These easy air fryer pretzel bites are the perfect salty, soft, and chewy appetizer for any party, game day, or family gathering! This easy recipe features refrigerated pizza dough and a few ingredients for a simple egg wash to brush on the bites before they air fry. Serve them with some tasty cheese dip, ranch dip, or your favorite mustard for a shareable snack everyone will love!
1tablespoonheavy cream(or half & half, milk, or water)
½tablespoonKosher salt
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Instructions
Get started by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper and bringing the water and baking soda to a boil. *See notes about how to make these easy air fryer pretzel bites even better.
Open the canned pizza crust dough without unrolling the dough. Slice the rolled dough into 8 portions that are approximately 1 inch thick. Then slice each of these portions into quarters (32 pieces).
Pinch the ends of each cut piece together and roll the dough into a ball - the shaped dough doesn't need to be perfect; it will puff while cooking.
Place the dough in the boiling water once it reaches a full rolling boil (water that is constantly bubbling throughout the whole water surface, not just on the outside border). Boil the dough balls in groups of 5-6 pieces and submerge them for about 30 seconds. Remove the balls using a slotted spoon and transfer them to your parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
In a small bowl, beat the egg with heavy cream then brush over each of the 'pretzel' bites. Sprinkle them all over with Kosher salt.
Air fry the pretzel balls in batches, leaving enough space between them for the air to circulate. Fry at 350°F (175°C) for 5-8 minutes. The bites will turn golden and are fully cooked when a toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
See my pretzel buns recipe for how to bake your baking soda. This raises the pH level of the baking soda and gives your pretzel bites a deeper, richer color and that pretzel texture (crispy outside, chewy inside).
Allow the baking soda water to return to a boil before adding another batch of dough.
Be careful with the salt (it dissolves in the egg wash) and you may be tempted to keep sprinkling. Once you salt a dough portion, move on, and don't add more. :)
Consecutive pretzel bite batches may cook faster once the air fryer is heated. Check at 4-5 minutes.
To store: Place the cooled air fryer pretzel bites in a shallow airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 2-3 days.
To freeze: Once the pretzel bites are fully cooled, place them into a freezer storage container with parchment paper sheets between layers (if needed). Store in your freezer and enjoy within 3 months.
To reheat: These don't necessarily need to be reheated to enjoy at a later date, but if you do want them toasty reheat the leftover pretzel bites in your air fryer. Set them at 350°F (175°C) and heat them until they are warmed to your satisfaction.
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