These soft and chewy Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites with Vanilla Espresso Icing are the perfect combination of sweet cinnamon sugar and rich, unique icing, making them a delightful treat for any time of day.
I have a secret love for mall pretzels, specifically Auntie Anne’s. If you’ve read my Jalapeno Cheddar Pretzels story, then you already know. Of course, it would not be a complete experience without their sweeter menu option, the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites.
My sisters used to always get these and it was probably the only time you’d find us sharing anything, like, ever! And you’ll understand why when you taste it.
These buttery, sugary treats are fabulous because they’re not overwhelmingly sweet. With a subtle but lovely sweetness, they practically melt in your mouth and they’re even better at home.
I wanted to create the same pretzel bites at home, mostly because I had all this leftover dough from creating my jalapeño cheddar pretzels.
What’s great about pretzel bites is you don’t need to go through the hassle of getting that signature pretzel shape. All you need is a long strip of dough, cut into small pieces. Then, just like in the other pretzel recipe, you dunk it in a baking soda water mixture until the bites get nice and fluffy and float to the top.
And when I say fluffy, I mean fluffy. They almost tripled in size, so make sure you cut them a little bit smaller than what you think you’ll want.
I also wanted to add a unique spin to this, so I thought a little Vanilla Espresso Icing would be divine – and I was right. The icing is what makes this whole snack so much better. It’s very different from what you would find at an Auntie Anne’s right now, so I had to share it with you.
Tips and Tricks for these Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
Trying fun new recipes like this should be exactly that – fun. That means however you can simplify your life in the kitchen, you should do it! Whether it’s being prepared with the right ingredients or using little hacks to make your life easier, I got you covered.
Here are some tips and tricks to make the best Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites:
Clean-up is half the battle when it comes to making anything. For a simple clean-up, make the cinnamon sugar in a large Ziploc bag. Then, mix and shake the pretzels in there so you can simply toss the Ziploc (and the mess!) when you’re done.
You can also add 1 tsp of cocoa powder to the cinnamon sugar to get the best chocolatey pretzels. You can use it in addition to the espresso or substitute it completely if you’re making these caffeine-free for children.
I always use salted butter for all my baking recipes because the small amount of salt really helps to enhance the flavors of the sweetness you add to the recipe. However, you can use regular butter as well without salt if you are worried about sodium. My favorite brands of butter are Kerrygold and Challenge Butter.
Pop one of these in your mouth and you’ll see just how so delicious these pretzel bites really are. The best part is they’re so easy to make, and if you want, you can always double the batch of pretzels and split it in half to make Jalapeño Cheddar Pretzels with the other half-batch. Talk about the best of both worlds, right?
1/3 cinnamon sugar (1/3 cup sugar and 3 tsp cinnamon)
1/2 cup melted butter (for brushing)
Vanilla Espresso Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tbsp espresso
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
In a bowl, combine the warm milk, melted butter, sugar and yeast. Stir to combine and let it rest for 5 min, until the yeast is bubbly and foamy.
Add the flour into the yeast mixture and combine everything together until it starts to form into a dough. Knead the dough for 1-3 mins until everything is well combined and no trace of raw flour is left. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or tea towel. Set aside in a warm area for 20 mins.
Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a sauce pan over med heat, add the water and baking soda and bring to a low boil.
Punch down the dough and roll it out onto a lightly floured surface. Form it into a log and cut into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into 1 and half feet long rope. Cut into small pieces and dip the pieces into the baking soda water mixture. Place on baking sheet. Repeat for the remaining pieces.
Brush each pretzel with melted butter and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar. Bake at 400°F for 8-10 mins until golden brown.
In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients together for the icing. Once the pretzels are baked, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar. Enjoy!
Just an East/West coast girl living the southern life. I love sharing all my tested and perfected recipes here, along with some travel guides and a little bit of my lifestyle
