cold), take it out and preheat your oven. Cover your hands in oil as you work with the dough, which will prevent sticking. Form a ball, flatten it a bit, then cut into 6 pieces, like a pie:
Grab one pieces, roll into a long log, and then you can form your keto soft pretzels. Make a U shape with your log, then fold one end over:
And then the other end:
Place your low carb pretzels onto a parchment lined baking sheet, sprinkle with some coarse sea salt, and bake until they are golden:
They’ll rise and expand as they bake, so keep that in mind! I didn’t care that mine ran together a bit, as they are easy to tear apart afterward. But, you can use a larger pan if you prefer them not to touch at all after rising.
Why Is There Sugar In My Low Carb Pretzels Recipe?!
Yes. There is a tiny amount of sugar listed in this keto soft pretzel recipe. BUT, the sugar is really only used for the yeast. For the yeast to bloom, it needs to feed on sugar. So it essentially consumes the sugar in order to activate itself.
Tips & Tricks For Working With Fathead Dough
Handling Sticky Fathead Dough
This is the most common issue. It gets worse if the temperature in your home is warm, or if your hands are very warm/hot. These tips can help with this:
Using A Food Processor
When using a food processor, use either the dough blade or the S knife blade. When you add the cheese, push it down toward the blade to help the dough form. I find that I now use my food processor more often when making fathead dough. However, when I do, using oiled hands or chilling the dough seems to be more important than when I did it by hand.
Dipping Sauce For Low Carb Pretzels
Soft pretzels are usually served with either cheese sauce or honey mustard, which has carbs and sugar from the honey. Don’t worry, I have you covered – just serve your keto soft pretzels with a sugar-free honey mustard dipping sauce. You can also find a version of the recipe in The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook!
Are Pretzels Keto Friendly?
My pretzels are keto friendly! 🙂 Of course, most pretzels out there are not as they are made of refined white flour. This healthy pretzel recipe is made with almond flour, eggs, and cheese. All low carb, keto-friendly ingredients.
How To Store Keto Soft Pretzels
Once you make them, these easy keto pretzels will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days. There are also some other options for making it ahead of time…
Can Keto Soft Pretzel Dough Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze keto soft pretzel dough! There are two options:
More Keto Low Carb Fathead Dough Recipes
If you like this keto pretzel recipe, you might also like these:
Keto Low Carb Bagels – rated 4.91/5 stars! Fathead Pizza Crust – 4 ingredients Keto Fathead Crackers – made with coconut flour Fathead Keto Cinnamon Rolls – quick & easy
Food Processor – This one is the best and I’ve used it for years. It makes mixing up this almond flour soft pretzels dough incredibly fast and easy! Nonstick Baking Pan – These are the pan I use (and that you see all the time in pictures). They don’t stick and clean up incredibly well. White Porcelain Platter – Trust me, you’ll want to show off these gorgeous keto soft pretzels!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too - I’d love to see it! Want more help and tips on working with the fathead dough used in this recipe? Check my tips in my fathead pizza post or see the complete fathead dough guide in The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook!)
