How to make semi homemade Pretzel Bites! These are a delicious snack you can make with the kids. With this super easy shortcut recipe you don't even need to make any dough because this recipe starts with frozen dinner rolls.
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Pretzel Bites are the perfect snack on game day, and an easy appetizer for parties and family gatherings.. They're fun to make with the kids, too. Serve them with honey mustard dip for a classic pretzel taste, or mix it up and serve with other fun dipping sauces like marinara.
They are so good - I dare you to eat just one!
I made these one afternoon with my daughter, Olivia. There are a lot of steps to this recipe that are good for kids to help with, and a few that should be adult only. Be sure to watch your kids carefully whenever they're helping in the kitchen.
Olivia had a lot of fun cutting the dough balls with the kitchen shears. She also enjoyed sprinkling the salt on after the pretzel bites were done baking (that may be why the salt appears a little irregular in my photos!)
It couldn't be me.... right? 😁
Sounds like a riddle, right? Pretzels are made from a yeast dough, but before baking, the dough is boiled. In the hot water, the starches on the outside of the dough gelatinize.
This is what forms that chewy out crust. Baking then cooks the dough through and, of course, gives pretzels their golden brown color.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions (and answers) people often as about making a soft pretzel bites recipe.
Pretzels are made from a yeast dough, but before baking, the dough is boiled. In the hot water, the starches on the outside of the dough gelatinize. This is what forms that chewy outer crust. Baking then cooks the dough through and, of course, gives pretzels their golden brown color.
Dip in a baking soda and water solution and sprinkle salt immediately.
I use sea salt because I almost always already have it on hand. If you do not have sea salt or pretzel salt, you can use any edible coarse salt.
Soft pretzels are often served with honey mustard dipping sauce (recipe below). However, there are so many tasty dipping sauces you could serve with these pretzel bites. Here are a few suggestions besides honey mustard:
Sweet: Caramel, Melted Chocolate, Powdered Sugar Glaze
Savory Melted Cheese, Marinara, Pesto, Ranch
Yes. But I find that if you do, you miss out on that classic pretzel texture that you love!
You may have left them in the baking soda and water solution too long.
Wrap them in foil and then either place them in a slow cooker on warm or in an oven on warm.
🧂 Ingredients
- Frozen Dinner Rolls
- Baking Soda
- Coarse Sea Salt
This is meant to be a brief overview of how to make pretzel bites. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.
🔪Instructions
- Start with frozen dinner roll dough and skip making a dough from scratch!
- Thaw the dinner rolls until they are not frozen but still cold. Using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, cut each roll into four pieces.
- Next, add the baking soda to a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil.
- Preheat the oven to 375-degrees F.
- Top a baking sheet with a cooling rack, this will allow the liquid to drop off, and the pretzels to cook more evenly when baked.
- Then, gently drop the dough pieces into the baking soda bath and cook about 45 seconds, turning so that they cook on all sides.
- Remove with a slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet. Generously sprinkle sea salt over the dough.
- Finally, bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm with honey mustard or cheddar cheese sauce for dipping.
Equipment
EquipmentBe sure to check out my Juggling Act Mama Storefront on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of great products to make your life easier! Thanks so much for being a part of Juggling Act Mama ❤
- Kitchen Shears and/or Knife
- Baking Sheet and Parchment Paper
- Large stock pot
- Slotted spoon
- Cooling Rack
🍴 Serving Suggestions
Although pretzels are normal served with either honey mustard or cheddar cheese sauce, here are a few more ideas:
- Roasted Garlic Hummus
- Marinara Sauce
- Avocado Ranch Dressing
- Pesto
- Peanut Butter
- Caramel
Simple Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Whisk together and serve chilled. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in an airtight container.
📖 Variations
We recommend that you try our recipe for the first time just as it is written for the best results, because that is how the recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make it, you might consider one of these different ways of making this great recipe.
Instead of adding salt to your homemade pretzels, you can make a sweet version - cinnamon sugar pretzels! Combine 1 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Brush the baked pretzel bites with melted butter and roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
You can also use bread dough or pizza dough to make these easy homemade soft pretzel bites. Turn the ball of dough out onto a floured surface and roll it into a long rope. Then, use a bench scraper or pizza cutter to cut it into equal pieces - about 1 inch pieces.
😋 Similar Recipes
Here are some more recipes using crunch bite-size pretzels that you might enjoy. They are perfect for parties!
More Party Recipes
Time in the kitchen with your kids is a great way to add a lot of teachable moments to your day. From math to science, there are a ton of learning opportunities.
Of course, there's a lot of fun to be had, too. I hope you enjoy making these Quick Pretzel Bites with your family soon!
⏲️ Storage
To keep your pretzel bites fresh, wrap them in plastic and then aluminum foil WITHOUT the salt on them. Add the salt only when you are ready to serve. Pretzels will keep for 1-2 days.
To freeze, take the double wrapped pretzels and put them into a labeled freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for a couple of weeks.
📋 How to Make Pretzel Bites
When you want to impress with a yummy snack, these easy pretzel bites are just the thing! Because this recipe is semi-homemade, you don't have to worry about making dough from scratch!
Not ready to make these yummy little pretzel bites yet? Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later! When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
How to make Pretzel Bites
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Equipment
- Large stock pot
- Slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 12 Frozen Dinner Rolls
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- Sea Salt
Instructions
- Thaw the dinner rolls until they are not frozen but still cold. Using kitchen scissors, cut each roll into four pieces.
- Add the baking soda to a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil.
- Preheat the oven to 375° F.
- Top a baking sheet with a cooling rack, this will allow the liquid to drop off, and the pretzels to cook more evenly when baked.
- Gently drop the dough pieces into the water and cook about 45 seconds, turning so that they cook on all sides.
- Remove with a slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet. Generously sprinkle sea salt over the dough.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm with honey mustard for dipping.
Notes
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- Salt and Pepper to taste
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Gina says
I love pretzels! Soft pretzels are so good and having a bite sized portion would make it so fun! sometimes hubby and I make soft pretzels. But, how fun would a tray full of pretzel bites with different toppings be?!
Ang Paris says
Thanks Gina! I think these are a super fun snack for kids (and kids at heart!)
Karly says
This is my kind of snack! Pinned! Thanks for linkin' up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Mary says
I love Pretzel Bites, I'd have to have those all to myself! Thank you for sharing at Delicious Dishes Recipe Party!
Anita says
This sounds yummy! I love Pretzels! Thanks for sharing at Creativity Unleashed Link Party.
Mary says
Thank you for sharing at Delicious Dishes Recipe Party!!