Pillowy soft with a chewy crust, pretzel bites are the perfect party snack for dipping and dunking.
They’re easy to make with a homemade dough is cut into bite-sized pieces, and baked into glistening salted mini pretzles.
Our Favorite Homemade Pretzel Bites
- Preservative-free homemade pretzels give you a snack you can feel good about feeding to your family.
- This recipe can be easily doubled so you can store pretzel bites in the freezer for months. They’ll thaw in minutes for last minute entertaining or sudden snack attacks.
- This versatile and accommodating snack tastes terrific with any beer cheese dip, dressing, or sauce you pair it with.
Ingredients for Pretzel Bites
- Active Dry Yeast: This recipe uses 2 ½ teaspoons or 1 packet of active dry yeast (not quick or rapid rise yeast).
- Sugar: Mixed with warm water, this activates the yeast and helps it bloom.
- Salt & Butter: Salt enhances flavor along with butter which also adds a bit of richness.
- Flour: All Purpose Flour is the base of this dough – you may not need the whole amount, add the flour a bit at a time until the dough isn’t sticky.
- Baking Soda: Boiling the pretzel bites in baking soda water is what creates a classic pretzel crust.
- Egg Yolk: Brushing the dough with egg yolk gives a lovely glossy golden finish.
- Kosher Salt: Use either kosher or coarse sea salt on top. If using table salt, it’s finder so you’ll need to use less.
Toppings for Mini Pretzel Bites
The classic topping for pretzels is salt sprinkled on top after brushing pretzels with an egg wash.
- Try sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or poppy seeds for variety.
- Add a little bit of cinnamon sugar.
How to Make Pretzel Bites
Making soft pretzel bites recipe is easy, be sure to budget time for the dough to rise for about an hour. The rest is quick and easy!
- Mix the dough ingredients (as described in the recipe below) and let the dough rise until doubled.
- Roll dough into ropes, cut into 2-inch pieces, and boil in water-baking soda.
- Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with salt, and bake.
Serve warm with cheese dip.
Tips & Tricks
- Don’t skip the baking soda bath; it gives a deeper color and chewy crust.
- Soft pretzels are best served fresh but can be stored for a day or two in a paper bag or loosely covered container.
- Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- To restore their texture after freezing or storing, pop them in a preheated 350° oven until just warm.
Best Bite-Sized Snacks
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Did you make these yummy Pretzel Bites? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Pretzel Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 ½ cups warm water 110°-115°F
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast or 1 packet
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 3 ¾ to 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 beaten egg yolk for brushing
- kosher salt
Boiling Water
- 5 cups water
- ⅓ cup baking soda
Instructions
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In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl, combine water, sugar, salt, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes or until foamy.
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Add the melted butter and stir in 3 ½ cups of flour a bit at a time. Continue adding flour – up to 4 cups to create a dough that is slightly tacky but not sticky.
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Mix with a dough hook for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. If you don't have a stand mixer, knead by hand for about 10 minutes.
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Place the dough in a large greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes or doubled in size.
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Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large pot, bring the water and baking soda to a rolling boil over medium high heat.
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Divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll each piece into a 24-inch rope. Cut each rope into 2-inch pieces.
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In small batches, drop the dough pieces into boiling water for about 10 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and allow water to drip away.
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Place the dough on the prepared pan. Brush each piece of dough with egg yolk and sprinkle with salt to taste.
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Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
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Dips for Pretzels
These homemade soft pretzel bites are perfect for dipping and dunking in sauces or even grainy mustard.
Honey Mustard Sauce
Creamy Cheese Sauce
These were delicious. My only issue was that they stuck to the parchment paper. I’ve never experienced that when using parchment paper. Any idea what I might have done incorrectly? I could use a silicone mat next time, if necessary.
I made the beer cheese dip to accompany the bites. That was also delicious
Hi Cathy, to help prevent sticking you want to make sure that the bites are properly drained before placing on the parchment paper. I hope that helps!
Wonderful recipe! My husband and I love them! The only issue I had was trying to keep the pieces I cut from rising more while cutting the other ropes. I have a warm kitchen.
My husband is diabetic and these don’t raise his sugar at all like so many other things I make now. The food manufacturers are creating a diabetic crisis with their fillers and preservatives. Bottom line if you have someone in your family that is diabetic and you love them with all your heart…make everything homemade…pasta, bread, snacks etc. they can eat it if you make it!…this should scare everyone.
Just like the ones in the pushcarts in Manhattan that I loved when I was a kid!
Can instant yeast work? Also do you have a recipe for beer cheese?
I have only made this recipe as written so I can’t say for sure, Kelly. But we do have a beer cheese dip recipe!
Absolutely amazing! Take the time and put some cheese in the middle of them before rolling, or by flattening them and cutting them, then put the cheese in them and fold and crimp them. Nice simple recipe that will leave you wanting more!
That sounds delicious, thanks for sharing Chris!
How long can they be stored in a paper bag at room temperature?
These are best enjoyed within 3 days. Enjoy Peggy!
The recipe turned out really nice, I served the pretzels at a gathering and everybody loved them. The only reason why my rating is 4/5 stars is that mixing the salt in with my yeast mixture killed my yeast. I ended up having to re do that whole step with 1 tbsp of sugar and 3tsp of active dry yeast. Adding the salt directly to the flour mixture.
Glad you enjoyed this recipe, Camila! Sorry to hear it killed your yeast, it shouldn’t have been enough salt to do that but we will take a look at that!
I am betting that you used iodized salt which will kill yeast. I added kosher salt and it worked perfectly.
Delicious. I made half the recipe because I just wanted a small appetizer for dinner guests. Since I had a German menu planned, I made a beer cheddar dip to accompany them. I have always had success with any of your recipes I have made. Thanks so much.
You’re so very welcome Rita, that sounds like a perfect combo!
Very good recipe comes out good every time I make them .Also I use gluten free flour love them !Thank you
Glad to know they work well with gluten-free flour as well! Thanks for sharing Diross.
they were really really good they just had a roll like texture but they did have the pretzel taste.
Can I use bread flour
I’ve only tried this as written so I can’t say for sure. Let us know how it works out for you!
I made these pretzels bites today. I had already started my recipe before I realized I bought Bread Flour by mistake, but I charged forward anyways. They turned out delicious, no complaints. Will make again with beer cheese next time.
So happy you loved them Sarah! They pair perfectly with our Beer Cheese dip, can’t wait for you to try it!
Love it, thanks! I did mine with cinnamon sugar. One thing though it is better not to coat with eggs, less crunchy.
The pretzels themselves turned out wonderful my only complaint was aligned my baking pan with parchment paper in the pretzels stuck to the parchment paper
Do you think you could brush with melted butter instead of egg yolk (egg allergy)? I’m guessing they might not be the same pretty color but should work, right? Thanks for sharing!
Brushing with butter would work, it just won’t be as glossy. Milk or cream is another option.
If I don’t have any yeast. What can I sub. it with? Thanks
I’m not sure that I can suggest a substitution for yeast in this recipe as it makes the dough rise.
looks so yummy!
Could these be baked in air fryer?
We have not attempted this recipe in an air fryer but I would love to hear how it turns out Jayn!