Pretzel Bites

These homemade Pretzel Bites are made with a small list of pantry essentials! The hardest part is deciding not just what to top these bites with, but what to dip them in. Enjoy these as a satisfying savory snack or a fun appetizer for quests.

If I need a sure-fire way to make my husband’s day, homemade pretzels are a very safe bet. While I have detailed storage instructions in this recipe, I sure didn’t have to utilize them for myself! These bites were gobbled right up in no time at all.

This recipe is great when you’re craving a quick-fix for some homemade soft pretzels. No messing around with creating the perfect shape, just cut the dough into easy bite-sized pieces. It’s a fun recipe to make with kids too! Let everyone customize their own pretzels with whatever toppings they’d like.

Ingredients

Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

• Flour – I used all-purpose flour.
• Water – Warm, around 110F.
• Sugar – Granulated, or you can use honey.
• Yeast – Instant or active. I used active dry yeast. The difference is that active dry yeast needs to be activated first, whereas with instant yeast it’s not necessary.
• Salt – Use as much or little as you prefer.
• Baking soda – Don’t substitute it with baking powder. This is for dipping the pretzel bites into boiling water with baking soda. This is what gives pretzels that nice shiny brown crust and their distinctive flavor.
• Egg – For egg wash, to help your toppings stick and give you that classic pretzel shine.

How to make pretzel bites

1. Make the dough: Add the yeast, sugar and 1 cup of warm water to the bowl of your mixer, stir and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the yeast froths up. Add the flour and salt to the bowl of your mixer. Use the dough hook and mix on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth, elastic, and comes clean off the sides of the bowl.
2. Rise: Spray a large mixing bowl with cooking spray and place the dough into the bowl, turning it to coat in oil. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled in size.
3. Shape: Preheat the oven to 425F and spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Bring the 4 cups of water (or more) to a boil and slowly stir in the baking soda. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface. Split it into 4 equal-sized pieces and roll each piece out to a long rope, about 2 feet. Cut each rope into 1″ pieces.
4. Bake: Use a slotted spoon to add the pretzel bites to the boiling water, about 12 at a time. Boil for 30 seconds, then remove them with the slotted spoon. Line the bites on your prepared baking sheets, making sure they aren’t touching each other. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with your desired toppings. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

What can I use to top my pretzel bites?

Looking to keep your pretzels classic? Get yourself some large-grain salt to sprinkle overtop. I tried a variety of toppings including everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. It’s so hard to choose what my favorite was! You’ll just have to try them all out for yourself and see what you like best.

Other toppings that would taste fantastic:

• Fresh herbs
• Garlic butter
• Cheese
• Crushed potato chips
• Sprinkles, for a sweet pretzel

How to serve pretzel bites

Serve this with a classic cheese sauce, ranch, marinara, mustard, or even some garlic butter. Making an appetizer spread? These pretzel bites would be perfect with:

• Pigs In A Blanket
• Sweet Chicken Bacon Bites
• Fried Pickles
• Potato Skins
• Red Chimichurri Chicken Wings
• Skillet Pizza Dip
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites
• Deviled Eggs

How to store leftovers

Your leftovers pretzel bites will last 2-3 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the fridge. Store them in a large freezer bag or airtight container to ensure they don’t dry out.

You can enjoy them at room temperature or straight out of the fridge. Zap them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds if you prefer warm pretzels.

Can I freeze pretzel bites?

This recipe will freeze really well! You can freeze your bites baked or unbaked. They’ll last 1 month frozen.

To freeze them unbaked, follow the recipe until you’ve cut the dough into bites. Place the bites on a parchment paper lined sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and put the sheets to the freezer for 2 hours. Transfer the frozen bites to an airtight container or large freezer bags.

To cook the frozen bites, let them thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before popping them into the boiling water and continuing the recipe.

Looking for more homemade doughs? Try these:

• Homemade Pretzels
• Parker House Rolls
• Garlic Parmesan Skillet Rolls
• 2 Ingredient Dough
• No Knead Bread
• Best Ever Crescents
• No Knead Skillet Bread