Air Fryer Pretzel Bites: Timing For Perfect Crunch

Pretzel bites are a tasty snack that can be made in an air fryer in a matter of minutes. They are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The cooking time may vary depending on the brand of pretzel bites and the type of air fryer being used. However, on average, it takes around 3-7 minutes to cook pretzel bites in an air fryer.

How to make the pretzel dough

To make the pretzel dough, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Water
• Yeast
• Sugar or honey
• Flour
• Salt
• Butter (optional)

You'll also need a medium-sized mixing bowl, a stand mixer (optional), a wooden spoon or spatula, a knife, and a clean, dry work surface.

Start by combining the yeast, sugar or honey, flour, and salt in your mixing bowl. If you're using honey instead of sugar, mix the flour and yeast together first to prevent clumping. Stir all the dry ingredients together.

Next, add the water to the flour mixture and mix. You can do this by hand with a spatula or using the dough hook attachment on your stand mixer. The dough will be sticky, but you can add a little extra flour if needed to achieve the desired consistency.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for about five minutes while you prepare the baking soda bath.

Sprinkle some flour on your work surface and place the sticky dough on top of it. Sprinkle a little more flour on top of the dough and knead it for about three minutes, or until the extra flour is incorporated and the dough feels tacky but not sticky.

Now you're ready to shape your pretzel bites! Separate the dough into eight equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 12-14 inches long and slightly less than a dime in diameter. Cut the rope into pieces about 1 1/4 inches long.

If you're making traditional pretzel shapes instead of bites, roll the dough into a 20-22 inch rope, twist the ends together, and bring them down to form a pretzel shape.

Once your pretzel bites or pretzels are shaped, they're ready for the baking soda bath!

How to make the pretzel bites

How to Make Pretzel Bites Using an Air Fryer

Ingredients:

• Flour (all-purpose)
• Yeast (instant/rapid-rise)
• Sugar or honey
• Salt (sea salt for the dough, and pretzel salt/kosher salt/flaky sea salt for the topping)
• Water (warm, between 104-110°F/40-43°C)
• Butter (optional)
• Olive oil or coconut oil spray (optional)
• Egg (optional)
• Baking soda (optional)

Utensils:

• Medium-sized mixing bowl
• Air fryer basket or tray
• Slotted spoon or large scoop
• Cooling rack
• Pastry mat or large flat work surface
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spatula for mixing dough
• Tray for coating pretzels (optional)
• Parchment paper or silicone liner for the air fryer basket

Method:

Making the Pretzel Dough:

• Combine yeast, sugar/honey, flour, and salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Stir the dry ingredients together.
• Add water gradually and mix until a sticky dough forms. You may not need to use all the water, or you may need to add a little extra, depending on the consistency of the dough.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for about 5 minutes.

Preparing the Baking Soda Bath (optional):

• While the dough is resting, fill a large pot with 10 cups of water and heat it on high until it reaches a rolling boil.
• Add the baking soda and stir. The mixture will bubble and foam, which is normal.

Forming the Pretzel Bites:

• Remove the plastic wrap from the dough and place it on a floured work surface. Sprinkle a small amount of flour on top of the dough to prevent sticking.
• Knead the dough by folding it in half and pressing it with the palms of your hands while pushing it away from you. Repeat this process a few times until the flour is incorporated and the dough is smooth and tacky.
• Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces. Work with 2 pieces at a time, keeping the rest covered.
• Roll each piece of dough into a rope about 12-14 inches long and with a diameter slightly less than a dime.
• Using a floured knife, cut the rope into 1¼-inch long pieces.

Boiling the Pretzel Dough (optional):

• When the water and baking soda mixture is boiling, drop the pretzel bites into the water and cook for about 30-60 seconds, or until they float to the top.
• Remove the pretzel bites with a slotted spoon and place them on a cooling rack to dry. Keep them separated to prevent sticking.

Air Frying the Pretzel Bites:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C for 5-10 minutes with the basket or tray inside.
• Place parchment paper or a silicone liner in the basket to prevent sticking. You may need to weigh down the parchment paper to prevent it from flying up during cooking.
• Place the pretzel bites in the air fryer in a single layer, making sure they don't touch.
• Reduce the temperature to 350°F/175°C and air fry for 5-7 minutes. Check on them after 4 minutes to see if they need to be separated or require more time.
• The pretzel bites are done when they are a golden brown color.

Butter and Salt Coating (optional):

• Melt some butter and pour it over the pretzel bites, shaking the tray to coat them evenly.
• Sprinkle pretzel salt, coarse salt, or flaky sea salt over the buttered pretzel bites.

Tips:

• If using active dry yeast instead of instant yeast, you will need to let the dough rest for about 30 minutes before shaping it into pretzel bites and boiling them in the baking soda bath.
• You can experiment with different coatings and seasonings, such as an egg wash, cinnamon sugar, garlic powder, or parmesan cheese.
• For a vegan option, use the baking soda bath method instead of the egg wash or butter coating.
• If you want to freeze the pretzel bites for later, place them on a parchment-lined tray and freeze them. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and air fry them straight from frozen, allowing a few extra minutes of cooking time.

How to cook the pretzel bites in the air fryer

Ingredients

• Flour: All-purpose flour works well.
• Yeast: Instant yeast makes the recipe quicker.
• Sugar: Honey can be used as a substitute.
• Salt: Sea salt for the dough, and pretzel salt or coarse salt for the topping.
• Water: Warm water between 104-110°F (40-43°C).
• Butter: Melted butter for coating the pretzel bites after cooking.

Optional Ingredients

• Egg: For an egg wash before cooking.
• Baking Soda: For a baking soda bath before cooking.

Utensils

• Air fryer
• Medium-sized mixing bowl
• Spatula or stand mixer with a dough hook
• Pastry mat or large flat work surface
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Slotted spoon or large scoop with holes
• Cooling rack
• Parchment paper or silicone liner for the air fryer basket

Method

• 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 water and mix until the ingredients are mostly combined. The dough will be sticky.
• Lightly flour your hands and knead the dough for about 1 minute, forming it into a ball.
• Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough into ropes approximately 12-14 inches long and slightly less than a dime in diameter.
• Cut the ropes into 1¼-inch long pieces.
• Prepare a baking soda bath by bringing 10 cups of water to a boil in a large pot and adding ½ cup of baking soda. Stir well.
• Drop the pretzel bites into the boiling baking soda bath and cook for 30-60 seconds, or until they float.
• Remove the pretzel bites from the bath using a slotted spoon and place them on a cooling rack to dry.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5-10 minutes with the basket or tray inside.
• Place parchment paper or a silicone liner in the basket and arrange the pretzel bites in a single layer, ensuring they don't touch.
• Reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and air fry for 5-7 minutes.
• Remove the pretzel bites from the air fryer and place them on a tray.
• Pour melted butter over them and shake the tray to coat evenly.
• Transfer the buttered pretzel bites to a cooling rack and sprinkle with pretzel salt or coarse salt.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

Tips

• If using active yeast instead of instant yeast, let the dough rest for about 15 minutes before rolling.
• The pretzel bites can be frozen before air frying and cooked directly from frozen. Simply increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
• For a sweet variation, coat the pretzel bites in cinnamon sugar after coating them in melted butter.

How to store and reheat the pretzel bites

How to Store Pretzel Bites

If you want to store your pretzel bites, it is best to keep them in an airtight container. They can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and they will last for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the pretzel bites for up to 3 months. To do this, place them on a baking sheet in the freezer until they are solid, and then transfer them to a freezer bag.

How to Reheat Pretzel Bites

There are several ways to reheat pretzel bites, depending on whether they have been stored at room temperature or frozen. If they are frozen, you can reheat them in the air fryer directly from frozen. Preheat the air fryer to 300°F and cook for 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown.

If the pretzel bites have been stored at room temperature, you can reheat them in the air fryer by preheating it to 400°F and cooking for 2-3 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the pretzel bites on a tray. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and bake for about 5 minutes or until they are warm.

For an extra crispy exterior, you can spritz the pretzel bites with water, butter, or beer before reheating them in the oven or air fryer.

Variations for the pretzel bites

There are several ways to change up the flavor of air fryer pretzel bites by altering the coating. Here are some suggestions:

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

Coat the pretzel bites in melted butter and roll them in cinnamon sugar for a sweeter variety.

Buffalo Pretzel Bites

Add your favorite hot sauce to the melted butter and lightly coat the pretzel bites. Serve with blue cheese dressing or sprinkle blue cheese crumbles over the top.

BBQ Pretzel Bites

Spritz the finished pretzel bites with oil and sprinkle on your favorite BBQ rub.

Egg Wash Pretzel Bites

Mix 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the mixture over the pretzel bites and sprinkle with salt before cooking.

Butter Wash Pretzel Bites

Brush the pretzel bites with melted butter 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.

Baking Soda Bath Pretzel Bites

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

Frequently asked questions