Pumpkin Pretzel Bites With Vanilla Dipping Glaze

And don't skip the vanilla glaze! You can drizzle it over the pretzels or serve it alongside them for dipping.

Why You'll Love These Pumpkin Pretzel Bites

• Soft and chewy. These homemade pretzel bites have a soft center with a lightly golden exterior.
• Full of pumpkin spice flavor. Pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves give them a delicious fall flavor.
• Easy to eat. Bite-size pretzels are much easier to make and serve than traditional pretzel shapes.
• Vanilla dipping glaze. The sweet glaze balances the lightly spiced pretzel dough perfectly.
• Great for fall parties. They're perfect for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, school treats, and fall snacks.
• Make them ahead. The baked pretzel bites can be stored at room temperature for several days.

What Are Pumpkin Pretzel Bites?

Pumpkin pretzel bites are bite-size homemade soft pretzels made with pumpkin puree and warm spices.

Instead of shaping the dough into traditional pretzels, the dough is rolled into a rectangle and cut into small pieces. The pieces are dipped in a baking soda bath and baked until golden.

After baking, they're brushed with melted butter and coated with cinnamon sugar. The result is a soft, chewy pretzel bite with a subtle pumpkin flavor and plenty of warm pumpkin spice.

What Do Pumpkin Pretzel Bites Taste Like?

These aren't overly sweet pumpkin cookies or cake-like pumpkin bread. They're soft, chewy pretzel bites with a lightly sweet pumpkin spice flavor. The pumpkin puree adds moisture and a subtle pumpkin flavor, while cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves give the dough a warm fall flavor.

The cinnamon sugar coating adds sweetness, and the vanilla glaze takes them into dessert territory. You can serve them with the glaze for dipping or drizzle the glaze over the cooled pretzel bites.

Tips for Making Pumpkin Pretzel Bites

• Don't skip the baking soda bath. The baking soda bath helps create the classic pretzel texture and color.
• Cut the bites fairly small. Bite-size pieces are easier to eat and bake quickly.
• Use a pizza cutter. A pizza cutter makes quick work of cutting the rolled-out dough into small pieces.
• Don't overbake. These pretzel bites only need about 8–10 minutes in the oven. You want them lightly golden while keeping the centers soft.
• Brush with butter while warm. The melted butter helps the cinnamon sugar stick to the pretzel bites.

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Pretzel Dough

• Warm water
• Yeast
• Pumpkin puree: Use 100% canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
• Vegetable oil
• All-purpose flour
• Powdered sugar: Adds a little sweetness to the pretzel dough.
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ground cloves

For the Baking Soda Bath

• Hot water
• Baking soda

For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• Melted butter
• Cinnamon
• Sugar

For the Vanilla Dipping Glaze

• Softened butter
• Powdered sugar
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Pumpkin Pretzel Bites

Step 1: Combine the warm water and yeast in a small bowl. Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes, or until the yeast becomes foamy.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Add the yeast mixture, oil, and pumpkin puree.

Mix until a soft dough forms.

Step 2: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.

You can also mix and knead the dough using a stand mixer.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover loosely with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Combine the hot water and baking soda in a bowl. Stir until the baking soda is mostly dissolved. It may not dissolve completely, and that's okay.

Roll the dough into a rectangle approximately 12×24 inches.

Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into small bite-size pieces.

Step 4: Dip each piece of dough into the baking soda bath, allowing the excess water to drip off.

Place the pretzel bites on a greased baking sheet.

Step 5: Bake for 4 minutes.

Rotate the baking sheet and continue baking for another 4 minutes, or until the pretzel bites are lightly golden.

Step 6: Brush the warm pretzel bites with melted butter.

Combine cinnamon and sugar, then sprinkle generously over the buttered pretzel bites.

Allow them to cool slightly before serving.

How to Make the Vanilla Dipping Glaze

The vanilla glaze takes these pumpkin pretzel bites from a simple snack to a fun fall dessert.

Combine the softened butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl.

Whisk until smooth. If the glaze is too thick for dipping, add a little more milk. If it's too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.

Serve the glaze alongside the pumpkin pretzel bites for dipping, or drizzle it over the cooled pretzels.

Pumpkin Pretzel Bites FAQs

How to Serve Pumpkin Pretzel Bites

These pumpkin spice pretzel bites are perfect for fall snacking and entertaining.

Serve them with:

• Vanilla dipping glaze
• Cinnamon sugar
• Caramel sauce
• Cream cheese frosting for dipping
• Hot apple cider
• Hot chocolate

For a fall party, put the pretzel bites on a large platter with a bowl of vanilla glaze in the center for dipping.

More Pumpkin Recipes To Make

MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💛 Please leave a STAR rating and COMMENT below! Post it to Facebook or Pinterest to easily share with friends!