These Pretzel Bites are the perfect bite-sized appetizers! Pillowy, salty, and savory, wow your crowd with these!
*Originally published November 23, 2021 and updated with new copy and photos 2/13/23.
We all know my love of appetizers around here. I think they are some of the most underrated foods. Appetizers are the perfect snack to hang out with friends and kick back and socialize. These easy pillowy pretzel bites are no exception. A chewy and salty bite dipped in tangy and delicious mustard. You will have a hard time not going back over and over again.
These pretzel bites are perfect for serving a big crowd and for making in advance. Everyone will rave over this appetizer at your next event.
For some other delicious appetizer recipes, check out these Vegan Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites or these Vegan Pesto Bites.
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What Makes These Pretzel Bites So Great?
- Customizable- This recipe is customizable. Feel free to jazz up your pretzel bites however you want! I love doing cinnamon sugar sometimes or parmesan.
- Full of Flavor- These pretzel bites are like an explosion of flavor in your mouth. The crunchy, salty flavor really takes these up a notch.
- Budget-Friendly- You should have all the ingredients in your kitchen to make these bites. They are only pantry staples!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Dry Active Yeast: In this recipe, we use active yeast. Instant and active dry yeast are essentially the same ingredient, just slightly different. The main difference is that Active Yeast needs to be rehydrated in water, whereas instant yeast can be mixed directly into ingredients.
- Granulated Sugar: Sugar helps to activate the yeast. It acts as the food for the yeast to feed on. You can use a different sweetener if you don't want to use sugar.
- All-Purpose Flour: You can use whatever flour you like in this recipe. Whole wheat will give these a nuttier texture, you can also use gluten-free flour if you wish!
A complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Instructions
Step 1: In a glass mixing bowl, add the yeast to warm water. You don't want the water to be too hot, just warm, around 90 degrees. Allow the yeast to sit for 1-2 minutes until it starts to bubble.
Step 2: Add the sugar, salt, and melted vegan butter. Stir to combine.
Step 3: In one cup increments, slowly add the flour until fully incorporated.
Step 4: Mix until the dough is no longer sticky and the dough bounces back when you poke your finger into it.
Step 5: Add the dough back to a glass bowl, cover lightly with a towel, and let rise in a warm location for two hours or until doubled in size.
Step 6: Once the dough has proofed, punch the dough down and add it to a cutting board. Cut the dough into four equal pieces and roll each piece into a long rope.
Step 7: Using a sharp knife. Cut the dough into one-inch bites.
Step 8: In a large pot bring the baking soda and the water to boil. Using a slotted spoon, add the pretzel bites to the baking soda mixture and boil for 30 seconds.
Step 9: Transfer the bites to the baking sheets and top with sea salt.
Step 10: Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Variations
Try some of these fun variations to switch things up a bit!
- Cinnamon Sugar- Skip the salt and after baking, brush the tops with melted vegan butter and dust with cinnamon sugar on top
- Garlic Parmesan- Skip the salt topping before baking and after you pull them out of the oven, brush with vegan butter and then toss them with vegan parmesan and garlic powder.
- Pizza- Make these vegan pretzels pizza style by topping the pretzel bites with vegan mozzarella cheese and serving alongside marinara sauce.
Check out this other delicious appetizer Crab Stuffed Vegan Mushrooms!
Recipe Serving Suggestions
These pretzel bites are enough on their own, however here are some ideas of what to serve with them to make a complete spread!
- Vegan Cheese Dip
- Dijon Mustard
- Marinara Sauce
- Honey Mustard
Storage
Store these pretzel bites in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Note that they will lose some softness the longer you store them. You can also freeze the baked pretzel bites. To serve, let thaw then reheat in a 300 degree oven until warmed through.
Top tips
- Don't skip the baking soda bath. The baking soda is what gives the pretzels their dark and chewy texture.
- I use basic coarse sea salt for sprinkling. Make sure you use coarse salt as using fine table salt will make the bites too salty.
- Once the pretzel bites are baked and out of the oven, brush some melted vegan butter on top. It adds the perfect touch!
FAQ'S
If you do not have yeast on hand, you can make these with self-rising flour. Self-rising flour is a mixture of flour and baking powder. I have never tried it this way and you would have to add some sort of liquid like oil, water or more melted butter to turn them into a dough.
Traditionally, pretzels are made using a lye bath. I used baking soda in this recipe because it is a more common household ingredient. Lye is Sodium Hydroxide which is caustic and needs to be handled carefully. I use lye when making soap. Lye has a pH of 13 whereas baking soda has a pH of 8. Lye will give the pretzels a darker, chewier texture which is why professional bakers use it. For the home cook or those baking with children, it is perfectly acceptable to use baking soda.
Yes, to make regular pretzels, when you get to the step of rolling them into a rope, shape the rope into the letter U. Cross the arms placing one over the other, then twist them around each other once. Bring the ends down to the bottom of the U and gently press to stick. You will get 6 full sized pretzels this way.
Other Great Appetizers
Easy Pillowy Pretzel Bites
Equipment
- 1 Dutch Oven
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 2 Baking Sheets
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 4 Tablespoons vegan butter melted and slightly cool
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup baking soda
Instructions
- In a glass mixing bowl, add the yeast to warm water. You don't want the water to be too hot, just warm, around 90 degrees. Allow the yeast to sit for 1-2 minutes until it starts to bubble.
- Add the sugar, salt, and melted vegan butter. Stir to combine.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead with your hands for three minutes or until the dough is formed into a round ball.
- In one cup increments, slowly add the flour until fully incorporated. Mix until the dough is no longer sticky and the dough bounces back when you poke your finger into it.
- Add the dough back to a glass bowl, cover lightly with a towel, and let rise in a warm location for two hours or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has proofed, punch the dough down and add it to a cutting board. Cut the dough into four equal pieces and roll each piece into a long rope.
- Using a sharp knife. Cut the dough into one-inch bites.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large pot bring the baking soda and the water to boil. Using a slotted spoon, add the pretzel bites to the baking soda mixture and boil for 30 seconds.
- Transfer the bites to the baking sheets and top with sea salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
- Don't skip the baking soda bath. The baking soda is what gives the pretzels their dark and chewy texture.
- I use basic coarse sea salt for sprinkling. Make sure you use coarse salt as using fine table salt will make the bites too salty.
- Once the pretzel bites are baked and out of the oven, brush some melted vegan butter on top. It adds the perfect touch!
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Andréa Janssen says
The beer mustard was a favorite of my hubby, he wants to make it more often. The combination with the pretzels is very delicious!
Jessica says
These pretzel nuggets are so tasty. I served them with a vegan cheese sauce in addition to the beer mustard and they were a big hit.
Shilpa says
These pretzel bites are so delicious. We loved them
Chris says
Oh, I love this recipe! It is perfect as a snack or an appetizer! The full recipe is very easy to follow and the pretzels are so soft and fluffy!
Jeri Walker says
I absolutely loved these! They turned out fabulous, and they taste so fresh! I will be making these again very soon! Thanks for the recipe!
Dawn Conklin says
These homemade pretzels are so easy and delicious! The beer mustard was an amazing dip for them too. Can't wait to make them again, the family ate them all up on me.
Gina Abernathy says
This is my kind of snack. I would have trouble sharing this with anyone. 🙂
Priya Maha says
These pretzels turned out really good. I couldn't stop myself from eating so much!
Amanda Dixon says
These pretzels came out delicious! They were so soft and pillowy with that perfect pretzel crust. Everyone loved them!
Sam says
These look incredible and easy to make too!! Love that they are vegan. Thanks!!
Meryl says
These are SO good! Made them for the game and everyone loved them! Can't wait to make them again!
Marinela says
Perfect vegan pretzels, they are a delicious, easy-to-make appetizer or snack. Love their delicate savory flavor!
Jacqui says
A simplified and quicker recipe to make pretzels! Delicious!
nancy says
this recipe was a winner! everyone loved it!
Tavo says
So yummy and easy to make! I have made them twice already! Never buying pretzels again! I love the beer mustard seasoning!