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 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
- 3 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Bath
- 2 cup hot water
- 1/4 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
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.
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!
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!
I made these as bites and they are delicious. Do you think it would work to cut them larger to use as rolls?
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
My girls and I had fun making them and they are so good!!! Way better than the mall…and cheaper too!!
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!
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!
these look fantastic! the recipe is so do-able; I’m going to have to try this!
Becca S,
AWESOME! It is a favorite over here too. There are NEVER leftovers! Thanks for letting me know how yours turned out!
Brandy
Hubby is away, so for fun I made this for dinner for the kids. I made half of them with garlic/parmesan and half with cinnamon and sugar. Yummmmo! My kids devoured them. They preferred the salty version, so next time I’ll do all garlic and parmesan, but they were both delish. Thanks for an amazing recipe!
These are awesome! Thanks for the recipe, I linked to you on my blog.
http://kdinalaska.blogspot.com/2012/02/pretzel-bites.html
These are awesome! Thanks for the recipe, I linked to you on my blog.
http://kdinalaska.blogspot.com/2012/02/pretzel-bites.html
These pretzel bites are soo yummy and very easy to make! Thank you for sharing!
Just took them out of the oven. oh, I can not wait for them to cool. They look perfect
I am putting the ingredients in the bread machine as soon as I am done typing! What a great snack my 6 little ones will have after naptime!
Just wanted to let you know I featured these as part of my link party wrap up! If you’re so inclined, grab a featured button from my sidebar!
These look amazing. Thanks for linking them up to my MoMomma MOnday last week! I featured you today as one of my favs from last week. http://momommamoney.blogspot.com/2011/10/mommy-monday-8-on-momomma.html
Yummy!!! Wish I had a plate of those to snack on right now! So happy to have you a part of the Tuesday To Do Party!
Smiles!
Jami
http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com
WHOOP-T-WHOOP you are featured today on COM in the Saturday Spotlight Talent Show. Congrats.
winks, jen
Just pinned and tweeted these. Can’t wait to try them! Thanks for sharing at this week’s BFF Open House!
These look like the perfect snack for my kids! Thanks for linking up to Latest and Greatest Friday! I’d serve these with some good mustard!
I have got to try these – they look like an excellent football snack! 🙂 I would love to have you come on over and link up at Freestyle Friday anytime this weekend!
Adrianne
http://www.happyhourprojects.com
Oh. My. Those. Look. Delicious.
I saw this on the today;s creative blog link up. I am obsessed with pretzels, i can’t wait to try this. thank you!!
These look awesome… I’ve been trying to find a good recipe. Your pretzels bites look really good – I’m gonna give your recipe a try. Stopped over from Made by you Monday 🙂 AJ@queenofmynest
yummy! Those look great! thanks for the recipe
Oooohhh, my grandkiddies will LOVE these…thanks for sharing your recipe!
Deborah (visiting happily from http://upcyclingmylife.blogspot.com…sure hope you stop by…)
These look delicious! Just going to have to try them.
These definitely look and sound yummy!
thanks for sharing, i’m stopping by from tip junkie and would love to have you stop by my blog and check out the huge ($100) giveaway going on now- http://thelovelypoppy.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-follower-giveaway.html
Excited to try these! My kids would love em and my hubby.=) bellesbazaar-heather.blogspot.com
cannot wait to try these. Thank you for sharing.
~Jenn
http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com
Those look so good. My mouth is watering. Thanks for sharing.
i’m making them! i’m making them! and dipping in cheeeeeeese!
found you via the weekend wrapup party and think you may like my special shabby chic giveaway:
http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2011/10/rachel-ashwell-on-creating-authentic.html
thanks so much for sharing!
warmly,
michele
Yummy! Can’t wait to make these!
These looks sooo good, I have to give them a try, thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Yummmmm… Thank you for reposting how to make pretzel bites. I am pregnant and I CRAVE pretzels like crazy! I think I might try all of your variations 🙂
Heather
Bookmarking this – I don’t know which variation to mke first!
Yummy!