Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: Just like those famous mall pretzels but BETTER!
Texture: Crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside.
Ease: Definitely more of a relaxing afternoon type of baking project, but absolutely achievable.
Appearance: Sparkly and adorable.
Pros: Nostalgia in each bite.
Cons: None!
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These Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites will give you instant nostalgic flashbacks!
This copycat mall cinnamon sugar pretzel recipe seriously transports you back in time.
My life from the ages of 13 to 15 was spent mostly walking in circles around the mall with my friends.
The aroma of Auntie Anne’s or Wetzel’s Pretzels was the primary scent of my early teenage years.
Of all the mall pretzels, the cinnamon sugar ones were my favorite. Especially if they came with a little tub of that sweet dipping sauce.
Unlike my classic Pretzel Recipe, these are quicker and easier to make and bake.
They’re perfect for dessert or a sweet snack!
Perfectly crisp on the outside but fluffy inside, each bite is delightful.
How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites:
- Make the pretzel dough: You only need a few basic ingredients, and luckily your stand mixer will do most of the work for you. After kneading the pretzel dough in your mixer, you’ll let the dough rise until it’s just about doubled in size.
- Shape the pretzel bites: Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces, then roll each piece into about a 20-inch long log. Next, use a bench cutter to portion about thirteen 1 1/2-inch pieces from each log.
- Prepare the baking soda bath: This gives the pretzels their distinct pretzel taste and crust. Bring water to a boil, add baking soda, and dunk pretzel bites in for 30 seconds at a time. Then transfer the pretzel bites to parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake the pretzel bites: Bake until golden brown.
- Coat the pretzels in cinnamon sugar: A hefty pour of melted butter and a generous coating of cinnamon sugar finishes these babies off to perfection.
Instead of boiling the dough pieces in the baking soda water, we dissolve the baking soda in boiling water. Then let the pretzels have a dip in their little jacuzzi. This helps protect the bites from getting too wrinkled and pruny and makes the recipe that much easier to follow.
Can I Use Active Dry Yeast Instead of Instant Yeast in Pretzel Bites? What’s the Difference?
Yes! Either will work for these Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites. Just note active dry may require the dough to rise for a longer amount of time. To speed that up a little, sprinkle the active dry yeast over the warm water called for in the recipe and let sit for 5 minutes. This will activate the yeast more quickly but is optional. If using instant yeast, just add in directly with the other dough ingredients.
Check out my full Active Dry Yeast vs. Instant Yeast article here.
Can I Use This Recipe to Make Regular-Sized Pretzels Instead of Pretzel Bites?
Yes. Follow the shaping instructions in my classic Pretzel Recipe here and bake for about 16 minutes.
However, I will say the taste and texture of this Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites recipe is much better when made in bite form, in my opinion. When I baked these as regular pretzels, there wasn’t enough cinnamon sugar coating in each bite and they didn’t have the same contrast of textures.
Can I Use a Lye Bath with This Recipe?
Though I highly recommend using a lye bath for my classic Pretzel Recipe mentioned above, these Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites were not designed to use a lye bath. The baking soda gets that soft texture more similar to the mall-style pretzels.
What to Serve with Pretzel Bites
I’ve included my super easy Cream Cheese Frosting recipe below, which complements the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites perfectly. Alternatively, place somePretzel Bites in a bowl and top with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Salted Caramel Sauce
- Butterscotch Sauce
- Chocolate Sauce
- Or anything else you like!
How to Store Cinnamon Pretzel Bites
Once the baked Pretzel Bites are tossed with the butter and cinnamon sugar, they really are best served immediately.
Can You Freeze Pretzel Bites?
Yes! You can freeze the baked but uncoated pretzels in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat frozen pretzel bites, thaw to room temperature, then refresh in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes before coating as the recipe instructs.
More Soft Pretzel Recipes You’ll Love:
- How to Make Pretzels
- Garlic Parmesan Pretzels
- Soft Pretzel Bites
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
By: Tessa Arias
4.96 from 99 votes
Yield: 80 pretzel bites
Prep Time: 45 minutes mins
Cook Time: 16 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr 1 minute min
Review Print
These Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites are so easy to make and are even better than the mall pretzels! Soft and fluffy buttery pretzel bites coated in delicious cinnamon sugar. Dunk in cream cheese frosting and enjoy!
Ingredients
For the pretzels:
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) instant yeast
- 3 tablespoons (25 grams) brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
- 3/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 4 1/4 cups (540 grams) all-purpose flour
For baking soda bath:
- 3 cups water
- 1/4 cup baking soda
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
- 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the cream cheese frosting:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, completely softened to room temperature
- 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar
Instructions
Make the dough:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine all of the dough ingredients. Mix on low speed until combined.
Increase speed to medium and knead for 7 to 10 minutes until the dough is elastic and smooth and doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl or your hands, adding a little more flour if needed.
Place in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise until about doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Spray with nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter.
Shape the pretzels:
Remove the dough to a clean work surface. Divide into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece against the counter or between your palms into about a 20-inch long log. Keep the remaining pieces covered. Only add flour to your work surface or dough if absolutely necessary.
Using a bench cutter, cut about thirteen 1 1/2-inch pieces from each log. Be sure to not cut these too big, they will puff up in the oven! Place on the two greased parchment-lined baking sheets.
Prepare the baking soda bath:
Bring the water to a boil (I like to use an electric kettle). Carefully pour the water into a large bowl (I use the bowl the dough rose in) and add in the baking soda. Stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve.
Dunk the pretzels bites in the baking soda solution, starting with the ones you shaped first, for no more than thirty seconds, before gently removing with a slotted spoon back to the greased and lined baking sheets, spacing them out at least half an inch apart.
Bake the pretzels:
Bake both trays at 400°F for about 12 to 15 minutes, alternating the trays halfway through the baking time for even baking, until golden brown to your preference.
Let cool for 5 minutes before peeling away from the parchment paper.
Coat with cinnamon sugar:
Place the cooked pretzels in a large sealable container. Toss with the melted butter. Add the cinnamon and sugar and toss to combine.
Make the cream cheese dip:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter, cream or milk, and vanilla on medium-high speed until very light, creamy, and smooth, about three minutes. On low speed, gradually add in the sugar and beat until fluffy.
Coated pretzels are best served soon after making. Alternatively, you can freeze the baked uncoated pretzels. Thaw to room temperature, then refresh in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes before coating as the recipe instructs.
Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!
January 2022 Baking Challenge
This recipe was the January 2022 selection for our monthly baking challenge! Every month you can join the challenge by baking the recipe and snapping a photo for a chance to win prizes!Learn more about my monthly baking challenges here. Check out everyone’s pretzels:
