Easy Soft Pretzel Bites

These soft pretzel bites are just like homemade soft pretzels except for their fun, bite-sized shape. They have a chewy exterior and soft, fluffy interior. This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients and takes about one hour to make. They are perfect for parties and game day!

Homemade soft pretzels and soft pretzel bites are both popular recipes on my blog as a reader’s favorite. They are both huge hits for party snacks, football season, and any type of get together or potluck.

There is no kneading or wait time for the dough to double in size.

You can serve these soft pretzel bites plain, brushed with butter and salt, cinnamon sugar or your favorite nacho cheese dip.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You are going to love the texture and flavor of this savory bakery treat! But if its deliciousness wasn’t enough, here are a few more reasons why you are going to absolutely love this soft pretzel bites recipe.

1. Feeds a large crowd. This recipe makes about 12 servings (approximately 130 pretzel bites).
2. Inexpensive to make. A budget-friendly appetizer counts as a double win.
3. Uses just 7 simple baking ingredients such as flour, sugar, yeast, salt, butter baking soda and egg.
4. There is no kneading or wait time for the dough to rise.
5. Super easy, even for beginner bakers. This is also a really fun recipe to make with children.

Oh, and another reason you will love this recipe…

The baking soda bath does not require the water to be boiling. A baking soda bath is a quick, but important step in the recipe. It gives the dough its distinct pretzel flavor and brown, chewy exterior.

If you have ever made a traditional baking soda bath before, you know it can make a bit of a mess. The baking soda water splashes on and around the stove top. It takes a couple of rounds to clean up the residue. It can also make the dough too hot to handle. Literally.

Instead, we will use hot water with the baking soda in a bowl. I have made this recipe countless times both ways. It provides the same successful result, and there is no big mess to clean up.

Ingredients Needed for Soft Pretzel Bites

This soft pretzel bites recipe uses just a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

• Flour – all purpose flour or bread flour both work fine for this recipe.
• Sugar – a little bit of sugar is added to the yeast.
• Yeast – Instant or Active Dry yeast can be used. Yeast helps the dough rise.
• Salt – a small amount of table salt is used in the dough. Coarse salt is used to top the pretzels after baking. Pretzel salt can also be used (but most people don’t keep it on hand.)
• Butter – adds a bit of richness to the dough. The pretzel bites are also brushed with melted butter after they come out of the oven.
• Baking Soda – is used for the baking soda bath. It gives the dough a dark, chewy exterior and fluffy interior. It also gives pretzels their distinctive pretzel taste.
• Egg – is used for the egg wash. An egg wash is a combination of one beaten egg mixed with a tablespoon of cold water. It give the pretzel bites a crunchy exterior and adds another depth of flavor.

Step by Step Instructions (with photos)

*See full ingredient list and instructions in the recipe card below.

Step One – Preheat oven to 410 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Lightly spray parchment sheet with cooking spray.

Step Two – Making the dough – In a medium bowl, add yeast and warm water. Stir together. Add sugar, melted butter and salt. Stir together.

Mixing by hand – In a medium bowl, add 3 cups flour. Stir with large, heavy duty metal or wooden spoon. Sprinkle in 1/4 cup flour at a time until mixture starts pulling off the sides of bowl. Use hands to start punching down and kneading dough in bowl. If the dough is sticky, add another 1/4 cup flour. The end result should be between 3 1/2 – 4 cups flour in total. 

Using a stand mixer – Using a dough hook attachment, add 3 cups flour at low speed. Sprinkle in 1/4 cup flour at a time until mixture starts pulling off the sides of bowl. The end result should be between 3 1/2 – 4 cups flour in total. Knead dough until smooth for 2-3 minutes.

Place dough into a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a hand towel. Similarly, you can also place dough on working counter. Cover completely with a damp towel while you prepare baking soda bath.

Step Three – Shaping the dough – Place dough on lightly floured work surface or counter. Knead the dough lightly. Form into three equal sized balls. Using a pizza cutter, bench cutter or knife, slice each dough circle into 4 equal pieces. (Like cutting a pizza into fours.) This will result in 12 small dough sections. Cover with damp towel. Take one section of dough and roll out gently into a long, slender rope, approximately 20-22 inches in length. Cut rope into 1-2 inch sections.

Step Four– Baking Soda Bath – While dough is resting, prepare baking soda bath. In a medium bowl (or any dish you have on hand to dip pretzels), mix 4 cups of hot water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Sir gently until baking soda dissolves. Set to side.

Place a handful of pretzel dough bites into baking soda bath for 10-20 seconds. Remove from water with a large slotted spatula, letting excess water drip. Place pretzel bites onto lined parchment cookie sheet sprayed lightly with cooking spray. Repeat each step for remaining dough.

Step Five – Prepare an egg wash – Crack one large egg into a small bowl and 1 tablespoon cold water. Whisk together until well combined. Brush egg wash lightly onto each pretzel.

Bake at 410 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat and place onto cookie rack to cool. Brush melted butter onto each pretzel. Add coarse salt if desired.

Tips and Tricks

1. For the baking soda bath, if your bowl does not quite hold 4 cups of hot water to be mixed with 4 tablespoons of baking soda, you can use 3 cups of hot water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Just make sure the bowl is deep enough to fully emerse the pretzel dough bites.
2. Line pretzel bites on baking sheet in a single layer, with space between each pretzel bite. They rise when baking. If they are too close to each other, they will stick together. Don’t worry if they do. You can simply pull them apart after they come out of the oven.
3. Keep unused dough well covered while you work with this recipe or it will dry out.

How to store

Soft pretzel bites are best served day of. However, you can place them in an air-tight container for up to two days. You can also place them in a freezer-safe gallon bag or air-tight container for up to three months.

How to reheat soft pretzel bites

Microwave – Place pretzel bites on an microwave-safe plate and warm on medium heat for about 30 seconds. To add moisture back to the pretzels (if needed), you can cover pretzels with a damp paper towel before microwaving or brush top of pretzel lightly with water.

Oven or Air-Fryer – Reheat pretzel bites in an oven or air fryer for 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees.