If you step into a concession stand, a party, or even a bustling supermarket, you’re likely to find pretzels. Hard pretzels, soft pretzels, pretzel sandwiches, and even sweet pretzels. But pretzel bites are the next level in snackability since they are small and easy to pick up. And soft pretzel bites are perfect for dipping! Fortunately, our teen daughter created a streamlines easy soft pretzel bite recipe with her Meme. And she has been making homemade pretzel bites ever since for her friends. The addictive crunchy out layer and soft inside make these pretzel bites hard to resist.
The real beauty of pretzel bites is their uncomplicated nature. You don’t need to be fantastic in the kitchen to produce them. Simple ingredients, basic cooking techniques, and some free time are all you need to make these freshly baked homemade pretzel bites.
Whether it’s game night with friends or a simple evening snack with family, pretzel bites always have a way of fitting in. We enjoy these pretzel bites right out of the oven. They are irresistible and smell delicious! But you can allow them to cool down for a later snack, whichever way you prefer, it is hard to eat only one.
Super Easy Homemade Pretzels Bites
The first homemade soft pretzel recipe that my daughter made didn’t go so well. The dough was hard to work with, and rolling out the pretzels was time consuming.
Her Meme came up with the idea to tweak the flour amount so that the dough consistency was perfect for rolling. And then my daughter streamlined the recipe by making pretzel bites instead of trying to shape them into pretzels.
My daughter then made one more change. That girl can streamline anything! Pretzel bites are rolled, then boiled for 30 seconds, and finally baked. But she discovered that the pretzel dough could be dipped in baking soda water and baked directly without boiling. The outer crust is slightly less crunchy, but the bites still brown nicely in the oven. And the insides of the pretzel bites are perfectly soft.
If you are looking for a quick and easy homemade pretzel bite recipe that can be doubled easily then you will love this recipe. But if you are wanting that perfectly brown outer shell on your pretzel bites then you will want to still do the boiling step.
Why Pretzel Bites Win the Snack Game
Versatility is queen when I think about pretzel bites, and I believe it’s one of the key reasons they win the snack game. Sunday sports game gathering? Wedding shower? Big gathering of hungry teenagers? Book club meeting? You’d be hard pressed to find an event where these bite-sized delights would be out of place. Savory, salty, and oh-so satisfying, pretzel bites can be dressed up or down to please your crowd.
Pretzel bites are also easily customizable, another piece of their charm. You can dunk them in mustard, sizzling cheese, jam or even chocolate for a fun twist. And my favorite, you can your pretzel bites sweet with a dusting of cinnamon sugar!
What I really appreciate about pretzel bites, though, is their ease of preparation. You don’t need to be a pro baker, or even particularly good in the kitchen. You will need to allow a little time for rising. But the steps are simple. Knead. Roll. Dunk. Bake. Four simple steps to soft, chewy, homemade pretzel bites. Very simple!
And let’s not forget about the universal appeal of pretzel bites. Chewy on the outside, soft on the inside – it’s a texture that every mouth enjoys. I daresay there are few who could resist reaching for another after just one bite. Young kids, teenagers, or adults love these pretzel bites
Making Your Own Pretzel Bites: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to create some delicious pretzel bites right from your kitchen? Follow these steps and you’ll have a tray full of warm, golden brown bites in no time. Make sure to allow time for the dough to rise.
Activate the Yeast. Mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl or measuring cup. Allow yeast to sit for 10 minutes. Yeast should foam on top.
Make the Dough. Add in the flour, sugar, and salt into mixer. Mix. Make a small well in the flour mixture.
Pour in oil. Pour oil into the flour mixture.
Add Wet Ingredient. Slowly start to add in the wet yeast mixture into the flour. Mix in mixer. Continue to mix until dough pulls away from the sides.
Knead Dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5-7 minutes. Add in the additional 1/2 cup of flour, if needed, until dough is soft but not sticky.
Let the Dough Rise. Place the dough in a greased bowl. Cover with a towel and let it rise for about 1 hour.
Shape the Pretzel Bites. Once the dough has risen, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Portion the dough into tablespoon amounts and roll into balls around 1 1/2 inches.
Dip Pretzel Dough in Baking Soda. Mix the baking soda and hot tap water. Dip the dough into the baking soda water. Place on a wire rack on a baking sheet.
Brush Pretzel Bites with Butter. Melt butter and brush pretzel dough with melted butter. Sprinkle all with salt.
Bake. Bake pretzel bites at 450 F for 8 minutes. Keep an eye on pretzel bites. They will be browned and hard outer layer and soft in the middle.
Butter. Remove pretzel bites from the oven. Brush with more butter. Add more salt if needed.
Tips for the Perfect Pretzel Bites
As someone who loves baking, let me share a few tips so your pretzel bites will turn out fantastic!
Ingredient Quality: For starters, remember that your pretzel bites will only be as good as the ingredients you use. Make sure you use quality unbleached, all-purpose flour for the dough and kosher salt for that scrumptious salty taste. Aldi is one of my favorite stores, but years ago they changed their flour mixture. Aldi brand is too fine for pies and breads, so I choose another brand of flour.
Leavening Agent: This is what gives your pretzel bites their irresistible chewiness and puff. Accurate measurement of your yeast is crucial. Make sure your yeast is not out of date if you don’t use yeast often. Also look for a frothy, beer-like foam on top of the water within 5 minutes.
Baking Time: Make sure to set the timer. The baking time is short, anywhere between 8-9 minutes. But since the oven is set at a very high temperature, you don’t want to risk burning your pretzel bites, by forgetting the timer.
Enhance Flavor: Brush your baked pretzel bites with melted butter for a beautiful sheen, a richer flavor, and a softer crust. I love to use a pastry brush, like this one, to easily apply melted butter!
So, the next time you set out to make these tasty little treats, keep these tips in mind. Happy baking!
Exploring Variations: Pretzel Bites with a Twist
Think of pretzel bites as a blank canvas. Their mild, rich flavor and the perfect balance between soft and crunchy texture make them the perfect vehicle for experimenting with a variety of flavors and dips. Here are some ideas on how to transform this humble snack into a culinary delight.
Flavor: You can press on different toppings onto the pretzels right before baking, they’ll come out all warm and crispy from the oven. A sprinkle of sea salt or Kosher salt gives your pretzel bites their traditional savory finish. But if you’re feeling adventurous, consider different spice blends such as Italian seasoning, everything bagel seasoning, or a sprinkle of garlic powder and parmesan cheese for a cheesy twist. Don’t forget the sweet side – a dusting of cinnamon sugar post-baking makes a delightful sweet treat.
Dips: Of course, no pretzel bite is complete without a delicious dip to pair it with. Honey mustard sauce or cheese dip are common favorites! For sweet pretzel bites, serve them with a luscious chocolate or Nutella spread!
These are just some ideas to get you started, but the possibilities are limited only by your creativity.
The Nutritional Side of Pretzel Bites
Let’s be honest, we all love to indulge in delicious snacks, especially when they’re homemade pretzel bites! But goodness and flavor aside, it’s quite interesting to uncover the nutritional side of these delightful morsels. While they’re not to be classified as health-food per se, pretzel bites do offer several nutritional benefits that can be appreciated within a balanced and mindful diet.
First on the list, pretzel bites are a notable source of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are our body’s main energy provider, especially necessary for brain function. About 4-5 pretzel bites typically have around 150 calories, according to Carb Manager.
Another point to consider is that pretzel bites are low in fat. While they may not be entirely void of fats, their levels are significantly lower than many other popular snacks. This makes them a reasonable choice when you’re keen on savoring a hearty snack, without amassing unnecessary calories derived from fats.
Lastly, creating your own pretzel bites gives you the leverage of controlling what goes into your snack. By making them from scratch, you can avoid the drawbacks of store-bought snacks, such as preservatives and excessive sodium. You’re in command of your ingredients, allowing you to choose healthier alternatives when available.
Kid-Friendly Pretzel Bite Recipes
Alright, let’s dive right into some kid-approved pretzel bite recipes. Remember that the joy of these recipes is that they are a fun activity you can enjoy with your little ones. The process itself is delightful, and seeing their eyes light up when the warm pretzels emerge from the oven is priceless!
Recipe #1: Classic Pretzel Bites
This is our baseline recipe. Perfect for lunches, after-school snacks, or rainy weekend-making, these Classic Pretzel Bites are always a hit. They’re soft, slightly salty, and remarkably delicious. Baking time is around 15 minutes, and the key ingredients are flour, yeast, salt, baking soda and butter.
Recipe #2: Cheese-Stuffed Pretzel Bites
Take those same pretzel bites and turn them up a notch – Cheese-Stuffed Pretzel Bites are the way to go. The creamy, melted cheese center is a delightful surprise for taste buds. We’re talking a 20 minute baking time, and the key ingredients include mozzarella cheese, along with the ingredients of the classic pretzel bite.
Recipe #3: Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
If your kids have a sweet tooth, then they’ll absolutely fall in love with the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites! Baked to perfection and then rolled in a sweet cinnamon-sugar mixture, these pretzel bites are irresistible. Bake time is roughly 15 minutes, with key ingredients being sugar, cinnamon, and the classic pretzel bite ingredients.
Recipe #4: Pizza Pretzel Bites
Pizza and pretzels, two of kids’ favourite foods combined into one tasty snack. Imagine the joys of pizza toppings nestled in a pretzel bite. The result? Utter deliciousness! Baking time is around 20 minutes, and for this recipe, ingredients include pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, toppings of your choice, and the dough from the classic recipe.
Whichever recipe you choose, be prepared for smiles all around and an eager request for “Can we make more, please?”
Easy Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe
Every time my daughter makes these pretzel bites, I am in heaven! These bite-sized morsels are the epitome of comfort food, embodying warmth and family gatherings.
She has served these marvels of the snack world at game nights, college dorm gatherings, and movie nights. And her streamlined pretzel bites are always one of the first snack foods to disappear!
Check out the recipe below or PIN for later to make homemade pretzel bites for your hungry crowd!
Easy Soft Pretzel Bites
Equipment
- Mixer
- 2 baking sheets
- 2 wire cooling racks
- 1 pastry/basting brush
Ingredients
Soft Pretzel Mixture
- 4 tsp yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/4 cup warm water
- 3 1/2 -4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbls oil
- kosher salt
- 6 tbls butter – melted
Pretzel Baking Soda Mixture
- 1/3 cup baking soda
- 4 cups hot tap water
Instructions
- Mix first 3 ingredients, yeast, sugar, and warm water in a small bowl or measuring cup. Make sure warm water is between 75 to 130 degrees. Warm but not hot.
- Let ingredients sit for 10 minutes. Allow to foam.
- In a mixer, add 3 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 1/2 tsp salt. Mix.
- Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture. Pour in the oil.
- Add in 1/3 of the wet yeast mixture. Mix.
- Continue incorporating the rest of the wet ingredients into the flour mixture.
- Mix until dough does not stick to the sides of the mixing bowl.
- Hand knead the dough for 5-7 minutes. Add some of the additional 1/2 cup of flour until dough is soft but not sticky.
- Remove dough and place in a bowl sprayed with oil. Cover bowl with a clean dish towel. Allow to rest for 1 hour.
- After 1 hour, preheat oven to 450.
- Remove dough from bowl. Portion out a tablespoon of dough and roll dough into small balls (about 1 1/2 inches). Continue until all the dough is gone.
- Mix hot tap water and baking soda. Dip the pretzel dough balls into the baking soda mixture.
- Rest pretzel balls on wire rack sitting inside a baking sheet.
- Move pretzel dough balls to a clean baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Melt butter and brush butter on uncooked bites. Sprinkle on kosher salt. Bake at 450 for 8 minutes.
- Pretzel bites should be brown with a slight hard shell, but soft on the inside. Brush on more melted butter.
- Serve warm!
