Perfect for parties or game day, these little pretzel bites are soft, chewy, salty and are begging to be dipped in cheese sauce! While baking with yeast may seem intimidating, I’m here to show you just how simple it can be. Just like with my pizza dough, dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls, I keep this pretzel recipe super quick and easy. You can enjoy fresh pretzel bites in just 30 minutes! The dough doesn’t need any rise time and it won’t stick to your hands.
Preparing the pretzel dough
This is an overview with photos of the process. For the complete, printable recipe, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or just a large bowl), add the instant yeast, warm water and brown sugar. Stir. Add 3 cups of flour and salt to the bowl. With the paddle attachment (or a spoon without a stand mixer), mix until the dough starts to come together. Add additional flour as needed (I ended up using 3 1/4 cups). The dough should be slightly sticky, but not stick to your hands. If it does, add a little more flour until the dough is easy to handle. Divide the dough into 4 sections. Roll each section into a log. Cut into 1 inch pieces. You should get about 11-12 bites per section of dough.
Boil pretzel bites in baking soda bath
This is what makes pretzels unique! You will need a full 1/2 cup baking soda and about 12 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot, then slowly add in the baking soda. Be careful as it will bubble as you add the baking soda. Add it slowly and lower the heat if needed. Drop about 12 pieces of dough in at a time and boil for only 20-30 seconds, until they rise to the surface. With a slotted spoon, remove them from the water and place on a silicone mat or parchment paper nearby. Continue until all the pieces are boiled.
Finally, bake the vegan pretzels
Place the boiled pieces of dough on a parchment lined pan, brush with melted vegan butter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Bake for about 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
For a cinnamon sugar version, brush with butter but bake without the salt. In a small bowl, mix 3/4 cup sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Once they’re done baking, brush with a little more vegan butter and dip generously in cinnamon sugar.
How to store pretzel bites
Keep leftover pretzels in a covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They will become less soft over time. They also freeze well! Freeze in a freezer bag or container for 2-3 months. Thaw and enjoy!
Can they be made gluten free?
I haven’t tried a gluten free version so I can’t say for sure. If you try it, let me know! A quality gluten free mix is probably your best bet.
Looking for more vegan party foods?
Ultimate Vegan ChiliVegan Jalapeno Popper DipBuffalo CauliflowerBBQ Cauliflower Wings5 Ingredient Vegan QuesoThe Best & Easiest Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
