Chewy and salty, these Sourdough Pretzel Bites are perfect game day treat made with only 5 simple ingredients! These pretzel bites have no yeast, so it's a great way to use up some of your sourdough starter!
When you are ready to serve these pretzels, make sure you check out all the delicious recipes for ideas for what to dip pretzels in!
These sourdough pretzel bites are so delicious and surprisingly easy to make! They are a perfect treat for the big game and all your guests will be so impressed that you made homemade pretzel bites! They are chewy, soft, and slightly salty, everything you could want in a pretzel bite!
These turned out so good! I will definitely be adding this recipe to my favorites list. I even reheated them in the air fryer next day! Sooo good, thank you!!!
- Brittany
Baking with sourdough starter is one of my favorite things to do! You can make sourdough bread, sourdough bread with jalapenos and cheddar, cinnamon raisin sourdough bread, and even sourdough hamburger buns!
Jump to:
- Chewy Sourdough Pretzel Bites
- Ingredients to Gather
- How To Make Sourdough Pretzel Bites
- Why Is Baking Soda Added To The Water?
- Tips and Tricks
- Storage Tips
- Can I Make Large Pretzels instead of Pretzel Bites?
- Can I Use Sourdough Discard Instead of Active Sourdough Starter?
- Other Recipes To Try
- Did you love this recipe?
- 📖 Recipe
Chewy Sourdough Pretzel Bites
When you think of sourdough, you might think that all you can make is bread. WRONG! You can make sourdough pretzel bites, sourdough pizza crust, and even sourdough banana pancakes! There's nothing sourdough can't do. It's always in my kitchen, and I hope it's always in yours too!
Plus, making pretzel bites is a fun and easy way to get the whole family involved in the kitchen. You can let your kids sprinkle the salt on the pretzels and even let them help you boil the pretzels. Carefully of course!
Ingredients to Gather
- Active Sourdough Starter- If you are new to sourdough, make sure to check out this post how to keep a sourdough starter for how to keep a sourdough starter. It will walk you through baking and keeping a healthy starter. You can make your own sourdough starter from scratch, buy one, or get one from a sourdough friend!
- Water- Lukewarm. Too cold and the pretzel dough will take too long to rise, and too hot you run the risk of killing the starter and the dough will not rise.
- Flour- All purpose flour or bread flour. Bread flour vs all purpose flour is often a confusing topic, but in this recipe, they can be used interchangeably.
- Honey- Granulated sugar can be substituted for honey if you want to make this recipe vegan.
- Salt- For added flavor in the dough.
- Baking Soda- This will be added to the boiling water, it won't be added to the dough.
See printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Sourdough Pretzel Bites
Step 1: Combine the water and starter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Mix with a fork until combined.
Add the flour, honey, and salt to the bowl.
Step 2: Turn the mixer on medium speed and mix for 5 minutes until the dough forms a ball and no longer sticks to the side of the bowl.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 8-10 hours, or until doubled in size.
Step 3: When the dough has doubled in size, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
Step 4: Cut the dough into eight equal pieces. You can do this with a bench scraper or a sharp knife.
Step 5: Roll each dough piece into a log about 12 inches long.
Step 6: Cut 1 ½ inch pieces out of the dough. Place the pieces onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
Step 7: Allow the pieces to rest on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
While the dough rests, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Step 8: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add ⅓ cup baking soda to the water. Drop 8-10 pieces of dough into the boiling water and let them boil for 10 seconds on each side.
Step 9: Take the pieces out of the boiling water and place them back on the parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle coarse salt or everything bagel seasoning on the wet dough pieces.
When all the dough pieces are boiled, place the baking sheet in the oven for 15 minutes. Halfway through the baking process, rotate the baking sheets so the pretzel bites brown evenly on each side.
Why Is Baking Soda Added To The Water?
Baking soda is added to the boiling water to create that classic chew that pretzels have. Without it, the pretzel bites will become more like little dinner rolls.
Don't overboil the pretzels. They only need 10-15 seconds in the boiling water.
Tips and Tricks
- To make sure that your sourdough starter is ready to be baked with, do the water test! Place a tablespoon of your starter in a glass of water. If it floats it's ready, if it sinks you'll have to feed it again until it is active and bubbly.
- If you do not have silicone mats, parchment paper would work as well. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray to make sure the pretzels do not stick once baked.
- The longer you boil the pretzels for in the water the chewier they will be. Try not to boil them for more than 20 seconds, as they will get too chewy and lose their texture.
- Top these pretzels with coarse sea salt, everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, or serve them plain. You can also make these sweet! Once they are baked, roll them in a cinnamon sugar mixture and serve warm.
- Serve these pretzels with your favorite mustard, queso, beer cheese, garlic dip, or Instant Pot hummus.
- You can double or triple this recipe! It's perfect to even triple, but boil the pretzel bites in batches as to not overcrowd them in the hot water.
Storage Tips
These pretzel bites are best eaten the same day. That's because the salt tends to make the pretzel bites moist the next day. If you are eating them the next day, place them in the oven for 5-10 minutes to heat them up and soften them.
You can freeze the pretzel bites in a Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. It is best is you do not add the salt before freezing. When you are ready to defrost the pretzels, place them on the counter and let them come to room temperature. Then lightly brush them with egg wash and sprinkle salt on them. Bake them for 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Can I Make Large Pretzels instead of Pretzel Bites?
Yes! If you wanted to make these pretzels, you can! Instead of cutting the logs, twist them into a pretzel shape. Then boil them and bake them for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
Can I Use Sourdough Discard Instead of Active Sourdough Starter?
You can, but you would need to add 2 teaspoons of active yeast to the dough as well. The sourdough discard does not have the amount of yeast that you would need to make these pretzel bites chewy and rise.
Other Recipes To Try
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📖 Recipe
Sourdough Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Sourdough Starter Active and Bubbly
- 1 ¼ Cup Water Warm
- 3 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 2 teaspoon Salt
- ⅓ Cup Baking Soda For boiling the pretzel bites
Instructions
- Combine the water and starter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment.
- Mix with a fork until combined.
- Add the flour, honey, and salt to the bowl.
- Turn the mixer on medium speed and mix for 5 minutes until the dough forms a ball and no longer sticks to the side of the bowl.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 8-10 hours, or until doubled in size.
- When the dough has doubled in size, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
- Cut the dough into eight equal pieces.
- Roll each dough piece into a log about 12 inches long. Cut 1 ½ inch pieces out of the dough and place the pieces onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Allow the pieces to rest on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
- While the dough rests, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add ⅓ cup of baking soda to the water.
- Drop 8-10 pieces of dough into the boiling water and let them boil for 10 seconds on each side. Take the pieces out of the boiling water and place them back on the baking sheet. Sprinkle coarse salt or everything bagel seasoning on the wet dough pieces.
- When all the dough pieces are boiled, place the baking sheet in the oven for 15 minutes. Halfway through the baking process, rotate the baking sheets so the pretzel bites brown evenly on each side.
Notes
- Adding baking soda to the boiling water will give the pretzel bites the classic chewy of soft pretzels.
- If you do not have a silicone mat to line the baking sheet, you can use parchment paper that has been sprayed with cooking oil.
- Top these pretzel bites with salt, everything bagel seasoning, or sesame seeds.
Emily
Could I make the dough then put it in fridge or do I have to let it rise on the counter?
Lynn Polito
You should let it rise on the counter and then you can put it in the refrigerator overnight or until you are ready to boil and bake them.
Mandy
Hi, I just made this dough 2 nights ago. I let it rise overnight then in the morning I stuck it in the fridge until last night when I took it out and cut them into smaller bite size pieces. I then put it back in the fridge (covered) until this morning when I’m ready to boil and bake them. They instantly sunk to the bottom of the pot while trying to boil. Did I do something wrong? Should I let them come to room temp first before boiling? Help 😭 making these for my son’s 1st birthday party and it’s tomorrow!! Thank you in advance!
Lynn Polito
Yes, let them come to room temperature first. As they cook they float to the top. If you are nervous, you can place them on a large spoon and kind of hold them in the boiling water then take them out and bake them. See how that works!
Rob Guinter
What is the ratio of water to the 1/3 cup of baking soda? Also. what size pot? I used a 2 qt pot nearly full, and when I added the soda it boiled out all over the stovetop, losing almost half the soda. Other than that mess, they turned out great.
Lynn Polito
Great point! I'll make note of that in the original recipe.
Brittney
These turned out so good! I will definitely be adding this recipe to my favorites list. I even reheated them in the air fryer next day! Sooo good, thank you!!!
Lynn Polito
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed them!
Elisha
Didn't rise the way I expected. Not really edible.
Lynn Polito
Hi! A few things may have happened. Was your starter active and bubbly? If not, it won't rise well. Also, if your kitchen is unusually cold, it might take a little longer to rise.
Marge
Do I add the salt to the outside before or after baking
Lynn Polito
There is still salt in the dough as well as on the pretzel bites before you bake them. Hope that helps!
Mandy
Wonderful!! Thanks for sharing!!
Lynn Polito
You're welcome! Thank you for making my recipe!
Savannah
can I just mix with my hands? I do not have a stand mixer.
Lynn Polito
yes of course! It will take a little longer but it will come out great that way too!
Anonymous
Hey there! I was just wondering...are these made with sourdough discard starter or starter that has been fed? These sound amazing! I'd love to try them! Thanks!
Lynn Polito
They are made with active starter that has been fed! Enjoy!
Cathleen Luoma
Can these be make ahead frozen before boiling and baking
Lynn Polito
Hi! I haven't tried that before, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to.
Sherry
Can I form the bites and then put in the fridge to bake just before party? So they are nice and fresh?
lynnswayoflife
Yes! Make sure to cover them with a towel so they don't dry out. Then boil them and bake! They will be delicious!
Diana I
These are amazing! Have made them a couple of times and are always a big hit! I get requests for them now. Perfect snack for a crowd. What I especially like is that the timeline is manageable, unlike other sourdough starter recipes. Goes perfect with queso cheese. Yummy!!
lynnswayoflife
I am so happy to hear that! Thanks for making my recipe!
Jessica
My dough is rising, but the 8-10 hrs will be in the middle of the night. Can these be over proofed? Or can I move the dough to the fridge until morning?
lynnswayoflife
No 8-10 hours in the middle of the night is perfect! Sourdough starter takes a long time to rise so it will be great. if your house is cold, it might even need a little more time. Hope you enjoy!
Sam
These were super easy! Mine didn’t get golden brown while baking, I even let them go a little longer but didn’t want them to burn or get too hard. Any suggestions?
Audra
These are delicious! This was my second ever sourdough recipe to try, and they are a success. They did stick a bit to my silicone mat, but no one minded.
Michael
I'm going to try this, but is there also a way to make these crunchy? Thanks, Michael
lynnswayoflife
I've never tried to make them crunchy, but I would bake them, then take them out of the oven and let them cool, and then bake them at 300 for about 20 minutes. That should "toast" them and make them crunchy. Let me know how it goes!
Jennifer
They are so addicting and easy to make. Absolutely delicious.
lynnswayoflife
I love hearing that! Thanks for making my recipe!
Gillian Christensen
Excellent! My new family favorite. Thx
lynnswayoflife
So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for trying my recipe!