These Air Fryer Pretzel Bites are so easy to make and taste amazing! Chewy, soft, and perfectly salty, you’ll love this pretzel bites recipe. No air fryer? Don’t worry because I have oven-baking instructions too!
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There’s nothing like the taste of fresh doughy pretzels – soft and chewy and topped with crunchy salt!
Just like my Air Fryer Ravioli, Easy Air Fryer Pickles, Fried Artichoke Hearts and Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, this recipe takes something simple and turns it into a health(ier) appetizer or game-day snack. All thanks to the magical air fryer.
Besides mustard, Gluten-Free Cheese Sauce, or Greek Yogurt Ranch, these bites are amazing with some homemade Pub Cheese or this Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball. Want a sweet version of these bites? Check out these Cinnamon Pretzel Bites With Apple Syrup.
Air Fryer Pretzel Bites Ingredients
- Flour, some all-purpose is lovely!
- Yeast – rapid rise
- Sugar, just a little bit. You can also use honey.
- Salt – sea salt for the dough, and pretzel salt for the top. Don’t have pretzel salt? You can use kosher or flaky sea salt like Maldon.
- (optional) Egg or baking soda if you want to try one of the methods described below
If you have extra dough, try your hand at making these incredible Air Fryer Pretzel Dogs. They’re so good and freeze very easily!
Use any leftover yeast to make Easy No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread, Honey Wheat Bread, or Whole Wheat Pizza Dough.
I tried three methods when cooking these – baking soda water bath, egg wash, and butter. All three turned out great with just slight differences in the flavor. You can see in the photo below that they all look super tasty!
Please note, the baking soda water bath is the only vegan option.
Egg wash – mix 1 egg with 1 tbsp of water. Brush over the dough balls and sprinkle with salt prior to cooking.
{vegan} Baking soda bath – just like when making Homemade Pretzel Rolls, dipping the bites in 4 cups of boiling water mixed with 1/3 cup of baking soda will give them a perfectly chewy exterior. But…I didn’t find the taste any better when doing this method and it took more time. And um, dirtied an extra dish.
Butter – Probably the easiest (and tastiest) option, simply brush melted butter over the bites once they’re done cooking and sprinkle with salt. It’s best to work in batches of 3-4 pretzels at a time so the salt sticks to the butter before it dries.
Can You Freeze Pretzel Bites?
Yes! Place uncooked dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for ~3 hours. Transfer to freezer-safe storage for up to three months. We love and use these reusable silicone bags.
You do not need to thaw them prior to baking, and we found that even frozen, you only need 6 minutes of cooking time.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Every air fryer will be different and may need a slightly different cooking time. The bites will be done when the outsides are lightly browned.
- If you only have active yeast and not quick-rise, allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes before rolling.
- Your dough does not need to look perfect before cooking! It will puff up in the air fryer.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- See all our Air Fryer Appetizers here!
- Air Fryer Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Chicken Quesadillas
- Air Fryer Biscuits
- Air Fryer Potato Skins
- Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
- Air Fryer Okra
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
- Air Fryer Potstickers
- Mac and Cheese Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes
- Bacon and Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Fries
- Crispy Fried Onions
Air Fryer Pretzel Bites {Soft Pretzel Bites}
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water {~110 degrees F}
- 2 1/4 tsp quick rise yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp sugar {or honey}
- pretzel salt {optional}
{Optional} Baking Soda Bath
- 4 cups water
- 1/3 cup baking soda
{Optional} Egg Wash
- 1 egg {beaten}
- 1 tbsp water
{Optional} Butter topping
- 3 tbsp butter {melted}
Equipment
Instructions
Make the Dough
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the water and yeast. Stir.1 1/2 cups water, 2 1/4 tsp quick rise yeast
- Add the flour, sugar, and sea salt and stir until it is mostly combined.4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp sea salt
- Lightly flour your hands and knead the dough by hand for 1 minute, bringing it into a ball. Divide the dough into eighths.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into ropes.
- With a floured knife, slice the dough into 1-inch pieces. (see notes below for optional egg wash or baking soda bath prior to cooking)
- Lightly brush the basket of the air fryer with olive oil. Place pretzel bites into the basket, giving them enough room to expand.
- Cook for 6 minutes at 390 degrees F, or until lightly browned on top. If using the butter method, brush melted butter on top of hot pretzel bites and sprinkle with pretzel salt.3 tbsp butter, pretzel salt
Notes
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Made these last night and they were amazing! Â Kids loved them, my husband loved them, and I loved them. Â
However, today they were super chewy, Â did I store them wrong? Or do they not store once cooked?
A few questions: 1) did you do a butter wash, egg wash, or baking soda bath on them? 2) did you put them in a container for storage before they were fully cooled?
I would like to make these today with my new airfryer. I was reading the instructions, i am use to making breads, buns and sweet paatries. This dough is never risen or rested? . Or am I reading it wrong . I have never made pretzels before.
It doesn’t need to rise or rest if you’re using instant/rapid yeast. If you’re using active rise yeast, I’ve noted to let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
I’m also a bread baker, so I know logically not letting something proof or rise just doesn’t make sense. But this works. 🙂
Just made and they are incredible. Thank you!!Â
So glad they were such a hit! 🙂
Going to try making these tomorrow. My kiddos love pretzel bites but I never buy them because $5 a package is ridiculous. If they lasted more than 4 minutes, maybe it would be ok. Lol
Ha, I have those kinds of kids too…hover and devour!