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Air Fryer Pretzel Bites

Featured in: Fresh-Baked Happiness from Your Oven

Air fryer pretzel bites bring the beloved mall or stadium snack right to your kitchen with less hassle and oil than traditional methods. This recipe creates pillowy soft pretzel bites with the characteristic chewy texture and golden-brown exterior that pretzel lovers crave. The dough comes together quickly with basic pantry ingredients before rising and being shaped into bite-sized pieces. The secret to authentic pretzel flavor comes from a quick dip in a baking soda solution before air frying, which creates that distinctive pretzel taste and appearance. After just 6-8 minutes in the air fryer, these bites emerge perfectly cooked and ready for a brush of melted butter and sprinkle of coarse salt. Endlessly customizable with different toppings, these pretzel bites make an irresistible snack for gatherings, movie nights, or anytime you're craving a warm, homemade treat.
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marry from tastelikemagic.com
Updated on Sun, 09 Mar 2025 01:30:30 GMT
Air Fryer Pretzel Bites Recipe Pin it
Air Fryer Pretzel Bites Recipe | tastelikemagic.com

Golden brown pretzel bites with a perfectly crisp exterior and pillowy soft interior create an irresistible snack that rivals any mall pretzel shop offering. The air fryer transforms simple ingredients into these addictive morsels without the mess and excessive oil of traditional deep frying. The signature pretzel chew comes from a quick baking soda bath before air frying, resulting in that distinctive pretzel flavor and texture that makes them so craveable.

I first developed this recipe when looking for crowd pleasing snacks for my son's birthday gathering. Traditional pretzel making seemed too labor intensive for a house full of hungry teenagers, but these bite sized versions were manageable and disappeared within minutes. Several parents requested the recipe, amazed that such authentic tasting pretzels could come from an air fryer.

Essential Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and foundation for the pretzel dough
  • Active dry yeast: Creates the necessary rise and helps develop characteristic pretzel texture
  • Granulated sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds subtle sweetness
  • Warm water: Activates the yeast and creates the proper dough consistency
  • Unsalted butter: Enriches the dough for a tender texture
  • Fine salt: Enhances flavor in the dough
  • Baking soda: Creates the alkaline bath essential for developing pretzel flavor and color
  • Coarse salt: Adds the distinctive salty finish

Baking Instructions

Dough Preparation:
Combine warm water and sugar, then sprinkle yeast on top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Mix flour and salt in a large bowl, then add the yeast mixture and melted butter. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
Kneading Process:
Knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth. Form into a ball, place in an oiled bowl, and cover to rise for 60 minutes.
Shaping Method:
Divide dough into 4 portions and roll into ropes about 18 inches long. Cut into 1-inch pieces and let rest for 10 minutes.
Baking Soda Bath:
Bring water to a boil and add baking soda. Drop pretzel bites in small batches, boil for 30 seconds, then remove and drain.
Air Frying Process:
Preheat air fryer to 375°F. Arrange boiled pretzel bites in a single layer and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown.
Finishing Touches:
Brush warm pretzels with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse salt.
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Easy Air Fryer Pretzel Bites Recipe | tastelikemagic.com

My family particularly enjoys these pretzel bites with different dipping sauces. My husband prefers spicy mustard, while my children love cheese sauce. Cinnamon honey butter is my personal favorite for a sweet and salty contrast.

Dipping Options

Serve pretzel bites with beer cheese sauce, whole grain mustard, or honey butter. For a sweet variation, offer chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, or vanilla bean cream cheese dip.

Flavor Twists

Everything bagel pretzel bites use everything bagel seasoning instead of coarse salt. Garlic parmesan pretzel bites are brushed with garlic butter and sprinkled with Parmesan. Cinnamon sugar pretzel bites are coated in cinnamon sugar for a sweet treat.

Storage Solutions

Store leftover pretzel bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 minutes to restore crispness.

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Delicious Air Fryer Pretzel Bites Recipe | tastelikemagic.com

After years of making traditional pretzels, this air fryer method revolutionized my approach. The reduced prep time and mess make these pretzel bites a staple in my kitchen. Even pretzel purists have been amazed at the results.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make the pretzel dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the dough up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before shaping.
→ Why is the baking soda bath important?
The baking soda bath gives pretzels their distinctive flavor, chewy texture, and characteristic brown color. Don't skip this step for authentic pretzel taste.
→ Can I freeze these pretzel bites?
Yes, freeze them after baking and cooling completely. Store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months and reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
→ What dips pair well with pretzel bites?
These pretzel bites pair perfectly with cheese sauce, honey mustard, cream cheese dip, chocolate sauce, or caramel for sweet versions.
→ Can I make these without an air fryer?
Yes, you can bake them in a conventional oven at 425°F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown, though they may not get quite as crispy.

Air Fryer Pretzel Bites

These air fryer pretzel bites deliver the perfect soft pretzel texture and flavor in bite-sized pieces, with a golden-brown exterior and fluffy interior.

Prep Time
75 Minutes
Cook Time
10 Minutes
Total Time
85 Minutes
By: Marry

Category: Homemade Bakes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: German-American

Yield: 6 Servings (30-35 pretzel bites)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ For the Dough

01 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
02 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 ¼ teaspoons)
03 1 teaspoon sugar
04 ¾ cup warm water (about 110°F)
05 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
06 1 teaspoon salt

→ For Boiling

07 4 cups water
08 1/4 cup baking soda

→ For the Topping

09 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for brushing)
10 Coarse salt, to taste (for sprinkling)

Instructions

Step 01

Mix your warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Give it a gentle stir and then let it sit for about 5 minutes until it gets all foamy and bubbly. This means your yeast is alive and ready to work! If nothing happens, you might need to grab a fresh packet of yeast.

Step 02

In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in your frothy yeast mixture and the melted butter. Mix everything together until it starts clumping into dough. Use your hands to gather it into a ball - this is the fun part!

Step 03

Sprinkle some flour on your counter and turn out your dough. Knead it for about 5 minutes until it feels smooth and stretchy. Pop the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it hang out in a warm spot for an hour until it doubles in size.

Step 04

Once your dough has puffed up, punch it down to release the air bubbles. Roll it into a long rope about 18 inches long, then slice it into 1-inch pieces to create your pretzel bites.

Step 05

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot and stir in the baking soda - it'll fizz up, so be careful! Drop in your pretzel bites a few at a time and let them swim for about 30 seconds until they float to the top. Fish them out with a slotted spoon and place them on a towel to dry off.

Step 06

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for about 3 minutes. Arrange your boiled pretzel bites in a single layer in the basket (you'll probably need to work in batches). Cook them for 6-8 minutes until they're beautifully golden brown and crispy on the outside but still soft inside.

Step 07

As soon as those hot pretzel bites come out of the air fryer, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle them generously with coarse salt. The butter will soak in and the salt will stick perfectly while they're still hot.

Notes

  1. These homemade pretzel bites have that classic chewy inside and crispy outside you love from mall pretzels, but they're so much fresher!
  2. Don't skip the baking soda bath - it's what gives pretzels their distinctive flavor and beautiful brown color.
  3. For sweet pretzel bites, skip the coarse salt and instead sprinkle with cinnamon sugar after brushing with butter.
  4. Try adding garlic powder or onion powder to the salt for a savory twist.

Tools You'll Need

  • Air fryer
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Large pot for boiling
  • Slotted spoon
  • Pastry brush
  • Kitchen towel
  • Knife or dough cutter

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains gluten (flour)
  • Contains dairy (butter)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 165
  • Total Fat: 4 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 27 g
  • Protein: 4 g