This easy pretzel bites recipe couldn’t be quicker to make. The dough only requires 4 basic ingredients, no yeast, and very minimal kneading. Each serving contains a full serving of protein, making it a hearty snack. It’s also great introductory recipe for kids learning how to bake!
Jump to Recipe
I made these simple soft pretzel bites for the first time a few weeks ago, and I’ve made them at least three times since then! The batch has disappeared within the hour each time. My five year old loves to help make them, too.
My simple yeast free and egg free pretzel bites are perfect for:
- gatherings
- movie night
- making with the kids – it’s so easy, even preschoolers will love to help!
- whipping up as an after-school snack
You’ll be working with flour and your hands quite a bit, so expect to get a little messy if you’re working with kids (but that’s part of the fun!).
Your kids will love helping measure, mix, roll, and cut the dough into pieces for these baked pretzel bites. If they’re a bit young to cut with a “real” knife, try a child-safe knife! We have a similar one for our 5 year old, and he has so much fun helping in the kitchen when he can. Otherwise, a butter knife with supervision would probably work just as well for this recipe.
Jump to Recipe
I rarely bake real bread (and by “rarely”, I really mean never 😉 ) – you know, the kind with the yeast and the kneading and the rising and the waiting? I’m too impatient to wait for dough to rise with yeast – if you can relate, then this recipe is for you.
How to Make Pretzel Bites – a Summary
Jump to Recipe- Preheat your oven to 425F, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. The rest of the recipe happens so fast, that it’s helpful to have the pan ready to go.
- In a medium bowl, stir together all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add your plain whole milk Greek Yogurt, and stir until combined. The dough will seem a bit dry – this is okay.
- Once your ingredients have mostly come together, remove the dough from your bowl with floured hands and work it into a smooth ball. If your dough is sticky, sprinkle a little flour onto a clean work surface, and work it into the dough with your hands. When the dough is ready, it should be smooth (not sticky) and should be worked into a ball easily.
- Cut your dough in half, then cut each half in half. You’ll have 4 equal parts of dough. Roll each of these into a ball, then roll each ball into a “rope” or “snake”.
- Cut each rope into 8 pieces, to get 32 total. To make even sizes, simply take one rope and cut in half (2); cut each of those halves again (4); then finally, cut each of those pieces in half one last time, for 8 equal pieces.
- Heat 1/2 cup water to boiling in a small saucepan, on the stove or a microwave-safe liquid measuring cup. As soon as it’s boiling, remove water from heat. Immediately add baking soda and stir to dissolve. With a slotted spoon, carefully give each dough bite a quick dip in the hot baking soda/water solution. Place onto your prepared pan (don’t worry about any water drips on the paper).
- Bake pretzel bites for 9-12 minutes, until golden brown. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Easy Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce (Egg Free, Nut Free, Yeast Free)
Ingredients
Soft Pretzel Bites
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup plain whole milk greek yogurt (unflavored)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 Tbsp baking soda
Topping
- 2 Tbsp butter
- coarse sea salt or pretzel salt
Cheese Sauce
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
Soft Pretzel Bites
- Preheat oven to 425F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium to large bowl, stir together all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add whole milk Greek yogurt, and stir until combined. The dough may seem a bit dry – this is okay.
- Once your ingredients have mostly come together, dust a clean work surface with flour, and flour your hands. Remove dough from bowl with hands and work it into a ball. If your dough is too sticky, use your work surface to add more flour, little by little. When dough is ready, it should be smooth and not sticky.
- Cut your dough ball in half, then cut the halves in half again. You'll have 4 equal parts of dough. Roll each of these into a ball, then roll each ball into a "rope" or "snake" shape, about 8-10 inches long.
- Cut each rope into 8 pieces, to get 32 total.
- Heat 1/2 cup water to boiling in a small saucepan on the stove, or in a microwave-safe liquid measuring cup. As soon as it's boiling, remove water from heat, and stir in baking soda to dissolve.
- With a slotted spoon, carefully give each piece of dough a 1-3 second dip in the hot baking soda/water solution. Place onto your prepared pan (don't worry about any water drips on the paper).
- Bake pretzel bites for about 10-13 minutes, or until golden brown. Before serving, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt or pretzel salt.
Cheese Sauce
- Stir cornstarch into cold milk until dissolved.
- For Stovetop Option: In a small saucepan, heat cornstarch/milk and butter over medium heat. Heat, stirring frequently, until sauce has begun to thicken. For Microwave Option: In a microwave safe bowl, heat cornstarch/milk blend and butter in the microwave until it just begins to boil (30-60 seconds). Remove and stir, and microwave an additional 15-30 seconds until sauce is beginning to thicken.
- Remove from heat and immediately stir in cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.