If you can't find what you want, here is a recipe from Alton Brown's Good Eats that aired on TV recently: Soft Pretzels
posted by metahawk at 11:35 PM on October 22, 2011

http://www.jimspretzel.com/
posted by three blind mice at 2:06 AM on October 23, 2011

OH. BTW, "Oktoberfest" is actually in September so you've already missed it.
posted by three blind mice at 2:07 AM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Auntie Anne's makes a good soft pretzel, and also offers an at-home baking kit available through these stores.

But honestly? The best and cheapest pretzels will come from your own kitchen. They are not that difficult to make. If you're worried about learning to shape them, go buy a can of Play-Doh and practice first. "Top Secret Recipes" even has a version of Auntie Anne's soft pretzels.
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:45 AM on October 23, 2011

This is maybe a little far afield, but how about trying to buy some dough from a local bagel shop? Then you could form them, boil and bake.

The doughs aren't identical but very close.
posted by werkzeuger at 6:16 AM on October 23, 2011

Pretzels are dead easy to make. The only annoying part is getting the food grade lye. Its just a slightly rich white bread dough. Just dip in lye solution and bake. Will be much much better than what you can get premade.
posted by JPD at 6:25 AM on October 23, 2011

(re food grade lye: this is hard to come by, but the Alton Brown recipe linked above substitutes baking soda. The recipe is totally straightforward, and the results---at least the day you make them --- are very good. They get soggy the next day. )
posted by leahwrenn at 8:02 AM on October 23, 2011

AMZN is a pretty easy source for the lye if you are in the US. I think the Baking Soda sub is a little lacking if you want that real pretzel-y taste. Just don't be dumb with the lye - the solution you use is pretty dilute.
posted by JPD at 8:13 AM on October 23, 2011

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