Description
Delicious homemade Pretzel Bites with a soft, chewy texture and a golden-brown crust, perfect as a snack or appetizer. These pretzel bites are easy to make with basic ingredients and come with a classic baking soda bath that gives them their signature flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and levelled; plus more if needed)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cups warm milk (or water; around 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Baking
- 9 cups water
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 large egg (mixed with 1 tablespoon of water, for egg wash)
- Coarse salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a stand mixer bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, warm milk, melted butter, and salt. Mix with a dough hook on medium speed for about 4-5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, gradually add more flour until manageable.
- Let the dough rise: Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and set it in a warm place. Allow the dough to rise for 30 to 60 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking soda bath: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large pot, bring 9 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil.
- Shape the pretzel bites: Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ¾-inch thick rope and cut the ropes into 1-2 inch bite-sized pieces.
- Boil pretzel bites: Carefully drop the pretzel bites into the boiling baking soda water in batches. Let them boil for 30 seconds, then remove them with a slotted spoon and place them onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each bite.
- Egg wash and salt: Brush each pretzel bite generously with the egg wash mixture and sprinkle with coarse salt to taste.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake the pretzel bites for 12 to 14 minutes or until they turn a deep golden brown.
- Serve: Let the pretzel bites cool slightly, then serve warm with honey mustard or your preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
- Use warm milk or water at about 110°F to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
- Make sure to boil the pretzel bites in the baking soda water – this step is essential for creating the signature chewy crust and flavor.
- You can substitute butter with oil if you prefer a dairy-free version.
- For variety, sprinkle other toppings like sesame seeds, poppy seeds or cinnamon sugar instead of coarse salt.
- The dough can be refrigerated after the first rise for up to 24 hours to develop more flavor; bring to room temperature before shaping.
- Store leftover pretzel bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days and reheat in the oven to restore crispness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Snack/Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 pretzel bites (approx. 80g)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: pretzel bites, soft pretzels, snack recipe, appetizer, homemade pretzels, baking soda bath, party snacks
