Print

Homemade Soft and Chewy Pretzel Bites Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

3.9 from 6 reviews

These soft and chewy Pretzel Bites are a delightful homemade snack perfect for sharing. Made with a simple yeast dough, they are boiled briefly in a baking soda water bath for that classic pretzel texture and baked to a golden brown. Sprinkled with salt flakes and brushed with an egg wash, these bite-sized treats offer the perfect balance of flavor and texture.

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients

  • 4 grams active dry yeast
  • 300 grams water (300 ml)
  • 20 grams brown sugar (1 tablespoon)
  • 450 grams all-purpose flour
  • 6 grams salt (1 teaspoon)
  • 15 grams butter, melted (1 tablespoon)

For Egg Wash and Topping

  • 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
  • 2 tablespoons salt flakes (for sprinkling)

Boiling Bath

  • 10 cups water
  • ½ cup baking soda

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the active dry yeast, warm water, and brown sugar. Stir to dissolve and let the yeast mixture rest for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
  2. Mix ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Use a silicone spatula to mix well until a shaggy dough forms with no visible dry flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
  3. Knead the dough: Transfer the dough onto a clean surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until the dough surface is smooth and elastic. Alternatively, knead the dough in a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. Let the dough rise: Place the kneaded dough back into the bowl, cover it tightly with plastic cling wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for up to 1 hour or until it doubles in size. Lightly brush oil over the dough to prevent drying out.
  5. Shape the pretzels: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Use a bench scraper to divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, then roll each ball into a 20-inch long rope. Cut each rope into 2-inch pieces to form the pretzel bites. Cover with plastic wrap and lightly dust with flour if needed.
  6. Prepare the water bath: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water and ½ cup baking soda to a boil.
  7. Boil pretzel bites: Drop 5 pretzel bites at a time into the boiling baking soda water. Boil for about 20 seconds; boiling longer will make the pretzels chewier and browner after baking. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bites and place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet. Let them dry for 5 minutes.
  8. Apply egg wash and salt: Brush each pretzel bite with beaten egg wash to help with browning and to adhere the salt flakes. Sprinkle salt flakes generously over the top.
  9. Bake: Bake the pretzel bites in the preheated 400°F oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
  10. Cool: Transfer the baked pretzel bites to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • For a more intense pretzel flavor and chewier texture, boil the pretzel bites slightly longer in the baking soda water (up to 30 seconds).
  • Make sure the water is at a rolling boil before adding pretzel bites for the best effect.
  • Use fresh active dry yeast to ensure proper dough rise.
  • For a different flavor variation, try sprinkling coarse sugar or cinnamon sugar instead of salt flakes after egg washing.
  • If you want softer pretzels, omit the baking soda water bath but the texture will be different.

Find it online: https://cookedbysarah.com/homemade-soft-and-chewy-pretzel-bites-recipe/