Saturday Bake-Along: Pretzel Loaf 🥨 | Working Thread

Henry Hunter

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10h • 🥖 Saturday Bake Along

Saturday Bake-Along: Pretzel Loaf 🥨 | Working Thread

Good morning, bakers. Today's the day.

Two tracks, same destination:

Yeasted with Poolish — if you started your poolish last night, you're on the dinner-ready timeline.

Sourdough — longer build, deeper flavor. Worth the wait.

Both recipes finish with the alkaline bath, that mahogany crust, and the snap that makes a pretzel loaf a pretzel loaf.

Drop in the thread:

Where you are in the process
Photos as you go (poolish, dough, shaped, boiled, baked, sliced)
Questions, anytime. No question is too small.
Wins. Fails. Everything in between.

Quick reminders:

Bread sling or parchment makes the boil-to-oven transfer way easier
Everything topping goes on right after the boil while the surface is wet, not after the bake
4.7L water, 120g baking soda, rolling boil before you dunk
Watch the crust color, you want deep mahogany, not just brown

Adjust to fit your kitchen: If the alkaline bath feels like a lot, or your pot's not big enough, or you're juggling one Dutch oven and trying to make it all work, split the dough into two smaller loaves. Smaller loaves are easier to handle in the bath, easier to bake, and just as tasty. Bake time will come down a bit, so watch the color and the internal temp. Adjust to the situation you're in. The recipe works for you, not the other way around.

Both recipes are in the Recipe Pantry. Full video walk-through is on YouTube if you need a refresher.

Let's bake.

Perfection is not required. Progress is.

~ Henry ⭐🔥

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