These yummy pretzel bites are simple to whip up and delicious when served as an appetizer or snack. You won’t believe how easy they are to make at home!
If I had a dollar for every time my kids wanted me to take them to the pretzel shop in the mall .. I’d be one rich mamma.
I’m really not fibbing about that either. These days, it almost seems like going to the local shopping mall is starting to become a thing of the past. But every now and then, we pop in — we have always made a bee-line for Sears and their power tools.
But now that Sears is on their way out, there really isn’t much substance to our local mall. There is, however, a Wetzel’s Pretzels and it’s a favorite for my kids.
In the past, I would have gave in and gotten something for our child, but with 5 kids it almost seems like you have to take out an installment loan just to feed everyone what they want.
So we make our pretzel bites at home, whip up homemade cheese sauce and everyone is happy. These bites are so good that the kids tend to forget the minor inconvenience of “lets go home and make pretzel bites” and relish in dipping them in cheese sauce until the bowl is empty.
At which time one of them usually licks whatever is left with their tongue. Who knows — sometimes you have to pick your battles, right?!
These pretzel bites are something I have made for the last few years. They truly are as simple as simple can be. Minor ingredients, thirty minutes of rise time… and then patiently waiting for them to brown in the oven. So, stinkin’, easy!
Homemade Pretzel Bites
These simple pretzel bites come together rather quickly and easily – you almost won’t believe how simple they are to make at home.
Begin by combining lukewarm water (95-110 degrees) in your mixer with the yeast. After five minutes, you should see the top of the mixture begin to froth (if not, toss the yeast & start again).
Add the sugar, flour and salt, and use your dough hook to bring the mixture together just until combined. Don’t be tempted to add more water.
Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for 3-4 minutes. Lightly oil your mixer bowl and place the ball of dough within. Cover the bowl with a plastic shopping bag and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
Once that time has passed, divide the ball of dough into six even rounds. Grease your countertop with a little oil and roll each ball out into ropes 12-15 inches in length.
Cut each rope into 1″ pieces. Fill a medium saucepan with 4 C. water and 1 Tbsp baking soda over medium heat. Once the baking soda is dissolved, add the pretzel pieces (I find adding half at a time is best).
Turn them in the baking soda + water mixture for two minutes. Use a slotted spoon to drain, and repeat with the second half.
Generously grease a cookie sheet (even if you use foil you will want to grease liberally) and arrange the pieces, making sure they aren’t touching too close. Generously shake kosher salt over them, and bake at 400 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until dark brown.
Almost done – but not quite yet!
Don’t be tempted to pull them out of the oven when they look like this (above). Hold out a few more minutes for a nice, dark brown color.
Enjoy them immediately, dipped in your own favorite sauce. We love to make our own cheesy sauce.. it’s simple & works wonderfully for us!
Go a step further and invest in pretzel salt for more of an authentic taste just like the famous pretzel shops in your local shopping mall.
Pretzel Bites Recipe
Ingredients
Pretzel Dough:
- 1 C. warm water (95-110 degrees F
- 2.25 tsp instant yeast
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2.5 C. unbleached all purpose flour
Topping:
- 4 C. boiling water
- 1 heaping Tbsp baking soda
- coarse kosher salt or pretzel salt
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter melted (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Combine lukewarm water (95-110 degrees) in your mixer with the yeast. After five minutes, you should see the top of the mixture begin to froth (if not, toss the yeast & start again).
- Add the sugar, flour and salt, and use your dough hook to bring the mixture together just until combined. Don't be tempted to add more water.
- Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for 3-4 minutes. Lightly oil your mixer bowl and place the ball of dough within. Cover the bowl with a plastic shopping bag and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
- While the dough is resting, prepare the topping. Fill a medium saucepan with 4 C. water and 1 Tbsp baking soda over medium heat. Once the baking soda is dissolved, turn the heat to low/medium.
- Divide the ball of dough into six even rounds. Grease your countertop with a little oil and roll each ball out into ropes 12-15 inches in length.
- Cut each rope into 1" pieces. Add half a batch at a time, in the baking soda + water mixture.
- Turn them in the baking soda + water mixture for two minutes. Use a slotted spoon to drain, and repeat with the second half.
- Generously grease a cookie sheet (even if you use foil you will want to grease liberally) and arrange the pieces, making sure they aren't touching too close.
- Liberally shake kosher salt over them, and bake at 400 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until dark brown.
- If using butter, roll them in melted butter after they have been removed from the oven.
Notes
Nutrition
These pretzel bites are very similar to these delicious pretzel rolls which are also a family favorite!
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