Homemade soft pretzel bites using a bread machine

These homemade soft pretzel bites using a bread machine are soft and fluffy, sprinkled with sea salt, brushed with butter, and will be gone in minutes. Ps…don’t forget the cheese sauce! 

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Pretzel bites make the perfect addition to any game day, whether they are buttery pretzel bites or a sweet cinnamon sugar version, that chewy texture of classic soft pretzels will never get old. 

What makes this homemade pretzel bite such a great recipe is that you can use the dough cycle on a Bread Machine to do all the work for you.

If you don’t know by now, I am a sucker for my bread machine. It basically never leaves my counter, and while living in a small 900 sqft home with little to no counter space..that is saying something! I have used my bread machine to make pizza dough, dinner rolls, hamburger buns and now Pretzel Bites. 

Checkout my 6 simple bread machine must haves for beginner bread makers.

Pretzel Bites Ingredients

You likely have everything in your kitchen to make these bread machine pretzel bites. Simple ingredients, Simple recipe. 

• Flour – either all purpose or bread flour will work, scroll down to see the difference.
• Brown sugar
• Warm Water 
• Instant yeast
• Baking soda 
• Coarse salt, kosher salt, pretzel salt, etc. – but any salt will do in a pinch. 
• 1 egg – for an egg wash, totally optional
• Melted Butter – to brush on your pretzels.

Tools you may need

• Bread Maker 
• Dough cutter
• Small Bowl
• Baking Sheet
• Parchment paper  

Tips 

• Instead of salt, use sugar + cinnamon to coat your pretzel bites in for a sweeter version. Taste like mini cinnamon rolls. For a fall twist, you could also use pumpkin spice rather than cinnamon. Yum!
• For a cinnamon sugar version, bake the homemade pretzels without salt. Then, roll them in melted butter and cinnamon sugar after they come out of the oven. You just need 1/2 cup of granulated sugar combined with 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon . 
• Use this same recipe to make full sized pretzels, just fold and twist the middle when shaping your dough or try making my bread machine heart shaped pretzels for valentines day!
• Vegetable oil: Some people use a tablespoon of vegetable oil in their baking soda water  bath for extra chewiness.
• Use a Cheese sauce for dipping. 

Homemade soft pretzel bites using a bread machine Video

FAQ

Should I use All-Purpose Flour or Bread Flour to make Pretzel Bites? What is the difference? 

You can’t go wrong with either type of flour for these pretzels bites. Bread flour will make it easier to hold shape, important if you were making actual pretzels, since the shape is what makes the pretzel, a pretzel but for these pretzel bites, shape ins’t a huge factor. Simply put, if you have bread flour on hand, I’d use it, if not, I wouldn’t. Pretzels and pretzel bites can be made perfectly with all purpose flour or bread flour, you choose. 

Can you freeze these for later? 

Yes! If you want to save them longer, freeze pretzel bites wrapped in plastic wrap in a freezer bag for up to four months. The night before you serve your frozen leftovers, thaw them in the refrigerator. You can also make the dough ahead of time and freeze it. Just thaw the frozen dough before using it.

What is a baking soda water bath? Why do the pretzels need to have a bath before baking? 

Putting your pretzel bites into a water and baking soda bath before cooking will give them that chewy texture that pretzels have. The baking soda water makes them soft and chewy. This is such an important step, you do not want to skip it. 

Can I make these pretzel bites without a Bread machine?

Of course! Use a stand mixer, or you can use a large bowl with an electric or hand mixer. You could also knead by hand after you let the dough rise. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for details.  

How to make homemade soft pretzel bites using a bread machine

Place all of your ingredients inside the pan of your bread machine in the following order: 

Pss…dry ingredients go last! 

• 1 1/8 cup of warm water – My measuring cup didn’t have a 1/8 cup option, so incase yours doesn’t either, 1/8 cup is equal to 2 tbsp. 
• 3 cups flour 
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• ​1 1/2 tsp instant yeast

Select the ‘dough’ setting on your bread machine.

When the dough cycle is complete, place the dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 6 equal pieces. 

Roll dough into a long rope by placing the dough between your palms and rubbing your hands back and forth, going all the way down to the bottom of the dough. Rope should be about one inch thick. 

Using a dough cutter or scissors,  Cut each rope into 1-2 inch bites. Set Aside. 

Baking Soda Water Bath

• 2 quarts (8 cups)  HOT water, some do boiling water, I only do super hot and haven’t had any issues. 
• 1/2 cup baking soda. 
• Mix together. 

Preheat oven to 425. 

Place each pretzel bite dough into the hot water for 10-15 seconds. Using a large slotted spoon, place pretzel bites on to your parchment-lined baking sheet. 

After, brush each of the little pretzel bites with 1 beaten egg (optional, an egg wash will give you that golden brown crust when baking) and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Place in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Serve warm: Finally, brush the tops of the baked pretzels bites with melted butter and serve warm with dipping sauce.

How to serve homemade soft pretzel bites 

Serve these pretzel bites as a game day snack, at a football party, or just make it a fun activity for the kids to make. These pretzel bites make a great snack for just hanging out on the couch together. They are best when served warm with a dipping sauce like this cheddar cheese dipping sauce! 

How to Store pretzel bites

You can store your leftover pretzel bites in the fridge for five days in an air-tight container or ziplock baggie. To reheat, put them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds.  

​More bread machine recipes: 

• Heart shaped pretzels using the bread machine!
• Homemade Pizza Dough in the Bread Machine 
• Jalapeño cheddar buns using the bread machine
• 6 simple bread machine must haves
• Soft and buttery dinner rolls in the bread machine 
• Small batch hamburger buns using the bread machine
• Bread machine Flour Tortillas 

If you tried these bread machine pretzel bites, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you. Tag me over on instagram @ourlittlebluehomestead so I can check out your creations. Happy Homemaking!

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