Honey Butter Soft Pretzel Candy Canes: Imagine pulling apart the softest, warmest pretzel rolls you’ve ever tasted, each one glistening with a sticky-sweet honey butter glaze that’s just the right mix of salty and sweet. These aren’t your average dinner rolls—they’re fun, festive, and shaped like adorable candy canes, making them the perfect addition to your holiday table. And the best part? They’re shockingly easy to make! Just a handful of simple ingredients—flour, instant yeast, salt, butter, honey, and an egg—come together in less than two hours with hardly any effort. Bake them fresh, serve them warm, and watch them disappear. (Oh, and if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers? They make the best next-day breakfast—just saying!)

You know when you stumble upon old photos or posts and suddenly get hit with a wave of nostalgia? That’s exactly what happened when I looked back at my December recipes from 2012 and 2013. Back then, I used to feel embarrassed by my early content—now? I absolutely adore it. There was something so free and fearless about those days, and I kind of miss it!

I was sure I’d shared a soft pretzel roll recipe like this before, but turns out, I hadn’t! (Though I have made Candy Cane Cinnamon Rolls—so at least there’s that.)

Okay, full confession: My first plan was to shape this dough into cute little holiday bows. Sounds adorable, right? Well, reality check—it was way harder than I thought! So, I switched gears, twisted the dough into simple ropes, and shaped them into candy canes instead.

And you know what? They turned out even better. Easy, fun, and totally festive—exactly what we all need right now. My mom tried them and is obsessed—these are 100% making an appearance at our Christmas Eve dinner.

What You’ll Need:

• Flour – The base of our soft, chewy dough.
• Instant yeast – No waiting around for proofing—this stuff works fast!
• Salt – Balances the sweetness perfectly.
• Honey – For that golden, sticky glaze.
• Salted butter – Because butter makes everything better.
• An egg yolk – Gives the dough a little richness.

Helpful Tools:

A stand mixer with a dough hook makes this recipe so easy—it does all the kneading for you! But if you don’t have one, no stress. You can knead by hand—just be ready for a mini arm workout. You’ll also need baking sheets and a slotted spoon for boiling the pretzels.

Step 1: Make the Dough

In your stand mixer’s bowl, whisk together the flour, instant yeast, and salt. Then, pour in warm water, honey, and softened (or melted) butter. The instant yeast is a game-changer here—no waiting for the dough to rise first!

Mix it all with the dough hook until it forms a smooth, slightly sticky ball. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 15 minutes—just enough time to relax the gluten and make rolling easier.

Step 2: Shape the Candy Canes

Now, the fun part! Lightly flour your counter and divide the dough in half. Split each half into 8 small balls (so 16 total). Roll each ball into a long rope—about a foot in length—then twist two ropes together and bend them into a candy cane shape.

Arrange them on two parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving a little space between each one so they don’t stick together while baking.

Step 3: Boil the Pretzels

Here’s the secret to that classic soft pretzel chew: a quick dip in boiling water! Bring a pot of water to a gentle boil and carefully lower each candy cane in for about 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to lift them out, letting excess water drip off, then place them back on the baking sheets. If they lost their shape a bit, just nudge them back into candy cane form.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Pop them in the oven and let them bake for about 20 minutes—they’ll puff up slightly and turn a beautiful golden brown.

While they bake, mix together melted butter and honey for the glaze. As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush them generously with the honey butter. (This is the step that makes them truly irresistible.)

The smell alone is worth it—warm pretzels, sweet honey, and rich butter filling your kitchen. It’s pure holiday magic.

These rolls are so good—soft, buttery, and just the right amount of sweet. They’re perfect for Christmas dinner, New Year’s Eve, or any cozy winter gathering. And like I said, if you somehow have leftovers? They’re amazing the next morning with a cup of coffee.

One Last Thing…
If you make these Honey Butter Soft Pretzel Candy Canes, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a comment or rating below—I read every single one and always do my best to reply. There’s nothing I love more than seeing you guys bake my recipes!