Nitrate & Nitrite 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 they hit the table. The ingredient list is refreshingly straightforward — just flour, yeast, butter, egg, and salt — so there's nothing hidden to worry about, which is a genuine relief when you're trying to avoid processed preservatives and curing agents that sneak into so many packaged snack foods. The baking soda bath is the secret to that classic pretzel chew and deep mahogany color, giving you an authentic result without any shortcuts or additives. Rolling the dough into ropes and cutting them into bite-sized pieces is genuinely fun, and the air fryer does the heavy lifting from there, producing a crisp exterior and pillowy interior in under ten minutes. A side of yellow mustard for dipping takes the whole thing over the top. These are the kind of from-scratch bites you'll want to make on repeat.
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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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