You won't be able to stop with just one of these delicious Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites.
Made with homemade yeast dough, then boiled and baked so the dough is crispy on the outside but soft and delicious with every bite!
These can be served with spicy mustard or try one of my personal favorite homemade dipping sauces listed below for an extra kick!
Check out all the other Easy Appetizers for even more delicious ideas waiting to be discovered!
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Looking to switch up your snack game? Give this recipe for homemade pretzel bites a go! You'll be pleasantly surprised by how simple they are to make, and you won't need any fancy ingredients or equipment..
The pretzel bites are boiled in a traditional baking soda mixture which helps them get that crispy crust on the outside that we all love about fresh warm pretzels!
Nothing that says comfort food like a batch of freshly-baked homemade pretzel bites! And these delicious bites are sure to hit the spot.
Looking for more easy snack recipes? Try my Air Fryer Crispy Pickles or my Candied Pecans. Or for a twist on this recipe, try Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe (made with a bread machine!)
Table of Contents
- 👩🍳Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe
- 🥣What does Foamy Yeast look like?
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- 📋Ingredients
- 🥣Step-by-Step Instructions
- How to Shape the Pretzel Dough
- Boiling Pretzel Instructions
- Add the Course Salt
- Baking Instructions
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- Serving Tips
- Storage Tips
- Freezing Tips
- More Recipes to Love
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
👩🍳Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe
- Don't be intimidated by the yeast in this recipe for pretzel bites. They are actually incredibly easy to make. I have provided step-by-step photos to guide you through the entire process.
- Make sure you use the baking soda bath. This gives the pretzel bites their golden brown color and distinctive pretzel flavor.
- Get creative with the toppings! I used coarse pretzel salt, but you can try other toppings like sesame seeds, cinnamon sugar, or cheese.
🥣What does Foamy Yeast look like?
- When yeast is activated, it produces a foamy layer on the liquid's surface. The foam is created by the release of carbon dioxide gas as the yeast consumes sugar and produces alcohol.
- The foam may vary in appearance, described as creamy, frothy, or bubbly. It can range from a thin layer of small bubbles to a thicker foam like beer head.
- The texture is soft and airy. The presence of foam indicates active and alive yeast, ready to leaven dough for a light and fluffy result.
- The foaming process usually takes 5-15 minutes, but timing depends on the recipe and yeast type.
- No foam or minimal foam after this time may mean the yeast is not viable or expired and you should start over with fresh yeast.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Spider Strainer Skimmer Spoon, HSpiow Set of 3 Sizes Frying Spoon Stainless Steel Fryer Scoop Wire Strainer Ladle with Long Handle for Kitchen Frying
Reynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Sheets, Pre-Cut Parchment PaperHoosier Hill Farm Coarse Pretzel Salt, 2 lbs
📋Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
🥣Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: In a mixing bowl, mix together the warm water, sugar, yeast and melted butter. Let sit for 10 minutes for the yeast mixture to get foamy. Using the dough hook of your mixer, begin adding four and a half cups of flour; one cup at a time.
Step 2: Let the machine knead the dough for about 5 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a floured cutting board and form into a ball. Place into a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise for about an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
How to Shape the Pretzel Dough
Step 3: Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Shape it into a log as pictured.
Step 4: Break off pieces of the dough and start forming long ropes. Cut the long ropes into one inch pieces and place on a baking tray; trying not to let the pieces touch each other.
Boiling Pretzel Instructions
Step 5: Place the 3 quarts of water into a large pot and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, slowly add in the baking soda; a little at a time. Do NOT pour all the baking soda in at once or it will cause the water to boil all over the stove.
Step 6: Begin adding your pretzel bites into the boiling water/baking soda mixture - about 10 to 15 at a time.
Step 7: Let the bites boil for about 30 to 40 seconds and remove with a slotted spoon to a baking tray that's been lined with parchment paper or a slipat mat.
Add the Course Salt
Step 8: Brush the pretzel bites with the egg wash.
Step 9: Then add the salt. If you've never used pretzel salt, be careful...it is very salty!
Baking Instructions
Step 10: Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. Remove the pretzel bites from the oven and let cool on a cooling rack.
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Serving Tips
- Serve the pretzel bites while they're still warm with a bowl of spicy mustard.
- Or you might enjoy trying our family's favorite ranch dipping sauce or fry dipping sauce.
Storage Tips
- Allow the pretzels to cool completely. Then place any leftovers in an airtight container.
- You can store them at room temperature.
- Leftover pretzels should last at last a week.
- Reheat in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes or until warm.
Freezing Tips
- You can freeze the pretzel bites after they've baked in the oven by flash freezing them first on a baking tray and then place them in a freezer bag.
- When ready to enjoy, heat them up in a 300°F oven until warmed through and defrosted.
More Recipes to Love
Stress-Free Dinners for a Whole Month!
📖 Recipe Card
Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water; 105 to 110 degrees
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast or one package
- 6 tbsp. butter; melted
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 4 to 5 cups flour
- 3 quarts water
- ¾ cup baking soda
- 1 egg mixed with 1 tbsp. water
- Coarse salt
Method
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the warm water, sugar, yeast and melted butter. Let sit for 10 minutes for the yeast mixture to get foamy.
- Using the dough hook of your mixer, begin adding four and a half cups of flour; one cup at a time.
- Set your timer for 5 minutes and begin letting the machine "knead" the dough; adding more flour as necessary. (I added almost another ½ cup of flour while the dough was kneading.)
- Turn the dough out onto a floured cutting board and form into a ball.
- Place into a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise for about an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, break off pieces of the dough and start forming long ropes.
- Cut the long ropes into one inch pieces and place on a baking tray; trying not to let the pieces touch each other.
- Place the 3 quarts of water into a large pot and bring to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, slowly add in the baking soda; a little at a time. Do NOT pour all the baking soda in at once or you will have a huge mess.
- Begin adding your pretzel bites into the boiling water/baking soda mixture - about 10 to 15 at a time.
- Let the bites boil for about 30 to 40 seconds and remove with a slotted spoon to a baking tray that's been lined with parchment paper or a slipat mat.
- Brush the pretzel bites with the egg wash and then add the salt.
- Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until they are golden brown.
- Remove the pretzel bites from the oven and let cool on a cooling rack.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2014 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Pam says
I absolutely love this idea! They look delicious. I will be featuring this today at Thursday Favorite Things. 🙂
Pam
anartfulmom.com
Lois says
Thank you for the feature!
Paula Short says
This sounds so good! Pinned 📌.
Visiting today from SSPS 292 #35&36
Cherryl Ehlenburg says
I love pretzel bites! I will be trying these, for sure. Pinned.
Lois says
Thank you Cherryl!
Lois says
Thank you!
Megan Lucero says
I am making these immediately. My son will be super excited.
cooking with curls says
I love pretzel bites!! They would be perfect right now with my Mocha. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing them with us at Best of the Weekend. Pinned to our party board!
Kyleigh Castronaro says
My mouth is watering! I can't wait to try these... I'm a sucker for pretzels and this looks awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Karly Campbell says
Best salty snack ever! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Joy says
Lois, these look amazing. I want a big plate of these right now! 🙂 Thank you so much for bringing these to Treasure Box Tuesday. I am sharing these little beauties on Facebook this afternoon! ♥