Make your own soft pretzels with our pretzel bites recipe that are just like the ones at the mall, only better because you can create your own flavor variations that are perfect for snacking!
If you like pretzel bites you'll love our soft baked homemade pretzels! Brushed with butter and sprinkled with kosher salt. So delicious! Our parmesan bagels are a family favorite as well. So yummy toasted with butter.
Watch our step by step video!
Soft pretzel bites are one of my kid’s favorite snacks. Mine too. It’s hard to buy pretzels at the store anymore or from the shops at the mall, because they just don’t compare to homemade ones! This recipe is one of the FIRST recipes that I ever shared on Gluesticks back in 2009. I originally bought the recipe for $.79 in 2007 from TopRecipes.com. After making dozens and dozens of batches over the years, I can say that it was money well spent!
The original recipe has you shape them into pretzels (like I do in this post), but we honestly prefer pretzel bites. They are quicker to make and fun to eat. I decided it was time to update the post and added a step by step video.
You can use this same recipe to make your own pretzel rolls, too! They work great for pulled pork sandwiches and burgers.
No Boil Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe
Homemade Pretzel Bites
Make your own soft pretzels with our pretzel bites recipe that are just like the ones at the mall, only better because you can create your own flavor variations!
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Servings: 12
Calories: 190kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup warm water
- 1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
- 3 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Bath
- 2 cup hot water
- ¼ cup baking soda
Instructions
- Mix water/yeast. Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes or until it is foamy.
- Mix dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Slowly add water/yeast mixture and oil and mix until a soft dough forms. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.
- Spray bowl with non stick cooking spray and return dough to bowl. Cover loosely with a towel and let raise until doubled, about an hour.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Make a baking soda bath for the pretzels by combining the baking soda with hot water and stir until soda is mostly dissolved (it won't dissolve completely).
- Roll out dough into a long rectangle (about 12"x24"). Using a pizza cutter, cut into small 2 inch pieces. Dip each dough square into the water/soda bath and place on a greased (or parchment paper lined) baking sheet. If you are making salted or garlic pretzels, sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Bake for 4 minutes, then rotate pan and bake another 4 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
Store baked pretzel bites in an airtight container.
Pretzel variations:
For your basic salted pretzels, sprinkle pretzel dough with kosher salt BEFORE baking. When they come out of the oven, brush with melted butter.
For garlic parmesan pretzels, sprinkle with kosher salt BEFORE baking. When they come out of the oven, brush with a mixture of butter and garlic powder. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
For cinnamon/sugar pretzels, brush with butter AFTER baking and then roll in cinnamon/sugar.
Nutrition
Calories: 190kcal
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What is your favorite flavor of pretzel bites? There are so many ways to customize them. Here are our favorites!
Original Pretzel Bites
For your basic salted pretzels, sprinkle pretzel dough with kosher salt BEFORE baking. When they come out of the oven, brush with melted butter. Looking for some creative dipping sauces for your soft baked pretzels? We like this delicious cheese sauce. The same one we use for fondue.
Here is an easy honey mustard sauce from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.
Garlic Parmesan Pretzel Bites
For Garlic Parmesan pretzels, sprinkle with kosher salt BEFORE baking. When they come out of the oven, brush with a mixture of butter and garlic powder. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
For cinnamon/sugar pretzels, brush with butter AFTER baking. Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl and then roll buttered pretzel bites in cinnamon/sugar.
Mary says
I'm a novice baker, so my questions might seem to be of the "duh" nature. Why powdered sugar rather than regular sugar? Also, why so much sugar, won't these be very sweet? Most of the recipes I've looked at for pretzels don't call for so much sugar (tablespoon or two total). Also, the others call for a roiling boil with 30-45 seconds per side wash (these were for traditional pretzel shape) rather than the warm baking soda/water bath in your recipe.
I like the idea of yours as they are bite sized and I don't have to figure the cooking time for smaller pieces as opposed to the larger pretzel shape. Thought these might be fun to try as a side to burgers with some dipping sauces.
If I can manage to make these without messing them up, I can try other flavors (garlic parmesan sounds wonderful).
Thanks!
Brandy says
You know, I'm not really sure why powdered sugar. It's a recipe I've had for years and they turned out so great that I never really thought about it, ha! It is pretty light and fluffy and 1 T. of powdered sugar wouldn't be as strong as 1 T. of regular sugar so that's probably why you can have so much and they aren't overpowering. These aren't overly sweet at all. I hope you try them out and let me know what you think!
Editing to add: About the baking soda: I'm not sure what difference boiling it would do except maybe dissolve the baking soda a bit more. I use warm water and just give it a quick stir if it starts to seperate. Warm water would be easier to work with vs. boiled as well. Hope that helps!
Alyssa says
I made these as bites and they are delicious. Do you think it would work to cut them larger to use as rolls?
Brandy says
Hi Alyssa! Yes, they are fantastic! Here is how I adapted the recipe to make rolls: https://gluesticksblog.com//2012/10/pretzel-roll-recipe.html
Shannon Goody says
My girls and I had fun making them and they are so good!!! Way better than the mall...and cheaper too!!
Brandy says
Hi Shannon! Thanks for letting me know how they turned out! These are a staple over here. When I run out of bread and don't have time go to the store, the kids ask for these in their lunches! Glad you enjoyed them too!
Maria says
These look SO GOOD!!!!! I love Auntie Anne's pretzels, and I'll have to try these out!!! I'm going to pin this so I remember the recipe!
Laura says
these look fantastic! the recipe is so do-able; I'm going to have to try this!
Brandy says
Becca S,
AWESOME! It is a favorite over here too. There are NEVER leftovers! Thanks for letting me know how yours turned out!
Brandy