Pretzel Bites Recipe
Homemade soft and chewy pretzel bites with a golden crust, perfect as a snack or appetizer. These pretzel bites are made from a simple yeast dough, boiled briefly in a baking soda solution for that classic pretzel flavor and texture, then baked to perfection. Serve them warm with honey mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: About 144 pretzel bites (12 pieces of dough, each cut into 12 bites) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and levelled; plus more if needed)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cups warm milk or water (around 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Boiling Solution
- 9 cups water
- ½ cup baking soda
Topping
- 1 large egg (mixed with 1 tablespoon of water, for egg wash)
- Coarse salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Mix the dough: In a stand mixer bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, warm milk, melted butter, and salt. Using a dough hook attachment, mix on medium speed for about 4-5 minutes until a smooth, elastic dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour gradually until manageable.
- Let the dough rise: Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for 30 to 60 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
- Prepare for boiling and baking: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large pot, bring 9 cups of water and ½ cup of baking soda to a rolling boil.
- Shape the pretzel bites: Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope approximately ¾ inch thick, then cut each rope into small 1 to 2 inch bite-sized pieces.
- Boil the pretzel bites: Carefully drop the bites into the boiling baking soda water for about 30 seconds. This step gives the pretzels their characteristic chewy texture and brown crust.
- Prepare for baking: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the boiled pretzel bites onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart to allow for expansion.
- Add egg wash and salt: Brush each pretzel bite with the egg wash mixture to promote a shiny, golden crust. Sprinkle coarse salt generously over the bites.
- Bake the pretzels: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the pretzel bites are deep golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the warm pretzel bites with honey mustard or your preferred dipping sauce for a delicious snack or appetizer.
Notes
- Using warm milk gives a richer flavor, but water can be substituted if needed.
- Make sure the water for boiling is at a rolling boil before dropping the pretzel bites to ensure proper crust formation.
- Do not overcrowd the boiling water or baking sheets to prevent sticking.
- Coarse salt is recommended for sprinkling, but feel free to omit or substitute with sesame seeds or other toppings.
- For softer pretzels, brush with melted butter immediately after baking.
Keywords: pretzel bites, soft pretzels, appetizer, snack, yeast dough, baking soda bath, homemade pretzels
Find it online: https://freshrecipehub.com/pretzel-bites-recipe/
