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 Copycat Soft Pretzel Nuggets
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 4 cups flour
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 2 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon pretzel salt for topping
- ½ cup butter, melted
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 equal 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 pretzel salt.
- Bake at 425˚F for 7-8 minutes until golden brown.
- Dip each nugget in melted butter after baking.
Notes
Nutrition
recipe inspired by Mall Pretzels
Looking for other after school snacks?
Try making Baked Mozzarella Cheese Sticks or Mini Fruit Pizza
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
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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. 🙂
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… 🙂