Pretzel Bites

Pretzel bites are the snackable, dippable sibling to regular soft pretzels! They’re perfect for game day parties, but you can keep a stash in the freezer for whenever you’ve got a craving.

Pretzel bites make any gathering instantly better. They’re the ultimate crowd-pleaser, the kind of snack that everyone gravitates to at a party. And let’s not forget the dipping possibilities! (Spoiler alert: I share some of my favourite dip ideas below.)

But the best part? Making pretzel bites yourself is surprisingly doable. While there is a bit of time involved, there’s nothing about the process that’s hard, especially if you’ve made sandwich bread, cinnamon rolls, or other yeast recipes in the past. (Is Yeast Vegan?)

Why You’ll Love This Pretzel Bites Recipe

• No twisting needed. Which means pretzel bites are a lot easier to make than regular soft pretzels. All you have to do is cut the dough into bite-sized nuggets and boil them before baking.
• Perfect for freezing. Make a big batch of pretzel bites and freeze them for later. When you’re ready to enjoy some, simply pop them in the oven for a few minutes and they’ll taste just as fresh as when you first made them.
• Perfect for sharing. Pretzel bites are the ultimate party snack! I mean, who doesn’t love soft pretzels?! Serve them as a simple appetizer or go all out and set up a pretzel bar with different dipping sauces and toppings.

Notes on Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Agave nectar – Honey is often used in pretzel bite recipes, but I use agave to keep it vegan.
• Active dry yeast – Here’s how to test yeast to see if it’s still good.
• Warm water – Too hot and it will kill the yeast; too cool and it will take too long to activate it.
• Olive oil 
• Salt 
• Flour – You don’t need anything fancy; all-purpose flour is perfect.
• Baking soda – Pretzels are traditionally made by boiling them in a lye solution, but this can be intimidating for a home baker. I use baking soda instead, which gives the outside a similar chewy texture, but the colour isn’t quite as dark.
• Vegan butter – I like to use my homemade vegan butter.
• Kosher salt

How to Make Pretzel Bites

• Activate the yeast. Whisk the agave, yeast, and water in a bowl. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes or until it gets foamy. 
• Make the dough. Use a wooden spoon to stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture. Then, stir in the flour a cup at a time. 
• Knead. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it gently until it forms a smooth ball.
• Rise. Oil a large glass mixing bowl and set the dough inside. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until almost doubled. 

• Prepare to boil and bake. Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the baking soda. 
• Shape into pretzel bites. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each into a long snake, then cut this into bites.
• Boil. Carefully add the pretzel bites to the boiling water and boil for 10 seconds. Flip and boil for an additional 5 seconds.
• Bake. Transfer the boiled pretzels to the baking sheet. Brush them with vegan butter, add the kosher salt, and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with more melted vegan butter at the end of the cooking time, if desired, then serve.

Tips for Success

• Know you may need more or less flour. The humidity in the air will change the amount of flour you need for this recipe. Less flour may be needed in the dry winter months, while summer humidity often means you need to add extra flour to keep your dough from being sticky.
• Avoid over-mixing the dough. Mixing the dough too much can lead to hard pretzels. Only mix until the dough slightly springs back when you poke it with a finger.
• The rising time can also vary. In a cooler kitchen, the dough may need some extra time to rise. If, after 75 minutes, the dough doesn’t seem to have doubled in bulk, let it continue to rise.

Variations

• Make cinnamon sugar pretzel bites by brushing them with melted butter and rolling them in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
• Use everything bagel seasoning instead of salt.
• Sprinkle shredded vegan cheddar cheese on top before baking.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving pretzel bites with pretzel dip, ranch, and spicy mustard. For a little more zip, try them with creamy vegan queso. This vegan cheese sauce is also excellent!

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover pretzel bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. 

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

You can freeze pretzel bites for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. To reheat, simply place them in a 350ºF oven or toaster oven until warmed through.

More Yeast Recipes

• Olive Bread
• Gluten-Free Focaccia
• Vegan Dinner Rolls (Soft & Fluffy)
• Vegan Japanese Milk Bread

Enjoy friends! If you make this pretzel bites recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!