Description
This delicious homemade soft pretzel bites recipe is easy to make in about 1 hour with ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- Whisk together the warm milk and sugar in a large mixing bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer). Sprinkle the yeast on top and wait 5 minutes for the yeast to foam up and activate.
- Add the flour, melted butter and salt. Then either (a) use a spoon to mix everything in until combined, and then use your hands to knead the dough for about 4 minutes until it is smooth, adding a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky or (b) use a stand mixer with a dough hook and mix on medium speed for 4 minutes until the dough is smooth, adding a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly-oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let the dough rest for 20 to 30 minutes in a warm place until it has doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper, then set aside. Combine the water and baking soda in a stockpot or very large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly-oiled work surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into even 3/4-inch wide ropes. Use a knife to cut the rope into individual pretzel bites, about 1-inch long each.
- Very carefully, use a spatula or spider strainer to transfer the bites into the boiling water, about a dozen or so at a time, for about 30 seconds per batch. Transfer the pretzel bites to the parchment-lined pan, spaced out so that they’re not touching, and repeat with the remaining pretzel bites.
- Brush the top of each pretzel bite with the egg wash and sprinkle with the coarse sea salt.
- Bake until the pretzel bites reach your desired level of golden brown color, about 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the baking sheets to a wire cooling rack.
- If you would like your pretzel bites to taste extra buttery, brush them immediately with extra melted butter.
- These pretzel bites taste best the day they have been baked, and even better hot out of the oven. So serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- You can experiment with toppings such as garlic powder, cheese, or herbs.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pretzel bite
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: soft pretzel bites, homemade pretzels, snack recipes