Soft Pretzel Bites (Easy Homemade Recipe) + Video
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This soft pretzel bites recipe comes out tender and chewy with the most subtle sweetness. Make some easy pretzel snacks right at home in just 30 minutes! If you want to make homemade pretzel bites, try this recipe! I love making these homemade soft pretzel bites for game day, parties, and more!
I love using simple ingredients to make these homemade soft pretzels. They’re even tasty and soft the next day!
The homemade dough makes the perfect party food or an easy appetizer. You can even make a sweet version by creating these cinnamon sugar pretzel bites.
If you love pretzels, you can make and change this homemade pretzel dough recipe time and time again.
Just keep the dough ingredients on hand for the next time that you want to make homemade pretzels.
Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe
Soft and tender pretzel bread topped with coarse salt is always delicious, and perfectly poppable bites make it the perfect snack for any occasion.
Plus, this quick and easy pretzel bites recipe can be made with or without a mixer, so whip up a batch today!
For extra flavor, try making these soft pretzel bites with beer instead of milk or use the same dough to make pretzel dogs.
Add this smoked queso and let’s get the party started!
You can even turn them into gooey pretzel bombs stuffed with jalapenos and cheese!
Looking for more appetizer goodness? Try my Copycat TGI Fridays mozzarella sticks and Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites!
How To Make Easy Pretzel Bites
This soft pretzel bites recipe comes together quite easily, especially if you have a stand mixer to do the work for you.
Please note that this easy pretzel bites recipe requires the dough hook attachment, so it cannot be made with a hand mixer instead.
- Make the dough. First, bloom the yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Once it’s nice and foamy, mix in the flour and salt until it forms a ball.
- Cut into pieces. Turn out the dough onto the counter and shape it back into a ball.
Cut that into four even pieces, then roll each quarter into a long strand. Slice each strand into 16 pieces, about 1-inch long each. - Do a baking soda bath. This is what gives soft pretzels that golden brown color and chewy exterior, so don’t skip this step!
- Bake until browned. Transfer the bites to a lined baking sheet, leaving space so none are touching.
Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with salt, then bake.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- When is the dough ready? It should be tacky, not sticky. This means it will pull away from the sides of the mixer as it forms into a ball.
You can also test it by pressing your finger lightly into the dough. If your finger pulls away clean, then it’s ready to cut! - Create uniform pieces. While any knife can be used to cut the dough into bites, I find that a bench scraper makes quick and easy work of the whole process.
Plus, the edges come out smooth and clean. - Storage and reheating. These are best hot out of the oven, but they should stay fresh for a day or two in the refrigerator.
Or, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe FAQ
These are delicious in something as simple as mustard or pair it with a warm bowl of cheddar dip. You could even serve this with my delicious Beer Cheese Fondue!
Some people don’t like cheese sauce, but just want to add a bit of pretzel salt on top.
Sure! I would recommend making the dough itself in batches, but you could cut it into pieces all at once and bake the pieces together using two baking sheets.
No problem! You can make the dough by hand instead. Add milk, yeast, and honey to a large bowl. Once the yeast blooms, add the salt and flour and mix everything with a spoon.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 3-5 minutes until the dough is no longer sticky. Then, proceed with the remaining instructions.
I’m all about a bit of melted butter and salt. Coarse sea salt is great, but you can go the sweet route with brown sugar as well. You can also add everything bagel seasoning or skip the topping altogether and then just pair it with a dipping sauce.
There are so many different toppings that you can add to the top of the pretzels. I love buttery pretzel bites as one of my picks!
Save these baked pretzels for later by letting them cool to room temperature and then store them in an airtight container. For the best results, you can reheat them in the microwave to bring back a bit of softness if they get a bit tough.
You can also wrap or cover them with a clean damp towel to help bring back a bit of moisture for the best results.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Soft Pretzel Bites (Easy Homemade Recipe) + Video
Ingredients
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1¼ cups warm milk, 110°-120°F
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 large egg
- course salt, or pretzel salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
- Pour milk into the bowl of a stand mixer (see cooks note if you do not have a stand mixer), sprinkle yeast over top, add honey and stir. Allow yeast to bloom for 5-10 minutes. Once it is nice and foamy, it is ready.
- Fill an 8 quart pot with water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. In a small bowl beat egg and 2 tablespoons water with a fork. Set aside. Wash a section of counter top for rolling out dough. Do not flour it or it will be harder to roll out the dough.
- Add flour and salt to mixer. Knead for about 3 minutes until the dough comes together in one ball. Add more flour a tablespoon at a time as needed, if bread is too sticky to come together. Dough should be tacky when you pull it out of the mixer, not sticky.
- Place dough on counter top and form dough into a ball. We are going to cut this ball into 64 (somewhat) even pieces. First quarter the ball of dough. Roll each quarter into an 18-22” strand. Cut that into 4 equal pieces. Then cut each piece into 4 equal pieces. I used a bench scraper but a butter knife will work fine. When you are done you will have 64 pieces.
- Carefully, add baking soda to boiling water. USE CAUTION: IT WILL BUBBLE UP. Place dough bites into boiling water about 10 at a time. Remove with a slotted spoon after 30 seconds. Place on parchment paper to cool and repeat until all bites have been boiled.
- Arrange all pretzel bites on parchment so they are not touching. Brush egg wash onto each one and sprinkle with coarse salt.
- Bake for 7-9 minutes until the tops are browned.
- Enjoy!
Video
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2014, updated and republished March 2024
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Hello! Greetings from Costa Rica! I'm sorry but could you please explain me what you mean with this? "Wash a section of counter top for rolling out dough."
Thanks!
I think she means to clean the counter where you will be rolling out the dough; you know, to make sure there are no germs on the counter top that might get into the dough.
Can I substitute instant yeast for active dry?
Can I use warm beer instead of milk or water?
Can I use beer instead of milk or water?
look very delicious 🙂
I've tried making pretzels before and it turned out salty . . . BUT THESE ARE FANTASTIC! I am definitely going to make these again, whether for myself or a party! I just want to know if I can freeze these and reheat them in the microwave.
Hummm….I wonder if I can stuff them with a bit of peanut butter?
I absolutely love this recipe! I make these pretzels frequently. They are great for snacking and with cheese fondue.
Can't wait to try these – I assume you use the dough hook in the stand mixer. Thanks for all your awesome recipes.
Can Pam's gluten free flour be used in lieu of regular flour?
I love love love soft pretzels but hate the premade ones. This is such a good recipe for at home pretzel bites!!
Love this recipe! I just found it last night, made them today for a work lunch, and everyone loved them. Simple recipe and they are so good! I did let them bake a little longer on airbake insulated sheets, they came out nice and soft inside with the perfect chewy outside. This recipe is a keeper, glad I found it in time for holiday gatherings!