Citrus Free Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
Soft, chewy, and deeply golden, these air fryer pretzel bites deliver that satisfying bakery-style crunch without ever leaving your kitchen. The dough comes together with pantry staples — flour, yeast, butter, and salt — so there's no hunting for specialty ingredients or stressing over hidden citrus additives that can sneak into store-bought snacks and seasoning blends. The real magic happens in the baking soda bath, which gives each bite that signature pretzel chew and dark, glossy crust before it ever hits the air fryer. A generous egg wash and a shower of coarse salt finish them off beautifully. Because every ingredient here is straightforward and fruit-free by nature, this is a genuinely worry-free snack for anyone navigating citrus sensitivities. Dip them in yellow mustard straight out of the basket and watch them disappear — they're that good.
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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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