Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

One of my guilty pleasures are salty pretzels. I recently made a lot of regular homemade pretzels, but then I figured, why not try to make that into a bite-sized variation? These homemade pretzel bites are the perfect little in-between snack. Just place a bowl of these on the table and they’ll be gone in no time at all.

Why This Recipe Works

If you love regular pretzels, you’re going to fall head over heels in love with these pretzel bites. They’re perfect as a snack for a gathering of family and friends, but can also serve as your own little stash of snacks. They will keep for 2 to 3 days, although most likely they will be gone before that!

Recipe Ingredients

• flour – I use regular all-purpose flour for this recipe
• dry yeast – you need roughly 4 grams (1 1/4 tsp) of dry yeast
• milk – you can use whatever milk you like. Make sure it is luke warm
• coarse salt – for the topping it’s delicious with some coarse salt.

Alternatively, you can add grated parmesan cheese on top of the pretzel dough. Although I usually go for just the salt. Sprinkling them with some sesame seeds or poppy seeds is also a great addition.

More Delicious Snacks

If you love snacks, make sure to check out the Dutch bitterballen, shredded chicken empanadas or the blooming tortilla ring too.

How To Make Soft Pretzel Bites

Step 1: Make the dough

The first step for making the pretzel bites is to make the dough. For this you combine flour, yeast, sugar, baking powder and the salt in a bowl. Add the lukewarm milk and water to the dry ingredients and knead for about 8-10 minutes.

You can do this by hand (that will take you longer) or use a stand mixer with a dough hook, if you don’t like doing this by hand. Both are fine as long as you are left with a smooth and elastic dough. Let it rise for about 45-60 minutes. It should double in size.

Step 2: Shape

Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a work surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Cover the pieces with a clean tea towel or plastic wrap and roll each piece out into a long rope.

It should measure around 45-50 cm (18-20 inch) long. Cut the rope into small bites. You can use a pizza cutter or a knife to do this. Each rope of dough should be around 15 bites.

Step 3: Bake

Make sure the oven is preheated to 440˚F/225˚C. Brush each pretzel bite with egg wash and sprinkle with the sea salt. Let them rise again for about 10-15 minutes and then bake golden brown in 10 minutes.

Step 4: Serve

These pretzel bites are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with a dipping sauce. Think about serving them with one of the following dips:

• Cheddar Cheese Sauce – Creamy, melted cheese with a hint of sharpness. A game-day favorite with pretzels
• Honey Mustard Dip – Sweet, tangy, and a little sharp – pairs great with the salty bites
• Ranch Dip – Cool and herby, a true American classic that goes with almost everything
• Beer Cheese Dip – A warm, cheesy dip made with beer. Quite popular in pubs but can be made at home too!