Beef Free Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
Soft, chewy, and golden-brown with a satisfying salty crust, these air fryer pretzel bites are the kind of snack that disappears the moment you set them on the table. The dough comes together with pantry staples — flour, yeast, butter, and salt — so there's nothing mysterious or concerning hiding in the ingredient list. A quick dip in a baking soda bath is the secret behind that deep mahogany color and signature pretzel chew, and the air fryer gets them perfectly firm on the outside while keeping the inside pillowy and soft. Because the whole recipe is built around simple flour-based dough, it naturally sidesteps any meat-based ingredients without any substitutions needed. A brush of beaten egg gives each bite that glossy, bakery-worthy finish before the coarse salt goes on top. Dip them in yellow mustard straight out of the air fryer and you've got a crowd-pleasing appetizer or game-day snack that's as fun to make as it is to eat.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the dough
- 1 cup warm water (about 110°f / 43°c)
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the baking soda bath
- 6 cups water
- ⅓ cup baking soda
For finishing
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1–2 tbsp coarse pretzel salt or flaky sea salt
For serving
- ½ cup yellow mustard (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl and let stand for 5–7 minutes, until the surface is foamy and the mixture smells yeasty.
- 2
Add the flour, fine salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 4–5 minutes, until the dough is smooth, slightly tacky, and springs back when poked. Return to the bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and rest for 10 minutes.
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