Air-Fried Pretzels: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Making pretzels in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to satisfy your pretzel cravings. You can use either frozen pretzels or make them from scratch with a simple dough recipe. The air fryer method is faster than baking pretzels in the oven and delivers hot, crispy, and chewy pretzels in just a few minutes. You can also get creative with different flavours and toppings, such as cinnamon sugar, garlic butter, or cheese.

How to make frozen pretzels in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Frozen pretzels
• Coarse salt (optional)
• Water
• Dipping sauce (optional)

Utensils:

• Air fryer
• Pastry brush
• Silicone tip tongs

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 320-330 degrees F for up to 5 minutes.
• Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or spray it with cooking spray.
• Place 1 to 4 frozen pretzels in the air fryer in a single layer, leaving some space between each one.
• Using a pastry brush, brush water on the frozen pretzels. (This will help the salt stick.)
• Sprinkle coarse salt on the moistened pretzels, if desired.
• Air fry at 320-330 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, until golden brown.
• Remove the hot pretzels with silicone tip tongs.
• Serve hot with your favourite dipping sauce, such as cheese sauce, mustard, or ranch.

Tips:

• To get the salt to stick to the pretzels, brush them lightly with water before adding the salt.
• For a sweet treat, sprinkle your pretzels with cinnamon sugar, or top with garlic powder, shredded cheese, or cheese sauce for a savoury option.
• For crispy pretzels, ensure your Air Fryer is properly preheated and avoid overlapping pretzels in the basket.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

How to make pretzel bites in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Flour (all-purpose)
• Yeast (rapid-rise/instant)
• Sugar (or honey)
• Salt (sea salt for the dough, and pretzel salt for the top)
• Water
• Olive oil (or air fryer parchment)
• Butter (optional)
• Egg (optional)
• Baking soda (optional)

Method

• Combine the water and yeast in a medium mixing bowl. Give it a stir, then add the flour, sugar, and sea salt. Stir until mostly combined.
• 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.
• Lightly brush the basket of the air fryer with olive oil or use air fryer parchment. Place the pretzel bites into the basket, giving them enough room to expand.
• Cook for 6 minutes at 390˚F or until lightly browned on top.
• If using the butter method, brush melted butter on top of the hot pretzel bites and sprinkle with pretzel salt.

Alternative Methods

Option 1 – Egg Wash

Mix 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush over the dough balls and sprinkle with salt prior to cooking.

Option 2 – Butter

Brush melted butter over the bites once they’re done cooking and sprinkle with salt. Work in batches of 3-4 pretzels at a time so the salt sticks to the butter before it dries.

Option 3 – Baking Soda Bath (Vegan option)

Dipping the bites in 4 cups of boiling water mixed with 1/3 cup of baking soda will give them a perfectly chewy exterior.

How to make pretzel dough

Making pretzel dough from scratch is a relatively simple process. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make pretzel dough:

Ingredients:

• Flour (all-purpose or bread flour)
• Yeast (active dry yeast, instant yeast, or rapid-rise yeast)
• Sugar (or honey)
• Salt (sea salt or kosher salt)
• Warm water (104-110°F/40-43°C)
• Butter (unsalted or salted, melted)

Optional Ingredients:

• Egg
• Baking soda

Instructions:

• Combine the yeast, sugar, flour, and salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl. If using honey instead of sugar, mix the flour and yeast first to prevent clumping.
• Add the warm water to the flour mixture gradually, stirring continuously. You may use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment or mix by hand with a spatula.
• Slowly add the melted butter to the mixture and continue mixing. The dough should become sticky and well-hydrated.
• If using active dry yeast, you may need to let the dough rest for about 30 minutes, covered, to allow it to rise. This step can be skipped if using instant or rapid-rise yeast.
• Lightly flour a clean work surface and your hands. Knead the dough by hand for about 1 minute, incorporating the flour and forming it into a ball.
• Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope approximately 12-14 inches long and with a diameter slightly less than a dime.
• Cut the ropes into 1-inch pieces to form the pretzel bites. Alternatively, shape the ropes into pretzel shapes by making a U-shape and crossing the ends at the top, then twisting and pulling them down onto the bottom of the pretzel.
• If desired, prepare a baking soda bath by bringing 4-10 cups of water to a boil in a large pot and adding 1/3 to 1/2 cup of baking soda. This step will give the pretzels a chewy exterior and a darker color.
• Boil the pretzel bites in the baking soda bath for 30-60 seconds, or until they float. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a cooling rack to dry.
• If you want to freeze the pretzel bites for later, place them on a parchment-lined tray and freeze overnight before transferring them to a freezer bag.
• To make an egg wash, whisk an egg with a spoonful of water in a small bowl. Brush the egg wash on top of the pretzel bites before air frying. This will give them a golden color.
• You can also brush the pretzel bites with melted butter and sprinkle with pretzel salt or coarse salt.
• Air fry the pretzel bites at 350-390°F for 5-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

Feel free to experiment with different flavors and coatings, such as cinnamon sugar, buffalo sauce, or BBQ rub. Enjoy your freshly made pretzel bites!

How to make pretzel bites from scratch

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for the work surface)
• 1 packet dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
• 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter (melted)
• ¾ cup of warm water (104-110°F/40-43°C)
• 1 tablespoon of white sugar or honey
• ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt or kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons of salted or unsalted butter (melted)
• Pretzel salt or coarse salt, to taste

Method:

• Lightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil or use an air fryer parchment paper liner. Set the basket aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
• Pour in the warm water and melted butter. Stir together with a fork until the dough begins to thicken and looks flaky.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and knead on a lightly floured surface until it becomes smooth. Form the dough into a ball.
• Cut the dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into ropes, then slice the ropes into 1-inch pieces.
• Place the pretzel bites into the air fryer basket, leaving enough space for them to expand.
• Cook at 390°F for 6 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• If desired, brush the pretzel bites with melted butter and sprinkle with pretzel salt.

Tips:

• You can also try an egg wash or baking soda bath for a different flavor.
• Every air fryer is different, so adjust the cooking time as needed.
• Don't worry about making the dough look perfect before cooking—it will puff up in the air fryer!

How to make pretzel bites using store-bought dough

Ingredients

• Store-bought dough (pizza dough is recommended, but you can also use biscuit dough)
• Coarse salt or everything bagel seasoning for sprinkling on top
• Olive oil or cooking spray
• Mustard or cheese sauce for dipping

Method

• First, you'll want to preheat your air fryer to 330°F for 5 minutes.
• While the air fryer is preheating, prepare your dough. If you're using pizza dough, divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope that is slightly less than a dime in diameter, then cut the ropes into 1-inch pieces.
• If you're using biscuit dough, cut each biscuit into fourths and roll them into balls.
• Lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil or spray it with cooking spray. Place the dough pieces into the basket, making sure they have enough room to expand.
• Cook the pretzel bites at 390°F for 5-6 minutes, or until they are lightly browned.
• Once they're done, brush the pretzel bites with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse salt or everything bagel seasoning.
• Serve warm with mustard or cheese sauce for dipping.

Tips:

• If you want to add salt before cooking, sprinkle water on the dough pieces so the salt sticks.
• You can also make sweet pretzel bites by sprinkling cinnamon and sugar on top instead of salt.
• Store any leftover pretzel bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Reheat in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to restore their crispy exterior.

Frequently asked questions