Go Back
–+ servings
Bread | Snack

Gluten Free Pretzel Bites - 2 Ways!

These gluten free pretzel bites are chewy, golden brown, and incredibly easy to make at home! They're made with simple ingredients and your choice of either a salted butter or cinnamon sugar topping. Perfect for parties, game day, or just as a fun gluten free treat, you'll love these from the first bite!
Pin Recipe Print Recipe


Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Yield80 bites

Equipment

INGREDIENTS

Pretzel Bites
  • 1/2 tbsp dry active yeast
  • 1 tbsp sugar (can use granulated, honey, or maple syrup)
  • 1 c warm water (warmed to about about 100 F)
  • 2 c gluten free flour (make sure it has xanthan gum!)
  • 1/2 c tapioca flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tbsp butter (melted, for brushing)
Baking Soda Bath
  • 2 liters of water
  • 3/4 c baking soda
Salted Butter Topping
  • 2 tbsp butter (melted)
  • 1 tsp sea salt (divided)
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
  • 2 tbsp butter (melted)
  • 2 tbsp white sugar (or coconut sugar)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

Pretzel Bites
  • In a large mixing bowl, add the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Stir with a wooden or metal spoon, and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes so the yeast can activate.
  • Add the gluten free flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Stir again until the dry ingredients incorporate with the wet ingredients.
    The dough will seem shaggy and tacky to the touch–that's ok. If needed, use your hands to bring the dough together so that there are no dry streaks. It won't be pretty, and that's ok, too!
  • Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 1 hour. The dough will double in size.
Baking Soda Bath
  • Meanwhile, prepare your baking soda bath by combining the water and baking soda in a large pot. Heat to just below boiling.
Pretzel Bites, continued
  • Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside for now.
  • Sprinkle a light dusting of gluten free flour on top of your countertop or work surface.
  • Transfer the dough to the countertop, and give it a light knead to bring the dough together into a rough circle. Divide the dough into 4 separate pieces.
  • Adding more flour to your countertop as needed, lightly roll out the dough, once piece at a time, into a rope about 12” long. Use light hands and be careful not to tear the dough as you roll it.
    If the dough tears, simply pinch the pieces back together.
  • Use a bench scraper or sharp knife to cut the dough into 1/4”-1/2” bites, getting about 15-20 pieces from each section of dough.
  • Repeat with the remaining dough. I ended up with about 80 total pretzel bites, but you might have more or less depending on the size of your dough pieces.
Dip Pretzel Bites in Baking Soda Bath
  • Working in small batches, dip about 10 pretzel bites into the baking soda bath, being sure to keep them submerged as they tend to float. The pretzel bites will puff up.
  • Cook for about 30 seconds, then remove from the pot using a large slotted spoon. Allow the excess water to drip off and transfer the bites to the lined baking sheets.
    Repeat for all pretzels bites.
Bake the Pretzel Bites
  • Once all of the pretzel bites are on the baking sheets, brush the tops with the melted butter.
  • If you are making Salted Butter Pretzel Bites, then sprinkle the bites with sea salt at this step.
  • If you are making Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites, just top the bites with melted butter, no salt.
  • Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway, until the bites are firm and lightly browned on top, and golden brown on the bottom.
  • Place the baking sheets on wire racks to cool slightly.
Salted Butter Topping
  • For even more flavor, add the Salted Butter pretzel bites to a medium bowl, and drizzle with melted butter and an extra pinch of sea salt.
  • Cover the bowl with a lid, and lightly toss everything together to get the bites coated in the butter and salt.
  • Remove from the bowl, and serve warm on their own, or with queso, or marinara sauce.
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
  • Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl.
  • Add the unsalted pretzel bites to a medium bowl, and drizzle with melted butter, and the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Cover the bowl with a lid, and lightly toss everything together to get the bites coated in the butter and cinnamon sugar.
  • Remove from the bowl, and serve warm on their own, or with icing, or fresh fruit preserves.