Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites, an easy and delicious snack or appetizer that is fail-proof. The pretzels are fluffy and soft on the inside, and gorgeously golden on the outside, and can be whipped up from scratch with just a few simple ingredients. They are also incredibly popular for any party or celebration throughout the year.
Looking for some bites to munch on? I've got you covered. My homemade pretzels are absolutely fantastic. Planning a picnic when the weather is nice? Need something to eat in between meals? Or maybe just a snack to get you going on those way too long office hours?
If the answer to all these questions is a big fat yes, then you must try my recipe. It only requires about 1 and a half hours of your time and they are cheaper and healthier than those bags of biscuits and crisps that keep winking at you.
The pretzels are soft, deliciously golden, and ready easy to put together. All you need are a few simple ingredients that you already have around. You can top them with any seeds you like, or just salt, and they are just amazing!
They also make a great Game Day appetizer for your Super Bowl party, and if you need more recipe ideas, I have these Best Super Bowl Recipes that are absolutely delicious.
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Ingredients used
- strong bread flour - it works a lot better than plain flour to get fluffy bites
- dried yeast - it needs to be activated before adding it to the dry ingredients
- salt - without it the dough is quite bland
- caster sugar - or granulated sugar
- vegetable oil - or olive oil if you like
- milk - I prefer full-fat milk for my baking, but semi-skimmed also works
- egg - for brushing the pretzels, it does not go into the dough
- caraway seeds - to garnish
Variations
Now, you can make them as flavourful as you like, if you'd rather not have them plain. If you go for the savoury version, feel free to add any seeds of your choice: caraway seeds, poppy seeds, sesame seeds are just a few examples.
For a sweet version, increase the amount of sugar to half a cup, then add some lemon extract and zest, or vanilla extract, cinnamon, or coat them in honey and chopped walnuts, the possibilities are endless here.
Step-by-step photos and instructions
- Warm up the milk, add the yeast, a tablespoon of flour and the sugar, and mix well
- Set aside for the mixture to become frothy
- Then, mix it with the other ingredients
- Knead the dough well for at least 5 minutes - add more flour if necessary to get a dough that does not stick to the hands
- Shape it into a ball, transfer it to a bowl, cover with clingfilm and a clean tea towel, and let it prove in a warm place for at least 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, transfer it to the work surface, divide it into 8 small balls, then roll each ball into a thin long rope
- Chop each rope into bite-sized pieces
- Grease and flour a baking tray, then transfer the pretzels onto it, brush with egg, sprinkle with sesame seeds, caraway seeds, poppy seeds, anything you like, and bake for 15 minutes or until golden
And that's your job done! Just look how soft and perfectly baked they are!!! They spring back if you touch them, and that's when you know you absolutely nailed the recipe.
Expert tips
If you want the pretzels to be crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, getting the dough right is crucial. Make sure the milk is warm, not hot. Then mix a bit of sugar and dried fast-action yeast, give a good stir, then let the mixture rest for 10 minutes or so.
You will notice that the yeast mixture raises and becomes frothy. That's when you know that yeast has worked and it will do its job nicely. If the yeast is not foamy, you will have to start again using another sachet of yeast.
What to serve with the bites
I much as I love them plain, they are absolutely delicious with different dips too, or just dipped into olive oil. My favourite dips would be beer cheese dip, aioli, herby butter or even tzatziki.
If you’ve liked my SOFT HOMEMADE PRETZEL BITES or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.
Soft Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
- 400 g strong bread flour
- 2 teaspoon active dried yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar
- 50 ml vegetable oil
- 250 ml milk
- 1 egg
- caraway seeds to garnish
Instructions
- Warm up the milk, then add the sugar, a tablespoon of flour and the yeast and mix well.
- Set the mixture aside for 10 minutes, it will rise and become frothy.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, salt, yeast mixture, water, oil and knead for 5 minutes -add more flour if necessary to have a dough does not stick to the hands.
- Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave to double up its size.
- Transfer the dough to the working surface and shape into thin ropes.
- Cut each rope into bite-sized pieces.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius, (350 Fahrenheit).
- Slightly beat the egg and brush each pretzel with it, then sprinkle caraway seeds over.
- Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden.
- Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes, then serve either warm or cold.
Video
Notes
- To see the measurements in cups and ounces, please click on the US CUSTOMARY link.
- The amount of ingredients listed can be adjusted depending on the number of servings you need, just click on the number next to SERVINGS.
- If you want the pretzels to be crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, getting the dough right is crucial. Make sure the milk is warm, not hot. Then mix a bit of sugar and dried fast-action yeast, give a good stir, then let the mixture rest for 10 minutes or so.
- You will notice that the yeast mixture raises and becomes frothy. That's when you know that yeast has worked and it will do its job nicely. If the yeast is not foamy, you will have to start again using another sachet of yeast.
Nutrition
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Sheryl says
This recipe sounds healthy. I was surprised that this recipe used very little sugar, and that the glaze doesn't use any.
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you! It indeed has a little bit of sugar, it is more of a savoury kind of pretzels, but the vanilla gives a nice kick.
Chris says
Love the vanilla flavor!
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you! Vanilla brings such a lovely flavour to any dessert.
Silvia says
Arata mult mai bine decat cele cumparate. Si sigur, si gustul e mai bun. :). Eu am mancat doar sarate, nu am mancat niciodata cu vanilie.
Daniela Apostol says
Multumesc! Sunt tare buni, i-au placut si bebitei mele ?