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Buttery Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe

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4.5 from 91 reviews

These Buttery Soft Pretzel Bites are a delightful snack featuring golden, chewy pretzel dough bites with a buttery finish. Perfectly boiled in a baking soda bath and baked to golden perfection, they are sprinkled with coarse sea salt and are best served warm for an irresistibly soft and flavorful treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115°F) milk or water
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 (0.25-ounce) package active dry yeast
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter, plus extra for brushing
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Boiling Solution

  • 9 cups water
  • 1/3 cup baking soda

Topping

  • 1 large egg (whisked with 1 tablespoon water)
  • Pretzel salt or coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Mix the dough: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together warm milk and brown sugar. Sprinkle the active dry yeast on top and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast foams up and activates.
  2. Knead the dough: Add the flour, melted butter, and fine sea salt to the yeast mixture. Mix with a spoon until combined, then knead by hand for about 4 minutes until smooth, adding flour if sticky. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed for 4 minutes until smooth.
  3. Let the dough rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let it rest in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes until it doubles in size.
  4. Prep oven and boiling solution: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large pot or saucepan, combine the water and baking soda and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  5. Form the pretzel bites: Turn out the dough onto a lightly oiled surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 3/4-inch wide rope and cut into 1-inch long bite-sized pieces.
  6. Boil the pretzel bites: Carefully place about a dozen pretzel bites into the boiling baking soda water for 30 seconds per batch using a spatula or spider strainer. Remove and transfer them to the parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced apart.
  7. Add egg wash and salt: Brush each pretzel bite with the egg wash and sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt.
  8. Bake: Bake the pretzel bites for 12 to 14 minutes or until they reach a golden brown color. Remove from oven and transfer baking sheets to wire racks.
  9. Brush with extra butter (optional): For an extra buttery flavor, immediately brush the warm pretzel bites with additional melted butter.
  10. Serve warm: Pretzel bites are best enjoyed freshly baked and warm out of the oven for the softest texture and richest flavor.

Notes

  • Use warm liquid (milk or water) at about 110 to 115°F to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • If dough feels too sticky while kneading, add flour gradually until manageable but avoid too much flour to keep the bites soft.
  • Boiling pretzel bites briefly in baking soda water gives them their characteristic chewy crust and deep flavor.
  • Egg wash helps pretzels achieve a glossy, golden-brown crust and helps salt stick.
  • Coarse pretzel or sea salt is recommended for authentic flavor and texture contrast.
  • Serve pretzel bites fresh and warm for the best taste; reheating may dry them out.

Keywords: soft pretzel bites, pretzel bites recipe, buttery pretzel bites, snack recipe, easy pretzel bites

Find it online: https://ricoloranz.com/buttery-soft-pretzel-bites-recipe/