Copy-cat Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites
Copy-cat Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1/4 cup milk, 2% or whole milk
- 1/4 cup warm water, 105-115°F
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast, (0.25 ounce or 7 grams)
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 2 tablespoons butter, partially melted
For the Baking Soda Bath
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 cups warm water
For Finishing
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons pretzel salt, as needed
- 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar, as needed
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup warm water. Add 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, then sprinkle in the packet of active dry yeast. Stir with a whisk and let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
In a stand mixer bowl (or large mixing bowl if kneading by hand), combine the 3 cups bread flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Add the 2 tablespoons partially melted butter. Pour in the activated yeast mixture.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
If using a stand mixer, mix on low speed with the dough hook until the dough is mostly combined and forms a shaggy ball. If mixing by hand, stir with a spoon until mostly combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board or silicone mat. Knead the dough by hand for 5-7 minutes until it comes together into a smooth, elastic ball.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Place the dough ball into a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
⏱️ 60 min
- 6
Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently. Roll the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured surface into a rectangle, approximately 12x18 inches.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the dough into 6 equal strips lengthwise. Take each strip, fold it in half lengthwise, and roll it using your hands into a long string, approximately 20 inches long. Cut the long strings into small, bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch each.
⏱️ 10 min
- 8
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 9
In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups warm water. Stir until the baking soda is completely dissolved. Drop the shaped pretzel bites into the baking soda bath for 10-15 seconds, allowing them to soak briefly. Do not overcrowd the bowl; work in batches.
⏱️ 5 min
- 10
Using a slotted spoon, remove the pretzel bites from the baking soda bath, allowing excess liquid to drip off, and place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, or until the pretzel bites are golden brown. Rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking for even browning.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400
- 12
Once baked, transfer the pretzel bites to a large bowl. Pour the 1/2 cup melted butter over the pretzel bites and toss to coat them evenly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
For classic pretzels, sprinkle pretzel salt over half of the pretzel bites and toss. For sweet pretzels, sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the remaining half and toss. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Copy-cat Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites
For the Dough
- 1/4 cup milk, 2% or whole milk
- 1/4 cup warm water, 105-115°F
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast, (0.25 ounce or 7 grams)
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 2 tablespoons butter, partially melted
For the Baking Soda Bath
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 cups warm water
For Finishing
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons pretzel salt, as needed
- 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar, as needed
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup warm water. Add 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, then sprinkle in the packet of active dry yeast. Stir with a whisk and let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
In a stand mixer bowl (or large mixing bowl if kneading by hand), combine the 3 cups bread flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Add the 2 tablespoons partially melted butter. Pour in the activated yeast mixture.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
If using a stand mixer, mix on low speed with the dough hook until the dough is mostly combined and forms a shaggy ball. If mixing by hand, stir with a spoon until mostly combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board or silicone mat. Knead the dough by hand for 5-7 minutes until it comes together into a smooth, elastic ball.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Place the dough ball into a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
⏱️ 60 min - 6
Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently. Roll the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured surface into a rectangle, approximately 12x18 inches.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the dough into 6 equal strips lengthwise. Take each strip, fold it in half lengthwise, and roll it using your hands into a long string, approximately 20 inches long. Cut the long strings into small, bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch each.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 9
In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups warm water. Stir until the baking soda is completely dissolved. Drop the shaped pretzel bites into the baking soda bath for 10-15 seconds, allowing them to soak briefly. Do not overcrowd the bowl; work in batches.
⏱️ 5 min - 10
Using a slotted spoon, remove the pretzel bites from the baking soda bath, allowing excess liquid to drip off, and place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, or until the pretzel bites are golden brown. Rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking for even browning.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400 - 12
Once baked, transfer the pretzel bites to a large bowl. Pour the 1/2 cup melted butter over the pretzel bites and toss to coat them evenly.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
For classic pretzels, sprinkle pretzel salt over half of the pretzel bites and toss. For sweet pretzels, sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the remaining half and toss. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 3 min