This copycat recipe for soft pretzels is inspired by Auntie Anne’s soft pretzel nuggets. They make a great after school snack and are a fun way to start cooking with kids.
One of our favorite things at the mall are the Auntie Anne’s soft pretzels. We’ve enjoyed many of the varieties, but my kids’ favorite is the pretzel nuggets. I decided to try making them at home and have my kids help me. Vanessa was really excited, but Zack was hesitant to do it with us, but once we got going he really enjoyed it.
First, dissolve 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in 1 ½ cups warm water
Stir in 4 cups of flour. I used my Kitchen Aid and dough hook.
Knead until smooth and elastic. I let my mixer do the work but this could also be done by hand in the traditional way.
Place dough in a well oiled bowl and turn to coat.
Cover and let rise for one hour until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Turn dough onto floured surface.
Pat down and cut into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and cut into small sections.
Dissolve ¼ cup of baking soda in 2 cups of warm water.
Dip pretzel pieces into baking soda solution.
Place on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle pieces with kosher salt.
Bake for 7-8 minutes until golden brown.
Dip each nugget in melted butter and they are ready to eat! We tried sprinkling on additional kosher salt, but it was too much. The kids also tried sprinkling on cinnamon and sugar which they thought was delicious as well!
I quickly folded a paper cup and the kids ran some pretzel nuggets over to our neighbor. Everyone thought they were delicious and my kids keep asking to make them again.
{Auntie Anne’s Inspired} Soft Pretzel Nuggets
This copycat recipe for soft pretzels is inspired by Auntie Anne's soft pretzel nuggets. They make a great after school snack and are a fun way to start cooking with kids.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 4 cups flour
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 cups warm water
- Kosher salt, for topping
- Melted butter
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast, sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups warm water.
- Stir in flour.
- Knead until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a well oiled bowl and turn to coat.
- Cover and let rise for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Turn dough onto floured surface. Pat down and cut into 12 pieces.
- Roll each piece into a rope and cut into small sections.
- Dissolve baking soda in 2 cups warm water.
- Dip dough pieces into baking soda solution.
- Place pieces on a greased cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Bake for 7-8 minutes until golden brown.
- Dip each nugget in melted butter after baking.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 60 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 34Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 299mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g
Nutrition data is calculated automatically by Nutritionix and isn't always accurate. I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual’s dietary needs and restrictions are unique to the individual. You are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to your health.
recipe inspired by Mall Pretzels
Looking for other after school snacks?
Try making Baked Mozzarella Cheese Sticks or Mini Fruit Pizza
christie says
Look great. How many do they make? I would like to make for my daughters first grade snack, but it is a very large class…28 kids.
Also have you made any good dips for them?
Tonia says
Hi Christie,
I would guess that it makes about 72 nuggets. It really depends on how small you cut the pieces. As far as the dip goes, my kids prefer cheese dip with their pretzel nuggets. I would suggest buying cheese dip that is made for chips because you don’t have to try to keep it warm for her class. If you are looking for something homemade you could try making my pizza fondue or Nutella fondue: https://www.thegunnysack.com/2012/12/family-meals-pizza-fondue-nutella-fondue.html Thanks for stopping by!
~Tonia
Renee Louise says
My grandchildren loooved these & I know I will be making them every time they come over!
Tonia says
Wonderful! I am so happy to hear that!
JJP says
Just made these for an adult party and they were a huge hit!! Sent the website on to 3 different people. They were so delicious and I made a few dipping sauces to go with them. These are a total keeper! Thanks for sharing!
admin says
I am so happy to hear that! Thanks for stopping back to let me know. My daughter made them recently for a bunch of her friends and they love them too!
Michelle says
I just finished making these!! I put salt on them after I dipped them in butter, not before, and I put cinnamon and sugar on some of them too!! I must say I like the salt better! I was worried because I didn’t think the dough rose enough even though I left it for 1.5 hours, but they turned out *amazing*!! Thank you so much!! They were super easy 🙂
Tracy Wright says
Just made these–so easy peasy! I’ll never pay $3.50 for a mall pretzel again! Thanks
Tonia L says
Glad they turned out for you too!
Angie S says
holey moley made these over the weekend and they were a HUGE HUGE hit around the home and neighborhood. I highly enjoyed your step by step tutorial it helped tremendously. THANKS for a great new food in our home
Tonia L says
Yay! I’m so glad you loved them as much as we did!
Tracy Johnson says
These were so wonderful!!! I topped them off with 3 options for my kids (and me). 1. Salt 2. Nacho Cheese 3. Cin-Sugar. I think #3 was my favorite. Great party or movie night treat!
Tracy Johnson says
P.S. The best thing is that I had everything to make them on hand…no extra trips to the store.
Tonia L says
Those all sound like wonderful toppings! Thanks for stopping back to let us know you tried them!
Renee Hagloch says
I would love for you to link this up to my Tutorial Link Party today!!!TUTORIAL LINK PARTYhttp://www.thecreativeorchard.blogspot.com/2012/08/tutorial-link-party.html
Becki says
I am going to try doing the dough on the dough cycle in my bread machine since my kneading is awful and I don’t own a mixer.
Jingle says
These seem doable! And they look amazing! Thanks for the great recipe!
Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke Photography says
YUM!!! I love pretzel bread so much!!!
Stephanie @ henry happened says
Oh, I must make these! We’ve become a bit obsessed with these yummy nuggets on the last couple of trips to the mall – and I bet Caro would love to make some at home!
Ashley says
These look so good!!! I love pretzels from the mall 🙂
Angela Pachuski says
These were SO good! 5 stars! Have you ever tried to freeze to dough or the pretzel bites?
Tonia L says
I am so happy to hear that you made these and that they turned out! Thanks for taking the time to stop back to tell me! I am sorry but I have never tried freezing the dough or the pretzel bites…we ended up eating all of them. 🙂
Debt Free Mommy says
It’s party time at Debt Free Mommy blog and you’re invited! Please join us and link up with Making Space Mondays, where we link up any post(s)about making our space better. We hope to see you there! -Tabitha
Kelly Rowe says
Yumm-o! I {love} Auntie Anne’s, so I pinned this one for safe keeping 🙂 Thanks for sharing. Hugs!!
Jenny Yarbrough says
Tonia, you are not helping me here. I just (well, not just. It took a long time) lost about 10 pounds. I think I might eat that back in pretzel bites this week. YUM!!!!!
Heather Kinnaird says
oh my – they look delicious! we love annies pretzles
Anne @ Domesblissity says
I’ve never heard of these before but OMG Tonia. They look gorgeous! Yummo!Anne xx
Lyuba @ Will Cook For Smiles says
Holy…moly!! Drooling….
daria says
these seem like a great snack, and I love the way they look in the paper and string!
Britni@Hubby Made Me says
Ah! These are so cute! I love homemade recipes and the way you packaged them is adorable. Grr, if only I could remember how to fold a paper cup! I’ll have to google it 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing, I’m pinning this for later! I’d love if you shared this at my Throwback Thursday party. I hope to see you there! http://www.hubbymademe.com/throwback-thursday-no-7/
Devon Riesenberg says
these look mouthwatering Tonia! I could pop them in my mouth all day! I love making homemade pretzels, but the bite-sized idea is great!
cherylab says
Yummy !! Gotta go see if I have the ingredients to make these if not look out store here I come !! Thank You
2busy says
Okay, NOW I’m hungry. Just may need to try those.
Crystal says
Yum, those look amazing! We don’t have an Auntie Anne’s so I’ll have to try these out. 🙂
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
We love the Auntie Annes pretzels! These will go over well at my house!
Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted says
Oh dear, dear Tonia. You are a woman after my heart. Soft pretzels are my weakness and I can never walk by an Auntie Annes withoutstopping! Delicious.
Holly @ abakershouse.com says
Great photos and the food sounds perfect. I am going to try these at my house soon. I think they’d be perfect for a kids’ playdate too– bite size and yummy!
Jess says
These look fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing, the step-by-step pictures are so helpful. Looks like I am making pretzels tonight… 🙂