Buttery Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe

Introduction

Buttery Soft Pretzel Bites are the perfect snack for any occasion. These little pockets of chewy, golden dough are easy to make and ideal for sharing. Enjoy them warm, brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with coarse salt.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115°F) milk or water
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 (0.25-ounce) package active dry yeast
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
• 2 tablespoons melted butter, plus extra for brushing
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 9 cups water
• 1/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg (whisked with 1 tablespoon water)
• Pretzel salt or coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Step 1: Whisk together the warm milk and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the yeast on top and wait 5 minutes until it foams and activates.
2. Step 2: Add the flour, melted butter, and fine sea salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until combined, then knead the dough by hand for about 4 minutes until smooth, adding more flour if sticky. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed for 4 minutes.
3. Step 3: Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes until doubled in size.
4. Step 4: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large pot, bring 9 cups of water and baking soda to a boil over medium-high heat.
5. Step 5: Turn the dough onto a lightly oiled surface and divide into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a 3/4-inch wide rope, then cut into 1-inch pretzel bites.
6. Step 6: Carefully boil about a dozen pretzel bites in the baking soda water for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spatula and place on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them apart.
7. Step 7: Brush each pretzel bite with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt or pretzel salt.
8. Step 8: Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
9. Step 9: (Optional) Brush the warm pretzel bites with extra melted butter for added richness.
10. Step 10: Serve warm and enjoy the soft, buttery goodness fresh from the oven.

Tips & Variations

• For a richer flavor, substitute some of the water or milk with buttermilk.
• Try sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top instead of salt for a sweet twist.
• If you don’t have pretzel salt, coarse kosher salt works well as a substitute.
• Use gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe gluten-free, but adjust liquid as needed.

Storage

Store leftover pretzel bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, warm them in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes to restore their softness and warmth. Avoid microwaving, as it can make them chewy and tough.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it overnight. Let it come to room temperature and rise before shaping and boiling the pretzel bites.

What if I don’t have baking soda for boiling?

Baking soda creates the classic chewy crust and color. Without it, the pretzel bites won’t have the same flavor or texture, but you can boil them in plain water for a softer, less traditional result.

Buttery Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 73 reviews

• Author: lina
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: About 144 pretzel bites (12 ropes x ~12 bites each) 1x

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Description

These Buttery Soft Pretzel Bites are fluffy, golden, and perfectly salty treats that are easy to make at home. Made with a simple dough of flour, yeast, and butter, these bite-sized pretzels are boiled briefly in a baking soda solution to achieve their signature chewy texture before baking to a beautiful golden brown. Brushed with a rich egg wash and optional melted butter, they make a perfect snack for any occasion when served warm.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115°F) milk or water
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 (0.25-ounce) package active dry yeast
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
• 2 tablespoons melted butter, plus extra for brushing
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Boiling Solution

• 9 cups water
• 1/3 cup baking soda

Topping

• 1 large egg (whisked with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash)
• Pretzel salt or coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

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Instructions

1. Mix the dough: Whisk together the warm milk and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the top and allow it to sit for 5 minutes until the yeast foams and activates.
2. Knead the dough: Add the flour, melted butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix with a spoon until combined, then knead by hand for about 4 minutes until the dough is smooth, adding more flour if sticky. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed for 4 minutes until smooth.
3. Let the dough rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes until it has doubled in size.
4. Preheat oven and prepare boiling solution: Preheat your oven to 450°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In a large stockpot or saucepan, combine 9 cups of water with 1/3 cup baking soda and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
5. Form the pretzel bites: Turn the risen dough onto a lightly oiled surface and divide into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a 3/4-inch wide rope, then slice the rope into 1-inch pieces to form individual pretzel bites.
6. Boil the pretzel bites: Carefully place about a dozen bites at a time into the boiling baking soda water for 30 seconds. Use a slotted spatula or spider strainer to remove them and transfer to the prepared parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them apart so they do not touch.
7. Apply egg wash and salt: Brush each pretzel bite with the whisked egg and water mixture, then sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt or pretzel salt.
8. Bake: Bake the pretzel bites in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes until they turn a deep golden brown. Remove the baking sheets and place them on wire racks to cool slightly.
9. Optional butter brush: For extra buttery flavor, immediately brush the hot pretzel bites with additional melted butter after removing from the oven.
10. Serve warm: These pretzel bites are best enjoyed fresh and warm, ideally the same day they are baked. Serve straight from the oven for the best taste and texture.

Notes

• Make sure the liquid is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
• Adding extra flour during kneading can help if the dough is too sticky, but add sparingly to keep the pretzels soft.
• Boiling the pretzel bites in baking soda water is key for their characteristic chewy crust and flavor.
• Use pretzel salt or coarse sea salt for the authentic salty topping—table salt is too fine and can dissolve quickly.
• For a dairy-free version, substitute melted butter and milk with plant-based alternatives but note it may affect flavor.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Snack
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: soft pretzel bites, homemade pretzels, snack recipes, baking, buttery pretzels