Name: Copy Cat Auntie Anne's Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (1/4 oz) pkg active dry yeast (7 gm); 1 cup warm water (237 ml); 2 tablespoon granulated sugar (25 gm); 2 tablespoon packed light-brown sugar (29.88 gm); 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (15 ml); 1 teaspoon salt (5.9 gm); 1 1/2 cups bread flour (204 gm); 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (170 gm); 3 cups hot water (710 ml); 1/4 cup baking soda (80 gm); 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (113 gm); 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 gm); 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (8 gm)

Jump to Recipe

Every time we go to the mall we have to pick up some of these, but now you can make your own copycat Auntie Anne's cinnamon sugar pretzel bites. They are soft on the inside, just a little bit chewy, and have the ideal balance of sugar and cinnamon. A perfect snack that is ideal for dessert, snack, or tucking into a lunch box as a special surprise treat.

Copycat Auntie Anne's Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

Pretzels always sound complicated, but they really are pretty easy to make. You'll need to carve out a bit of time for the dough to rise, but otherwise, the process is simple and easy enough a novice in the kitchen can make it with no struggle.

If you like pretzels, you might also enjoy these plain soft pretzel bites with homemade cheddar queso. They are delicious, easy to make, and that dipping sauce is superior! So easy to make and really tasty for a nice savory snack.

What makes Auntie Anne's Pretzels So Good?

There are a lot of theories as to why they are so good, but it usually comes back to the process of adding a baking soda wash added to them. Rather than including the baking soda in the dough, it is added to the outside of the pretzel and adds a nice crisp.

Can I Use Read-Made Cinnamon Sugar?

Of course! I like making my own cinnamon sugar because it is just easy and affordable. If you prefer a specific blend, go ahead and use that instead. In particular, my son loves the Cinnamon Toast Crunch sugar blend because it is just a little bit "extra". Use whatever you prefer or customize homemade so the ratio of sugar and cinnamon is perfect for your tastes.

Do I Need a Dipping Sauce with These?

You don't need one, but you may want one. If you want to dip them into something, a bit of frosting is always fun. I like to make a small batch of cream cheese frosting for these, but you can also just open a container of store-bought vanilla or cream cheese frosting.

How Should I Reheat These Pretzels?

If you have leftovers, you can definitely save them to eat later at room temperature, but slightly heated is best. I love making large batches, portioning them, and then grabbing a container and heating for 30-seconds in the microwave before eating. That's just enough to heat them through but not make them too hot to handle or too tough.

What Ingredients go in Auntie Anne's Pretzels?

Active dry yeast
Water
Granulated sugar
Light brown sugar
Vegetable oil
Salt
Bread flour
All-purpose flour
Baking soda

Topping

Butter
Granulated sugar
Ground cinnamon

Handy Kitchen Tools

Chef's Tips

Using a stand mixer makes this easier to prepare as it does most of the kneading work for you. If not using a stand mixer, you will need to manually knead the dough by hand for 7 to 8 minutes until smooth before proceeding to place in the bowl to rise.

To determine if the yeast is good, it should bubble and smell strong of yeats. If it does not, the yeast is bad and you should start over with fresh yeast.

How do You make Auntie Anne's Pretzels from Scratch?

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1 cup warm water, the yeast, and ½ teaspoon sugar.

Whisk the mixture together and set aside to rest for 10 minutes.

Using the whisk attachment of your stand mixer, add in the remaining granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and salt and whisk to combine.

Slowly, add in the bread flour and mix on low until blended.

Once blended, switch to the hook attachment, and slowly add in the all-purpose flour.

Continue mixing at low speed for 4 to 5 minutes until the dough is elastic and smooth. If needed, you may add an additional ¼ cup flour. You do not want a wet dough, but one that is smooth and holds its shape.

Oil a large bowl lightly, then place the ball of dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Set the bowl in a warm place until it has doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.

Punch down the dough.

Divide the dough into 6 equal portions.

Preheat the oven to 425°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper then lightly spray with non-stick spray and set aside.

Place one portion at a time onto a clean surface, keeping the rest covered with the towel or plastic wrap until needed.

Roll each portion of dough into a rope that is around 18" long.

Cut the rope into 1 ¼" pieces and set aside then cover with a damp towel until ready to cook.

Repeat this process until all of the dough is cut into pieces.

In a large bowl, combine hot water and baking soda and whisk together.

Using the slotted spoon, dip the dough pieces into the water mixture.

Remove them from the water, letting the excess water drip off, then place them onto the prepared baking sheets in a single layer.

Repeat the process until all of the dough pieces have been dipped. You may need to reheat the water mixture in the microwave between batches to keep the liquid hot.

Bake the pretzels for 8 to 11 minutes until they are golden brown.

In a medium bowl, melt the butter and set aside.

Mix together cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl.

Once cooked, remove from the baking sheets and dip into the butter, then roll or toss in the prepared cinnamon sugar.

More Tasty Snack Recipes

If you are looking for a few more easy snack ideas for your meal plan, we have you covered. From this list of the best appetizer recipes to a simple crispy baked zucchini chip, there are tons of ideas to enjoy. My kids love these pizza puffs and of course, you can't go wrong with the air fryer Babybel cheese bites.

If sweet is more your style, then you might prefer the M&M's peanut butter energy bites or the chewy chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars. Both are super easy to make and always loved by kids.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 8

Copy Cat Auntie Anne's Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

Whip up a batch of these delicious copycat Auntie Anne's cinnamon sugar pretzels as the ideal side, snack, or dessert everyone will love having!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

Pretzel Dough Ingredients

1 (¼ oz) pkg active dry yeast (7 gm)
1 cup warm water (237 ml)
2 tablespoon granulated sugar (25 gm)
2 tablespoon packed light-brown sugar (29.88 gm)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (15 ml)
1 teaspoon salt (5.9 gm)
1 ½ cups bread flour (204 gm)
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (170 gm)
3 cups hot water (710 ml)
¼ cup baking soda (80 gm)

Cinnamon Sugar Coating Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter, melted (113 gm)
½ cup granulated sugar (100 gm)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (8 gm)

Instructions

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1 cup warm water, the yeast, and ½ teaspoon sugar.
Whisk the mixture together and set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
Using the whisk attachment of your stand mixer, add in the remaining granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and salt and whisk to combine.
Slowly, add in the bread flour and mix on low until blended.
Once blended, switch to the hook attachment, and slowly add in the all-purpose flour.
Continue mixing at low speed for 4 to 5 minutes until the dough is elastic and smooth. If needed, you may add an additional ¼ cup flour. You do not want a wet dough, but one that is smooth and holds its shape.
Oil a large bowl lightly, then place the ball of dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel.
Set the bowl in a warm place until it has doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
Punch down the dough. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions.
Preheat the oven to 425°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper then lightly spray with non-stick spray and set aside.
Place one portion at a time onto a clean surface, keeping the rest covered with the towel or plastic wrap until needed.
Roll each portion of dough into a rope that is around 18" long.
Cut the rope into 1 ¼" pieces and set aside then cover with a damp towel until ready to cook.
Repeat this process until all of the dough is cut into pieces.
In a large bowl, combine hot water and baking soda and whisk together.
Using the slotted spoon, dip the dough pieces into the water mixture.
Remove them from the water, letting the excess water drip off, then place them onto the prepared baking sheets in a single layer.
Repeat the process until all of the dough pieces have been dipped. You may need to reheat the water mixture in the microwave between batches to keep the liquid hot.
Bake the pretzels for 8 to 11 minutes until they are golden brown.
In a medium bowl, melt the butter and set aside.
Mix together cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl.
Once cooked, remove from the baking sheets and dip into the butter, then roll or toss in the prepared cinnamon sugar.

Notes

Using a stand mixer makes this easier to prepare as it does most of the kneading work for you. If not using a stand mixer, you will need to manually knead the dough by hand for 7 to 8 minutes until smooth before proceeding to place in the bowl to rise.
To determine if the yeast is good, it should bubble and smell strong of yeats. If it does not, the yeast is bad and you should start over with fresh yeast.