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Bavarian Breakfast

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A traditional Bavarian breakfast of soft pretzels, Weißwurst sausages, sweet mustard, and wheat beer — the perfect way to start your Oktoberfest celebration.
Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

For the Pretzels (makes ~6 large):

  • 4 cups 500 g bread flour
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp 1 packet instant yeast
  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • ⅔ cup baking soda for water bath
  • Coarse salt for topping

For the Weißwurst:

  • 4 –6 pre-bought Weißwurst sausages Bavarian style
  • For Serving:
  • Sweet Bavarian mustard Süßer Senf
  • 1 –2 wheat beers Weißbier/Hefeweizen

Instructions

Make the Pretzel Dough

  • Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl and let sit until foamy (5 minutes). Add flour, salt, and melted butter. Knead until smooth and elastic (8–10 minutes by hand or 5 with a mixer). Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).

Shape the Pretzels

  • Punch down dough and divide into 6 pieces. Roll each into a 20-inch rope, form a U shape, twist ends twice, and press down into a pretzel shape.

Prepare the Baking Soda Bath

  • Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Bring 10 cups of water and ⅔ cup baking soda to a boil. Dip each pretzel for 30 seconds, then place on lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake

  • Bake pretzels for 12–15 minutes until deep golden brown.

Cook the Weißwurst

  • Bring a pot of water to a gentle simmer (~160–170°F). Add Weißwurst and heat for 10–12 minutes. Serve sausages in a bowl of hot water so guests can peel them at the table.

Serve the Bavarian Breakfast

  • On a wooden board, serve warm pretzels with 1–2 Weißwurst sausages, a spoonful of sweet mustard, and a tall glass of wheat beer.

Video

Notes

Don’t boil the Weißwurst: Keep the water just below a boil (around 160–170°F). If the sausages boil, the casing may split and the texture will suffer.
Eat before noon: Traditionally, Weißwurst is only eaten in the morning. While you can serve it anytime at home, sticking to the custom gives the meal authentic Bavarian flair.
Pretzel shortcut: If you don’t have time to make pretzels from scratch, a good-quality bakery pretzel works just as well — but making them yourself gives you that true Oktoberfest feel.