Soft pretzel balls are a tasty snack bite that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you need a delicious appetizer, snack, something to dip in your fondue, or a side dish to serve with dinner a mini pretzel ball recipe is the answer!
In this blog post, you’ll learn how easy it is to make the best, soft pretzel bites from frozen bread dough, using ready-made frozen bread dough.
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Why We Love This Recipe
- These pretzel bites are a great way to get a mini pretzel fix without having to make your own dough from scratch. With ready-made dough in the freezer, you can make pretzel balls or pretzels at any time.
It just doesn’t get any easier than using frozen bread dough to make these soft pretzel balls. Follow these four easy steps: cut, shape, dip, and bake!
I love how Bridgford does all the prep, with quality non-GMO ingredients, so I don’t have to.
Thanks to the ready-made dough, this is a two-ingredient pretzel bite recipe. All you need is a bag of frozen bread dough and baking soda, and you’ll be baking up soft pretzel balls without yeast in no time!
Save on your next frozen dough purchase with this handy coupon. - You only need a few ingredients! And most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry.
- This recipe can be served for any gathering. Everyone would love this and if you have unexpected guests, these pretzels would be the perfect snack to serve!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Bridgford Ready-Dough – You can also use Parkerhouse-style rolls for this easy recipe.
- Baking soda – This is the key ingredient for making pretzels, as it helps to create a chewy texture and brown color. This is the leavening agent, so don’t skip it.
- Optional – Egg wash and flake salt or rock salt for topping.
Ready-Dough comes with three 1-pound loaves in a package.
Check out these recipes to use the other frozen bread dough loaves: braided lemon bread, apple fritter breakfast casserole, pesto cheese bread Twist, or easy bread bowls.
Then serve the deliciously soft pretzel bites with a pretzel cheese dip that just takes 15 minutes to make!
Where To Buy Frozen Bread Dough And Rolls
You will find frozen dough at your grocery store and retailers in the freezer section. Look next to frozen dinner rolls and frozen baked bread.
How to Thaw Frozen Dough
This recipe starts with thawed frozen dough.
My preferred method is to defrost frozen dough overnight in the fridge. This method is almost effortless, and the dough will thaw overnight (or in about 8 hours).
See this post for other ways to quickly thaw frozen bread dough.
How to Make Pretzel Bites Without Yeast
Making these pretzel bites is as easy as cutting, rising, and baking or air-frying! (See below for air fryer directions).
Cut the thawed ready-dough into 32 evenly sized pieces.
To quickly do this, cut each bread dough loaf into two equal pieces, then each half into four pieces. Then cut into quarters. Each piece will weigh about .5 ounces. Roll into a ball and place it on a baking sheet.
Cover pretzel balls with plastic wrap (spray the underside of the plastic wrap with cooking spray first). Let it rise for 20–30 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring 5 cups of water and 1/2 cup of baking soda to a boil in a saucepan. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
Drop pretzel bites into the boiling water, 4-6 at a time, for 20–30 seconds. Drain and return to the baking sheet.
Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with flaked salt, if desired.
Bake the mini pretzel balls for 12–15 minutes, until dark golden or light brown.
Serve warm with our Cheese Beer Dip, fondue cheese, or a mustard dip.
Make It With Your Air Fryer
During the holidays or family dinners, oven space is always at a premium.
Here is how easy it is to make these pretzel bites in the air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF (if needed).
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the pretzels are deep golden or light brown.
Bake in batches, leaving 1/2″ of space between the mini pretzel balls for a basket-style air fryer.
Recipe FAQs
Though pizza dough and pretzel dough aren’t identical, the former is a bit wetter. Both are made from the same basic ingredients. When boiled in water & baking soda baths before baking, the pizza dough will be similar to pretzel dough.
Boiling the dough causes it to instantly puff, and the baking soda bath creates a chewy interior and a crisp crust.
Yes, but the resulting pretzels won’t be what you’re used to. They will be similar to bread rolls instead of pretzels.
Reheat these soft pretzel bites, so they taste just like freshly baked pretzels.
Reheating in the oven: Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350ºF for 5 to 7 minutes.
Using the air fryer. Wrap in foil and crimp the edges. If your air fryer has a bake mode, select that, and bake at 325º F Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes.
More Easy Snack Recipes To Love…
If you tried this pretzel ball recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Pretzel Balls from Frozen Ready-Dough
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- large saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Bridgford Ready-Dough (frozen bread dough)
- ½ cup baking soda
optional
- 1 tablespoon salt flakes (I prefer Maldon)
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Cut the thawed Ready-Dough into 32 pieces evenly sized pieces. To quickly do this, cut each bread dough loaf into two equal pieces, then each half into four pieces. Then cut into quarters. Each piece will weigh about .5 ounces. Roll into a ball and place on a baking sheet.
- Cover pretzel balls with plastic wrap (spray the underside of the plastic wrap with cooking spray first). Let rise 20-30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring 5 cups of water and 1/2 cup of baking soda to a boil in a saucepan. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Drop pretzel bites into the boiling water, 4-6 at a time for 20-30 seconds. Drain and return to the baking sheet.
- Optional egg wash and salt: Mix together egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of water for the egg wash. Brush on pretzel bites and sprinkle with flake salt or rock salt.
- Bake the mini pretzel balls for 12-15 minutes, until dark golden or light brown in color. (See below for how to air fry pretzel bites). Serve warm with our Cheese Beer Dip, fondue cheese, or a mustard dip.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF (if needed).
- For a basket-style air fryer, bake in batches leaving 1/2" of space between the mini pretzel balls.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the pretzels are deep golden or light brown in color. Serve warm with our Cheese Beer Dip, fondue cheese, or a mustard dip.
Notes
- Is pizza dough the same as pretzel dough? Though pizza dough and pretzel dough aren’t identical, the former is a bit wetter. Both are made from the same basic ingredients. When boiled in water & baking soda baths before baking, the pizza dough will be similar to pretzel dough.
- What happens if you don’t boil pretzel dough? Boiling the dough causes it to instantly puff, and the baking soda bath creates a chewy interior and a crisp crust.
- Can you skip boiling the pretzel dough? Yes, but the resulting pretzels won’t be what you’re used to. They will be similar to bread rolls instead of pretzels.
- My preferred method is to defrost frozen dough overnight in the fridge. This method is almost effortless, and the dough will thaw overnight (or in about 8 hours).
- You can also thaw it on the countertop. It usually takes about 2 hours.
- Thawed dough should be cool, but softened.
Nutrition
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Harriet Young says
Oh yum! These were amazing. Definitely add the sea salt! They make a perfect appetiser.