Homemade soft pretzel bites are buttery and irresistible. This easy pretzel recipe makes the perfect appetizer or snack for game days and parties!

Homemade soft pretzel bites baked until golden brown and topped with butter and flaky salt.

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Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

These easy homemade soft pretzel bites are a great way to start baking with yeast! They’re quick, fun to make, and bake up golden and chewy in under an hour.

If making homemade pretzels or homemade bread feels intimidating, this simple recipe is the perfect confidence booster. I love serving them warm with pretzel cheese dip for game day or parties.

Recipe Ingredients

Flour, salt, yeast, sugar, baking soda, whisked egg, melted butter, water and flaky salt on counter, ingredients pretzel bites.

Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.

  • Active yeast: You will want to be sure your yeast hasn’t expired and that it foams when mixed with warm water.
  • Sugar: This is necessary to give the yeast something to eat and helps make the dough light and airy.
  • Salt: I like to use Kosher, but any coarse sea salt will do the trick.
  • All-purpose flour: This gives the pretzel bites recipe structure.
  • Baking soda: This gets stirred into boiling water and gives the homemade soft pretzel bites their chewy texture.
  • Egg: This is to make an egg wash to give a lovely brown color when baking.
  • Melted butter: This is optional, but I love to brush butter on the tops after baking and before topping with salt.

How To Make Soft Pretzel Bites

Showing how to make a pretzel bites recipe in a 6 step collage.
  1. Proof the yeast. Add warm water and yeast in a bowl and let sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Then stir in salt and sugar.
  2. Knead the dough. Add the flour in a separate large mixing bowl. Then pour yeast mixture on top and knead with a bread hook in an electric mixer (or by hand) for about 5 minutes. The dough should be soft and no longer sticking to the sides.
  3. Cut into pieces. Separate the dough into 6 sections and then roll each section into ropes. Each rope should be about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Using scissors, cut the ropes into 1 1/2 – 2 inch pieces. You should end up with about 25-30 pretzel pieces.
  4. Boil pretzels in baking soda bath. In a small pan, baking soda water to a boil. Place about 8 pieces of dough into the water for about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place the pieces onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. This step will create a brown crust and chewy center.
  5. Brush with egg wash. Brush the dough lightly with the whisked egg and sprinkle salt on top for flavor.
  6. Bake in oven. Bake at 425°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the pretzels are golden brown. You can turn the oven to broil for the last minute to brown the tops. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Brush tops with melted unsalted butter if desired.
A serving dish of soft pretzel bites with a hand dipping one into cheese sauce.

Tips for Success

  • The dough should be soft and pull away cleanly from the sides of the bowl. If it’s still too sticky, add a little extra flour, about 1/4 cup at a time, until it reaches the right consistency.
  • Before baking, cut a small “X” on top of each piece. This helps the pretzel bites expand evenly and keeps their shape uniform.
  • The dough doesn’t need to rise, but letting it rest for 15–20 minutes before cutting will make the bites slightly fluffier and a bit larger.
  • Serve pretzel bites with a dip! We love nacho cheese dip or honey mustard sauce but you can get creative and use what you like!
Showing a corner of a baking sheet with golden soft pretzel bites.

Variations

Customizing homemade soft pretzel bites is easy, here are a few favorites to try:

  • Cinnamon sugar pretzels: Bake the pretzel bites (without the salt) until golden brown. Roll them in melted butter and then roll the tops and sides in a cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Other seasonings: Sprinkle with seasoning blends such as ranch seasoning, cajun seasoning or everything bagel seasoning.
  • Cheese: Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese before baking.
  • Vegan: These are already vegan for the most part, just skip the egg wash and brush with dairy free butter.
Pretzel bites and cheese sauce on a baking sheet with one bite dipped into the bowl.

Want more easy appetizer recipes? Try Greek dip, lil smokies, or Mexican 5 layer dip.

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Soft homemade pretzel bites topped with salt on a baking sheet.

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

5 from 124 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12
Easy homemade pretzel bites are soft, buttery and irresistible. This pretzel recipe makes the perfect appetizer or snack for game days and parties!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 1 packet active yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt , plus extra for topping
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup baking soda (for boiling water)
  • 1 large egg , whisked
  • Melted butter , for brushing, optional

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups warm water, 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast, and 1 Tablespoon sugar. Let sit 3 to 5 minutes. Add salt and stir.
  • Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
  • In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add 4 cups flour and yeast mixture. Knead 5 minutes. (You can also do this by hand, if preferred).
  • Separate dough into 6 sections. Roll each section into ropes, about 15-inches long and 1-inch thick. Cut with scissors into 1 1/2- to 2-inch pieces. This should make about 60 to 75 pretzel pieces. Optional: cut a “t” or “x” on the top of the pretzel with scissors.
  • In a small pot, bring about 8 cups water + 1/3 cup baking soda to a boil over medium heat. 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 beaten egg and sprinkle salt on top.
  • Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. You can turn the oven to broil for the last minute to brown the tops, if desired. Remove pretzel bites to a cooling rack and brush tops with melted butter, if desired.
  • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Cheese sauce: Here is my favorite pretzel cheese dip. 
Cinnamon sugar pretzel bites: Bake without salt. Roll in melted butter and then roll tops and sides in cinnamon sugar (1/2 cup granulated sugar combined with 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon). 
Storage: Best served the first day fresh out of the oven. Store leftovers in a brown bag or covered container for up to 2 days or freeze up to two months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 5bites, Calories: 163kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Trans Fat: 0.002g, Cholesterol: 16mg, Sodium: 1211mg, Potassium: 56mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 23IU, Vitamin C: 0.002mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

Why do pretzels need a baking soda bath?

Dipping pretzels in a baking soda solution before baking gives them their signature chewy texture and deep golden color.

How long do soft pretzel bites last?

These pretzel bites taste best within the first couple of hours after baking.
If you have leftovers, it’s better to freeze them rather than refrigerate them, since the fridge can dry them out. To keep them soft at room temperature, store in a brown paper bag or a covered container for up to 2 days, though they may become slightly soggy over time.

Can I freeze pretzel bites?

Yes! Place leftover pretzel bites in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.

How do I reheat frozen pretzels?

To reheat previously baked frozen pretzel bites, place them on a baking sheet and warm in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until soft and heated through. There’s no need to thaw them first. For extra flavor, brush with melted butter or sprinkle with a little salt before serving.

A close up of mini pretzel bites with a jar of pretzel cheese sauce.