Name: Pretzel Balls from Frozen Ready-Dough
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 52 min
Ingredients: 1 loaf Bridgford Ready-Dough ((frozen bread dough)); 1/2 cup baking soda; 1 tablespoon salt flakes ((I prefer Maldon)); 1 egg

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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.

a wreath of pretzel bites from frozen bread dough

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!

Pretzel Cheese Dip

This rich pretzel cheese dip isn't just for pretzels! You'll love this hot beer cheese dip for fondue, veggies, or as a beer bread dip. It's better than Applebee's beer cheese and guaranteed to be a big hit whenever you serve it.

Check out this recipe

dipping a soft pretzel into pretzel cheese dip

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.

a baking sheet of cut frozen bread dough

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.

a baking sheet covered with a silicone baking sheet and dipped dough for pretzel balls

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.

a circle of soft pretzel bites with cheese

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.

Get the Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe

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Pretzel Balls from Frozen Ready-Dough

Pretzel balls are a tasty snack that is perfect for any occasion. Learn how easy it is to make the best, soft pretzel bites from frozen bread dough, using Bridgford Ready-Dough.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack, Brunch

Cuisine American

Keyword Side Dish, Breads, Appetizers, frozen dough, frozen bread dough

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

30 minutes of rise time 30 minutes

Total Time 52 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 151kcal

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

Tips on thawing frozen bread dough. Check the package of frozen bread dough for how to thaw 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).
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

This post was sponsored by Bridgford Foods. All views are my own and based on my own personal experience using Bridgford’s products.

Pretzel Balls from Ready-Dough