The only recipe you need for soft pretzel bites is right here! They are soft, chewy and so easy to make! Dip them in some Homemade Beer Cheese Dip, Nacho Cheese or roll them in cinnamon sugar for the best snack you can make at home!
What makes these the Best Soft Pretzels?
This recipe for Soft Pretzel Bites is the best on the blog!
I have a recipe that makes tasty homemade pretzel bites, and while they are good they are not nearly as good as this recipe! So after trial and error, this recipe, I declare, is the BEST soft pretzel recipe on the blog!
My other soft pretzel bite recipes are tasty! One of them is made from scratch and you use a spray bottle of warm water and baking soda to spray the pretzels instead of boiling them in soda water, keeping the recipe pretty simple. The other recipe makes soft pretzels made with store bought pizza dough and they are super, super easy and pretty good (this recipe is one you can make in under 30 minutes if you need a speedy one)!
So what is so great about this recipe, and what makes it the best? This recipe calls for bread flour which keeps the dough airy and perfectly chewy. It also uses brown sugar instead of white sugar giving the dough a bit more subtle sweetness.
Finally, this recipe has you dunk the soft pretzel bite dough in a bowl off hot water and baking soda. No boiling water, or a spray bottle needed like my other 2 recipes!
What is the difference between bread flour and all-purpose flour?
This recipe, like I mentioned above, calls for bread flour instead of all-purpose flour.
What is the difference between bread flour and all-purpose flour?
The difference (to keep it simple) is the protein and gluten content is higher in bread flour. With a higher gluten and protein content, bread flour is perfect for breads; giving it an airy, chewy texture. This type of flour is perfect for baked goods that need to rise-hence the name bread flour!
All-purpose flour, on the other hand, with a lower protein and gluten content is perfect for baked goods, like cookies and cakes, that don’t need to rise.
Does this Soft Pretzel Bites recipe require a baking soda bath?
Baking soda baths are known to make pretzels golden-brown, chewy and give soft pretzels that distinct taste that is hard to describe but it is there!
While most soft pretzel recipes require a boiling pot of water and baking soda, this recipe just needs a bowl of hot water and baking soda. This makes the recipe easier and quicker, but the classic pretzel taste is still there!
TIP: Make sure you are stirring the baking soda and hot water solution frequently while dipping the dough bites in it. The baking soda tends to settle at the bottom of the bowl; so give it a good stir after dunking each batch of pretzel dough bites.
Is an Egg Wash needed for this Soft Pretzel recipe?
No egg wash needed for this soft pretzel recipe!
A lot of recipes will have you brush the tops of the soft pretzels with an egg wash to get a golden-brown and chewy top. This recipe does not need it! Dunk them in the baking soda water, put them on the baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt (it sticks better if sprinkled on before baking!) and you have perfect golden-brown, chewy soft pretzel bites!
Can you make soft pretzels instead of pretzel bites with this recipe?
YES! This recipe will make 64 soft pretzel bites (more or less depending on the desired size of the bites).
I divide my dough into 8 equal parts and then each portion I divide into 8 smaller bites. This gives me 64 pretzel bites and keeps them pretty evenly sized.
It can make 8 “full” soft pretzels (bigger with the classic twist, like in the photo below). Just divide the pretzel dough into 8 equal portions. Roll the dough into a long rope of dough and then twist it into your classic pretzel shape! Dip the pretzel in the hot water and baking soda just like the pretzel bites and sprinkle with coarse/kosher salt.
Other toppings for Soft Pretzel Bites
This recipe for the Best Soft Pretzels calls for kosher/coarse salt and butter. But there are so many delicious toppings you can try for a different soft pretzel experience!
- Garlic Parmesan Pretzel Bites: Brush the tops of the baked soft pretzel bites (or toss them in a bowl of butter) and then sprinkle a mixture of garlic salt, garlic powder and bottled/pre-grated Parmesan cheese (the green container kind).
- Italian Pretzel Bites: Brush the tops of the baked soft pretzel bites (or toss them in a bowl of butter) then sprinkle them with a dry Italian Seasoning mix! These pretzel bites are delicious dipped in marinara sauce.
- Ranch Pretzel Bites: Brush the tops of the baked soft pretzel bites (or toss them in a bowl of butter) and then sprinkle or toss the bites in dry ranch seasoning mix.
- Mustard Glazed Pretzel Bites: Brush the tops of fresh baked pretzel bites (or toss them in a bowl) with a mixture of equal parts honey and mustard, adjust the amounts to your liking. Sprinkle with coarse/kosher salt AFTER they are covered in the mustard glaze. Use spicy mustard for a bit of heat if our prefer them spicy!
- Cinnamon Sugar Bites: Brush the tops of the baked soft pretzel bites (or toss them in a bowl of butter) then sprinkle or roll the bites in a cinnamon sugar mixture. These sweet pretzel bites are perfection dipped in cream cheese frosting. (My recipe is delicious).
Dipping Sauces for Soft Pretzel Bites
There are so many choices when it comes to the perfect dip for soft pretzels! Here are my favorite options:
- Beer Cheese Dip
- Nacho Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese Dip
- Homemade Cheese Sauce
- Ranch Dressing
- Bleu Cheese Dressing
- Marinara/spaghetti sauce
- Alfredo Sauce
- Yellow Mustard
- Cream Cheese Frosting (for sweet soft pretzels)
- Chocolate sauce (for sweet soft pretzels)
- Sweet and Sour Sauce (trust me- it good!)
- Honey Mustard (once again, trust me, its good)
Tips for making the BEST Soft Pretzel Bites
- Use bread flour instead of all purpose flour for a better texture (airy and chewy).
- The pretzel dough will need to raise (or double in size) before making them into pretzel bites. Plan on the dough needing to rise for at least 30 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size. They do not need to raise a second time like some yeast bread recipes.
- Make sure your water is HOT for the baking soda and hot water solution.
- Constantly stir the hot water and baking soda solution because the baking soda will settle and the dough bites will not get the distinct classic pretzel flavor from the baking soda/water flavor solution; and they won’t get the golden brown top when baking if the solution isn’t fully mixed.
- I have found parchment paper or a silicone baking mat works best for baking these soft pretzel bites. A greased baking sheet works, but the bottoms of your pretzel bites may get a bit crispier. (You do not need to grease the parchment paper).
- Sprinkle the dough bites with coarse/kosher salt immediately after dipping them in the baking water solution. Dip the dough, then place it on the parchment paper lined baking sheets, and sprinkle the salt on the wet dough bits. The salt will stick better if it is baked on the pretzel bites.
- These pretzel bites bake best when in the center of your oven; so use your middle oven rack.
- I prefer brushing melted butter on top of the pretzel bites so the salt that is baked on them stays on the pretzel bites. You can toss them in a bowl of melted butter, but the salt may fall off!
This recipe for soft pretzel bites is the only one you will need! So print the recipe, bookmark it, \save it- just don’t lose it!
Try these other soft pretzels recipes and other snack recipes!
- Homemade Soft Pretzels (they are good, but not as good as this recipe)
- Soft Pretzels made with store bought pizza dough (they can be made in about 30 minutes or less)
- Rolo Pretzel Bites
- Ranch Butter Pretzels
- Cheese Sauce
- Beer Cheese Dip
- Cinnamon Sugar Twists
If you liked this recipe please take the time to leave a comment and a star rating below! Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!
Check out the latest posts from the Butcher’s Wife!
- Beer Cheese Dip
- The Best Soft Pretzel Bites
- Candy Bar Muddy Buddies
- Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- General Tso’s Chicken
The Best Soft Pretzel Bites
Equipment
- Stand Mixer with dough hook
- measuring cups and spoons
- baking sheet (I use a half baking sheet)
- parchment paper or silicone baking mat *a greased baking sheet will work too
- medium sized bowl *for the hot water and baking soda solution
- slotted spoon *for dipping the pretzel dough bites in the baking soda solution
- basting brush *for brushing the pretzels with butter after baking (or toss them in a bowl)
Ingredients
Soft Pretzel Dough
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 ¼ tsp Instant yeast *Rapid rise or bread machine yeast
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- 4 cups bread flour *all purpose flour will work but the texture will be less chewy
Baking Soda Solution
- 1 ½ cups hot water *the hottest water you can get from your kitchen sink
- 2 tbsp baking soda
Toppings for the Soft Pretzels
- kosher/coarse salt *to sprinkle on top
- 4 tbsp butter, melted *for brushing on freshly baked pretzel bites – use more as needed
Instructions
- In stand mixer, with the dough hook, add the brown sugar and instant yeast to the bottom of the mixing bowl. Slowly add the warm water and give it a quick stir. Let this sit for a minute or two or until the mixture becomes bubbly and foamy. This will tell you the yeast will work and the pretzel dough will rise!
- After the mixture is bubbly/foamy, add the salt. Then, add the bread flour starting with 2 cups. Fully is in the flour. Then, slowly add the rest of the flour a little at a time. Add all 4 cups. Mix it with your stand mixer so the flour is fully incorporated in the dough. The dough will seem dry compared to other bread doughs you may have made- this is ok! Let the mixer knead the dough on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Cover the mixing bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough raise for at least 30 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. (It may take up to an hour to raise).
- Preheat your oven to 450℉. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. You can also grease a baking sheet.
- Lightly flour your counter or workspace.Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Then roll the portion of dough into a long rope about 8 inches long (it doesn’t need to be exact). Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces to make your pretzel bites. Repeat with all 8 portions of dough. (This should give you 64 soft pretzel bites).*You can make 8 full classic pretzels if you prefer them bigger than bites. Just roll the dough into a rope and then twist it into the classic pretzel shape.
- Measure and mix your HOT water and baking soda together in a bowl. Using a slotted spoon, dunk a few pretzels bites at a time (working in batches) then transfer them to your lined baking sheet and sprinkle the bites immediately with coarse/kosher salt if desired. (Adding the salt before baking helps the salt stick better).Repeat with all bites until they are all dunked in the baking soda/water.*Continue to stir the baking soda solution every time you dunk a batch of bites so the baking soda doesn’t settle in the water.**If making full size pretzels, dunk them one at a time in the baking soda solution and then salt them immediately once placed on the baking sheet.
- After all of the pretzel bites are dunked and salted, bake them in the oven (middle rack/middle of the oven) for about 10 minutes or until they are golden brown on top.
- Take the bites out of the oven when they are done baking and immediately brush them with the melted butter. You can also toss the pretzel bites in a bowl of melted butter, but the salt may fall off doing it this way.*You can sprinkle more salt on top after baking if desired.
- Serve the soft pretzel bites while warm with your favorite beer cheese dip, nacho cheese, cheese sauce, marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.Try my Beer Cheese Dip (it is delicious)!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! These are so simple and delicious, better than any I’ve ever had.. Hands down 5 Stars!!
Tiffany – this made me so happy to hear!! I’m so happy you liked them!!! Thank you so much for trying them and for taking the time to comment! I appreciate it! ❤️