This recipe for gluten free soft pretzel bits is made with common ingredients that you probably already have at your home! All you need to make these gluten free soft pretzel bites is gluten free all purpose flour, water, yeast, salt, sugar, and coconut oil. In addition to being gluten free, these soft pretzel bites are also dairy free, egg free, nut free, and vegan friendly.
What is in gluten free pretzel bites?
What is in these gluten free pretzel bites? Here are all the ingredients you need to make these gluten free pretzel bites.
- Gluten free all purpose flour. The main ingredient in this recipe for gluten free soft pretzel bites is gluten free all purpose flour. You should use an all purpose flour blend rather than an individual flour like almond flour or rice flour. We use this flour blend by Bob’s Red Mill and we recommend using the same flour blend for best results.
- Water. Water is the main liquid that is used in this recipe for gluten free pretzel bites. The water should be warm but not hot when it is added to the pretzel dough because the warm temperature will help the yeast activate.
- Yeast. Yeast is the main leavening agent that is used in this recipe for gluten free pretzel bites. We recommend using active dry yeast to make this recipe.
- Sugar. Some sugar is added to the dough for these gluten free pretzel bites to give them more flavor. The sugar also helps to ensure that the pretzel bites develop a nice medium brown color.
- Salt. Two different kinds of salt are used in this recipe for gluten free pretzel bites. A fine grained salt should be used in the pretzel dough itself and a coarse grained salt like this one or a flaky salt should be put on top of the pretzels when they are done.
- Coconut oil. Coconut oil is the main fat that is used in this recipe for gluten free pretzel bites. The coconut oil should be melted then left to cool for a few minutes before being added to the pretzel dough. If you do not maintain a vegan or dairy free diet then you can also use butter in place of the coconut oil.
- Maple syrup. A mixture of maple syrup and coconut oil is brushed on top of the pretzel bites after they are boiled. This coating helps to ensure that the pretzel bites develop a nice brown color when they are done cooking. You can replace the maple syrup with honey if you do not have maple syrup in your house.
- Baking soda. Some baking soda is mixed with water to form a baking soda bath that the pretzel bites are boiled in. Boiling the pretzel bites helps to ensure that they form the nice, glossy crust that is characteristic of soft pretzels.
How to make gluten free pretzel bites
How do you make gluten free pretzel bites? Here are all the steps you need to take in order to make these gluten free pretzel bites.
- Proof the yeast. The first step in making these gluten free pretzel bites is combining the water, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Leave the mixture to rest for 5 – 10 minutes until the surface of the water becomes frothy.
- Melt the coconut oil. As the yeast mixture rests, microwave the coconut oil until it melts in a small microwave safe bowl or cup. Let the coconut oil cool for a few minutes afterwards.
- Make the dough. After the yeast mixture is ready, combine all the ingredients for the pretzel dough in the mixing bowl the yeast mixture is in. The pretzel dough should be relatively firm but still tacky.
- Shape the pretzels. After you have mixed the pretzel dough, shape the gluten free pretzel bites on a sheet of parchment paper. You should flour your hands or put a little oil on your hands when you shape the pretzel bites so that the dough does not stick to your hands. The pretzel bites should be around 1 in diameter and 1 1/2 inches long when they are done.
- Let the pretzels rise. After you shape the pretzels, cover them with saran wrap and leave them to rise for around 20 minutes.
- Boil the pretzels in a baking soda bath. Heat 10 cups of water and 2/3 cups of baking soda in a medium sized pot until it boils. After the water boils, put the pretzel bites in the water a few at a time and boil them for 15 – 30 seconds until they turn slightly yellow.
- Coat the pretzels. After the pretzels are done boiling, lay the pretzels out on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper and coat them with maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Top the pretzel bites with coarse grained salt.
- Bake the pretzels. Bake the pretzels for 12 – 15 minutes at 425 degrees until they have a nice, medium brown color.
How do you store gluten free pretzel bites
How do you store gluten free pretzel bites? You have a few options when it comes to storing these gluten free pretzel bites.
- In the refrigerator. If you plan to eat your gluten free pretzel bites within a few days after eating them, we recommend storing your pretzel bites in the refrigerator. You should store your pretzel bites in an airtight food storage container or bag and aim to eat them within 3 days after cooking them. For best results, we recommend folding up a paper towel and storing it with the pretzel bites to absorb any excess moisture.
- In the freezer. Gluten free pretzel bites keep just as well in the freezer as similar bread products like bagels. If you do not plan to eat your gluten free pretzel bites within a few days after making them then you should store your gluten free pretzel bites in the freezer in an airtight bag or food storage container. For best results, we recommend using a freezer bag and squeezing as much air out of the bag as possible before putting it in the freezer. These gluten free pretzel bites will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How do you reheat gluten free pretzel bites
How do you reheat gluten free pretzel bites? The easiest way to reheat gluten free pretzel bites is in the microwave. Many bread products do not reheat well in the microwave because they become slightly dense and chewy. This is not a problem with gluten free pretzel bites because gluten bites will have this texture regardless of how you reheat them.
We recommend reheating these gluten free pretzel bites on full power. If you store your pretzel bites in the refrigerator they may only need 20 – 30 seconds to warm up. If you store your pretzel bites in the freezer they may need more like 1 – 2 minutes.
How do you shape pretzel bites?
How do you shape pretzel bites? You have a few options when it comes to shaping pretzel bites. Here are the most common methods.
- The gnocchi method. The fastest way to shape gluten free pretzel bites is to shape multiple pretzel bites at once. You can do this by rolling out the pretzel dough into a long snake that is around 1 inch in diameter. After you roll out the snake of pretzel dough, you can use a knife to cut it into segments that are around 1 1/2 inches long. You may need to flour or grease your knife and working surface so that the dough does not stick to either.
- Individually. Alternatively, you can shape the pretzel bites one at a time using nothing but your hands. Simply roll the dough into a ball then slowly flatten that ball out into a cylindrical shape. Make sure to grease or flour your hands to ensure that the dough does not stick to your hands.
Do you need to let pretzel dough rise?
Do you need to let your dough rise when you are making pretzel bites? Pretzel bites are somewhat dense so pretzel dough is not generally left to rise for a long time. Some recipes recommend leaving the pretzel dough to rise for 15 – 20 minutes before shaping the pretzel bites, whereas others recommend leaving the pretzel bites to rise after they have been shaped, but generally only one short rise is required.
We recommend leaving the pretzel bites to rise after they have already been shaped. When the pretzel bites rise after they have been shaped, they develop a light, puffy appearance and are more aesthetically appealing. That being said, if you are working with time constraints then you can also leave your pretzel dough to rise before you shape your pretzel bites.
Gluten free pretzel bites
Ingredients
- salt (coarse)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Baking soda bath
- 10 cups water
- 2/3 cup baking soda
Pretzel dough
- 3 1/4 cups gluten free all purpose flour
- 1 packet dry active yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 cup water (warm)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl and mix the ingredients well. Leave the bowl in a warm place to rest for 5 - 10 minutes until the surface of the water becomes frothy.
- If your coconut oil is not melted, microwave the coconut oil in a small bowl then let the coconut oil cool before moving on to the next step.
- Add the rest of the ingredients for the pretzel dough to the mixing bowl with the yeast mixture. Mix the ingredients until a dough is formed. The pretzel dough should be relatively firm but still somewhat tacky. If your dough is so wet that it does not hold it's shape then you can add more flour 1 tbsp at a time until it comes together. If the dough is so dry that it crumbles when you shape it, add more water 1 tsp at a time until the dough comes together.
- Set up a station for shaping your pretzel bites. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper to shape your pretzel bites on. Line a baking sheet with another sheet of parchment paper so that you have a place to put your pretzel bites after you shape them.You should also set aside some flour or oil to coat your hands with when you shape the pretzel bites.
- Shape the pretzel bites. Roll the dough out into snakes that are about 1 inch in diameter. Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into segments that are about 1 1/2 inches long.
- Cover the pretzel bites with a sheet of saran wrap and leave the pretzel bites to rise in a warm area for about 20 minutes.
- While the pretzel bites rise, preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Additionally, combine the water and baking soda for the baking soda bath in a large pot. Boil the baking soda bath over high heat.
- Add the pretzel bites to the boiling water a few at a time. Boil the pretzel bites for 20 - 30 seconds then remove them from the pot with a slotted spoon. When the pretzel bites are done, they should develop a slight yellow tint.
- Return the boiled pretzel bites to the parchment paper lined baking sheet and brush some maple syrup and melted coconut oil over the pretzel bites. Sprinkle some coarse salt over the top of the pretzel bites. The coconut oil and maple syrup will help to ensure that the pretzel bites develop a nice brown color.
- Bake pretzels at 425 for 12 - 15 minutes until they develop a deep brown color.
Substitutions for gluten free pretzel bites
- Coconut oil. If you do not maintain a vegan or dairy free diet then you can substitute the coconut oil in this recipe for butter. You should use the same amount of butter as coconut oil for this substitution.
- Maple syrup. If you do not maintain a vegan diet or if you are okay with eating honey then you can also replace the maple syrup with honey.
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