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Pretzel balls are a tasty snack 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 Bridgford Ready-Dough.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS POST
- Frozen Bread Dough Makes Baking Effortless
- Where to buy frozen bread dough and rolls
- How to Thaw Frozen Dough
- How to Make Pretzel Bites Without Yeast (using Bridgford’s Ready-Dough)
- Make Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
- Reheating Pretzel Balls
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Get more Frozen Dough Recipes using Bridgford
Frozen Bread Dough Makes Baking Effortless
These pretzel bites are a great way to get a mini pretzel fix without having to make your own dough from scratch. With Ready-Dough in the freezer, you can make pretzels balls or pretzels at any time.
It just doesn’t get any easier than using frozen bread dough to make these soft pretzel balls. Just 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 Ready-Dough, this is a two-ingredient pretzel bites recipe. All you need is a bag of Bridgford’s frozen bread dough and baking soda and you’ll be baking up soft pretzel balls without yeast in no time!
Save on your next Bridgford frozen dough purchase with this handy coupon.
Ingredients for Mini Pretzel Balls
- Bridgford Ready-Dough (or Parkerhouse Style rolls)
- Baking soda
optional: egg wash and flake salt or rock salt topping
Ready-Dough comes with three 1 pound loaves to 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 an easy cheese dip that just takes 15 minutes to make!
Where to buy frozen bread dough and rolls
You will find Bridgford frozen dough at major retailers like Wal-Mart nationwide in the freezer section. Or click on the link here to find where to buy Bridgford’s Ready-Dough, Parkerhouse Style Rolls, and frozen Monkey 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 (using Bridgford’s Ready-Dough)
Making these pretzel bites is as easy as cut, rise, and bake or air fry! (See below for air fryer directions).
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 it 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.
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 in color.
Serve warm with our Cheese Beer Dip, fondue cheese, or a mustard dip.
Make Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
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 air fryer to 375ºF (if needed).
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the pretzels are deep golden or light brown in color.
For a basket-style air fryer, bake in batches leaving 1/2″ of space between the mini pretzel balls.
GET THE FULL RECIPE AND DIRECTIONS BELOW
Reheating Pretzel Balls
Reheat these soft pretzel bites, so they take 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.
If you love appetizers, check out these easy appetizer recipes
- Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
- Mini Cheese Biscuits
- Bisquick Sausage Balls with Cheese
- Loaded Tater Tots Appetizer Recipe
- Pretzel Cheese DIp
- Tater Tot Egg Nests
- Easy Party Appetizers
- Italian Sliders
- 3 Ingredient Biscuits
- How to Make a Cheese and Charcuterie Board
Frequently Asked Questions
Though pizza dough and pretzel dough aren’t identical—the former is a bit wetter—they are made from the same basic ingredients and, when boiled in water & baking soda bath before baking, pizza dough will get you very close.
What happens if you don’t boil pretzel dough?
Can you skip this step? Yes, but the resulting pretzels won’t be what you’re used to. Boiling the dough causes it to instantly puff, creating a chewy interior and giving the exterior a head start on forming a crisp crust
Shape the dough: For the first method, roll out the dough into a long rope on a lightly floured surface. Grab both ends, and twist into the air. Let it land, and then stretch out into a pretzel shape
Get the Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe
Pretzel Balls from Frozen Ready-Dough
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- large saucepan (at least 4 quarts)
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Bridgford Ready-Dough (frozen bread dough)
- 1/2 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
- 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
Get more Frozen Dough Recipes using Bridgford
- Parkerhouse Style Dinner Rolls
- Pesto Cheese Bread Twist
- Recipes Using Frozen Bread Dough
- Monkey Bread Quick & Easy
- Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
This post was sponsored by Bridgford Foods. All views are my own and based on my own personal experience using Bridgford’s products.