Easy homemade pretzel bites brushed with melted butter and sea salt. This easy pretzel recipe makes the perfect appetizer or snack! Always a big crowd pleaser and gone in minutes!
These pretzel bites are one of our absolute favorite appetizer recipes. We especially love to make them for game day, as well as crockpot BBQ meatballs, blender salsa, 4-ingredient cheese ball and 7-layer dip.
Pretzel Bites
These homemade pretzel bites are the perfect game day appetizer! You won’t believe how easy these are to make. I remember watching a show on the cooking channel last year where they made homemade pretzels and it has been on my list ever since. I’m always craving “mall pretzels” daily!
I specifically remember them saying the “baking soda wash” and “egg wash” were the most important steps when making homemade pretzels. This helps the dough turn into the chewy goodness that is found in a store bought pretzel. The best part about this pretzel bites recipe is that they only take about 30 minutes to make! They do involve a bit of work… but they are definitely worth it! They are so so good. I can’t wait to make these pretzel bites again!
How do you make pretzel bites?
Pretzel bites may seem intimidating to make, but they are so worth it! And these homemade pretzels are made in just 30 minutes…win! Just follow the steps below to get started. Scroll down for the printable pretzel bites recipe.
- Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add warm water & yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes and then add salt and sugar and stir.
- In a large bowl, add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with bread hook in mixer or by hand for about 5 minutes.
- Separate dough into 6 sections and then roll dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Cut with scissors into 11/2 – 2 inch pieces. Optional: cut a “t” or “x” on the top of the pretzel with scissors.
- In a small pan, bring water and 1/3 cup baking soda to a boil. Once water is boiling, place about 8 pieces of dough into the water for about 30 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon and place pretzel bites onto baking sheet. Brush dough lightly with egg and sprinkle salt on top.
- Bake homemade pretzels for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. You can turn the oven to broil for the last minute to brown the tops. Remove pretzel bites to cooling rack and brush tops with melted butter if desired.
- Enjoy soft pretzel bites with your favorite sauce!
What dips go with pretzels?
These pretzel bites pair perfectly with so many dips! We serve them with cheese dipping sauce quite frequently, but they also taste great with the dips below:
- Queso dip with chorizo
- Slow cooker queso blanco
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Spinach artichoke dip
- White bean hummus
- Slow cooker cheesy bacon dip
- Smoked Italian cheese dip
Frequently asked questions for pretzel bites recipe
How long do soft pretzels last? I personally think these pretzel bites are best within the first 2 hours. If you have leftovers, I would store in the freezer vs. refrigerator. They tend to get a little soggy when stored in a bag in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze pretzel bites? Yes, you can freeze homemade pretzels. Just place them in a freezer bag and store in freezer. You can heat them back up in the microwave (20-30 seconds) or in the oven until warm.
Is active dry yeast the same as instant yeast? Pretty much! The two yeasts can be used interchangeably when baking, however active dry yeast needs to be mixed with water so that it can dissolve and instant yeast does not.
Why do you put baking soda in water when making pretzels? The baking soda wash helps to give the pretzel bites the chewy, pretzel-like texture.
Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda for pretzels? Yes, but make sure to use 2-3 times more baking powder (so about 1 cup of baking powder for this pretzel bites recipe).
Pretzel Bites Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 packet active yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 cups flour
- 1/3 cup baking soda (for boiling water)
- 1 egg whisked
- coarse salt (or kosher or sea salt)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl , add warm water and yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes. Add salt and sugar and stir.
- In a large bowl, add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with bread hook in your mixer or by hand for about 5 minutes.
- Separate dough into 6 sections. Roll dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Cut with scissors into 11/2 – 2 inch pieces. Optional: cut a “t” or “x” on the top of the pretzel with scissors.
- In a small pan, bring about 8 cups water + 1/3 cup baking soda to a boil. Once water is boiling, place about 8 pieces of dough into the water for about 30 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon and place pretzel bites onto baking sheet. Brush dough lightly with egg and sprinkle salt on top.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. You can turn the oven to broil for the last minute to brown the tops. Remove pretzel bites to a cooling rack and brush tops with melted butter if desired.
- Enjoy homemade pretzels with your favorite cheese sauce.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Mmm… now I’m craving homemade pretzels! They are perfect right out of the oven. Definitely add these babies to the must make list! You could even roll them in cinnamon sugar before baking to create a yummy dessert. Enjoy!
It doesn’t say how much water to put in with baking soda
About 8 cups!!
It doesn’t say to let the dough rise, is that right? I know there is not a lot of yeast in it. But the couple of times I have made them, the dough has been still to roll and there was no way to get 12-15 inch ropes.
Hi Ben! I don’t let the dough rise, but you could like it set for 15-20 minutes if you’d like. :)
If I’m using instant yeast do I still need to combine with warm water like it says in your directions?
Yes, I would recommend that.
In Thie FAQs question, “Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda for pretzels?” You answered, “Yes, but make sure to use 2-3 times more baking powder (so about 1 cup of baking soda for this pretzel bites recipe).” I think you meant to say, “so about 1 cup of baking POWDER for this pretzel bites recipe,” since you said you have to use 2-3 times more baking powder if substituting it for baking soda and the recipe calls for 1/3 cup of baking soda.
Thanks for catching that. I just changed it in the post!
These look amazing! I love love love homemade pretzels. But more importantly what is the recipe for that amazing cheese dip on the side? Yum yum yum!!
Homemade pretzels really are the best! I actually don’t have a favorite cheese sauce…I have been trying out a few and I haven’t been able to get it just right. This one I actually got from the store! :)
Just tried this. Yummy. I had to bake them longer. Maybe my dough was too stiff? But will try again.
I’m glad you liked these! It does take a couple tries to get it just right. :)