Peanut Free Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
Chewy on the inside, deeply golden on the outside, and finished with a satisfying crunch of coarse salt — these little bites are the kind of snack that disappears the moment you set them on the table. The secret to that classic pretzel flavor and dark, glossy crust is a quick dip in a baking soda bath before they ever hit the air fryer, a step that takes only seconds but makes all the difference. The air fryer then does the heavy lifting, delivering that deep mahogany color and firm, snappy exterior without the mess of deep frying. For anyone navigating peanut allergies, store-bought pretzels and snack mixes can be a minefield of shared equipment warnings and ambiguous labels — making a batch from scratch with these straightforward pantry ingredients is a genuinely stress-free alternative. Every component here is simple and easy to verify: flour, butter, yeast, egg, and salt, with no hidden oils or mystery seasonings to second-guess. A side of yellow mustard for dipping takes them fully over the top, though they're honestly hard to resist plain and still warm from the basket.
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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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