I'm still surprised how easy Soft Pretzels are to make!!!! Since they are so easy, we decided, "Why not make Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites??". The fun part about these bites, you can pick your favorite cheese or meat and stuff it in the middle. My favorite were stuffed with cheese and the lil smokies. How can you go wrong with a mini cheese hotdog inside a pretzel?? So good!!!!
This is one of those recipes you can get creative with the filling. We love a mixture of cheddar cheese and cream cheese. The creamy filling goes so nicely with the pretzels.
Pretzel bites are a perfect Snack
This is a great after school snack or for having during the big game. The last time we made these we did two batches, one the game, and more for binge watching TV! Don't forget you can also freeze them. Now, when I want a quick snack, I can pull a pretzel out of the freezer, pop it in the oven for a few minutes and, before you know it, you've got a hot pretzel to enjoy.
Dips ideas to enjoy with pretzels:
- Honey Mustard
- Ranch Dressing
- Mustard with horseradish
- Cheesy Beer Dip
- Marinara Sauce
- Stone ground mustard
- Cheesy mustard dip
- Hummus
What's your favorite Pretzel Bite dip?
Don't have a stand mixer or dough hook attachment?
No problem! If you don't have a stand mixer, just get your kneading muscles ready. You can mix the yeast mixture and flour until combined. Then roll out the dough onto a floured surface and knead the dough until it's no longer sticky and bounces back when pinched.
TIPS:
- Don't leave the pretzel in the boiling water for more than 30 seconds. The pretzel bites can get a slightly metallic taste.
- Freeze the pretzel bites. They can be reheated in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 to 15 minutes. This is perfect for a really quick snack.
- We usually take half the recipe and make large traditional soft pretzels and the rest of the dough is used for the pretzel bites.
- Never run out of honey mustard dip!!!! Haha, yes this is my favorite
- Also, a nice cold beer is always good with pretzels
Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
Pretzel
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Active Yeast 1 packet Yeast
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar We like Dark Brown Sugar
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 4 ¼ Cups Flour All Purpose flour
- Coarse Salt
Baking Soda Bath
- ½ Cup Baking Soda
Cheese mixture or Lil Smokies (Cocktail Weenies)
- 6 Tablespoons Cheddar Cheese Use your favorite cheese. We used cheddar and pepper jack Cheese
- 3 Tablespoons Cream Cheese
- 20 Lil Smokies or Fully Cooked Cocktail Weenies
Instructions
- Melt ButterIn a mixing bowl whisk together 1 ½ Cups of warm water and Yeast. Let sit for one minute.
- Whisk melted butter, salt, and brown sugar into the water yeast mixture
- Attach the dough hook to the mixer. Add flour ¾ cup at a time into the yeast mixture and mix on low with the dough hook
- Continue to add flour until the dough is no longer sticky and the dough bounces back when poked gently with your finger. NOTE: Add ¼ cup of flour at a time until the dough is no longer sticky.
- Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Cover the mixing bowl with a clean towel.Preheat oven to 400°
Cheese
- Shred Cheese and mix in Cream Cheese
Rolling Pretzels
- Lightly spread flour on a clean counter. Place pretzel dough on the flour. Cut dough with a dough cutter or sharp knife into sections.
- Roll the dough to form small dough circles
- Place the cheese mixture into the center of the dough
- Or place a lil smokie in the center of the dough
- Press dough around the cheese or lil smokie and seal
- Another fun ingredient is hot dogs or cooked sausage links. Roll out the dough the length of the hot dog and wrap the dough around the hot dog.
- Or add long strips of cheese. (This is better than cheese sticks.). Wrap the dough around the cheese and seal
Baking Soda Bath - Boiling the Pretzel Bites
- In a large saucepan add 8 cups of water and ½ cup baking Soda. Bring to a boilDrop 5 or 6 of the pretzel bites into the boiling baking soda water. Leave in for 25 to 30 SECONDS.
- Line baking sheets with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray. Place boiled Pretzel bites on the foil-lined baking sheet.
- Continue with baking soda bath until all pretzels have been cooked for 25 to 30 seconds
Bake
- Sprinkle Course salt or your favorite seasoning onto Pretzels. Place Pretzels in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes or until Golden Brown.
- ENJOY with your favorite dip!!!!
Please let us know what you think