Soft pretzels are a delicious snack to enjoy for any occasion. But making soft pretzels at home can be a long, complicated process. With the help of your air fryer and a recipe that doesn’t use yeast, you can cut the prep time in half! This simple air fryer pretzel recipe can be made in a matter of minutes.
You’ll be enjoying air fryer soft pretzels in no time at all!
Scroll down to learn how to make homemade soft pretzels and how to make frozen pretzels in your air fryer!
AIR FRYER PRETZELS
One of the first things I ever made in my air fryer was a frozen soft pretzel. We love soft pretzels, but the microwave just never quite did pretzels justice. Baking them in the oven works okay but takes a lot longer!
These are perfect when you’re craving a quick snack! They’re also the perfect party appetizer and a great Game Day appetizer!
For more easy snacks to make in the air fryer, try making Donut Holes and Fried Pickles!
CAN YOU AIR FRY PRETZELS?
If you just want to know how to air fry frozen pretzels, rest assured that you can and it’s one of the best ways to make them! It’s also one of the quickest ways to make them.
HOW LONG DO YOU COOK IN PRETZELS IN AN AIR FRYER?
For frozen pretzels, you need about 3-5 minutes depending on the model of fryer you own.
All you had to do is layer the frozen pretzels in your air fryer basket (make sure they don’t overlap each other). Brush them with water and add salt, if desired. Then cook them at 320° for 3 to 5 minutes.
Depending on your model of air fryer, you may need more time. I usually start with 3 minutes and then check on the pretzels. Serve them warm with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce!
If you want an easy homemade take on soft pretzels in the air fryer, check out the recipe below!
NO YEAST PRETZEL INGREDIENTS
This recipe makes 8 pretzels. It takes about 15 minutes to prep and about 30 minutes to cook all of them when you’re cooking in batches to fit in the air fryer.
While most soft pretzel recipes use yeast to help the dough rise, these recipes also take a long time to prepare. If you want to cut your prep time down, try using a no yeast pretzel recipe instead. This simple recipe can be made in a matter of minutes and there’s no need to let the dough rise or place it in a baking soda bath.
To make these simple no yeast pretzels, you’ll need:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Sugar
- Butter
- Milk
- Salt
With this simple list of ingredients, you can prepare your pretzels. Then bake them in the air fryer for a quick and easy snack.
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER PRETZELS
To make these simple pretzels, you’ll need to prepare the dough and twist it into knots. If you want to make them into a more traditional pretzel shape, you can do that as well. After that, just pop them in your air fryer to cook them.
The first step to making pretzels in the air fryer is to whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar until they’re well combined. Next, add the softened butter and cut it into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender or fork.
Keep stirring until the mixture resembles coarse sand, then add the milk to the bowl. Stir until the dough begins to stick together and the ingredients are well incorporated.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Coat your hands with flour, then knead the dough until it’s no longer sticky. Roll the dough out into a log and cut it into 8 equal pieces.
To form the pretzel knots, roll one of the pieces between your hands into a long rope. Fold the rope in half, then twist the ends together to form a knot. Continue rolling and twisting the dough until you have eight knots formed.
Preheat your air fryer to 375° if needed, then place the pretzels in the basket, making sure they’re not touching. If your fryer model doesn’t require preheating, set your temperature and start cooking.
You may want to spray your basket or pan with non-stick cooking spray to make sure the dough doesn’t stick. This depends on your model. I have an air fryer that has no issues with food sticking and one that does.
You may need to cook the pretzels in batches depending on how big your air fryer is. Place the basket in the fryer and cook for 15 minutes, until the pretzels are golden brown. Brush the pretzels with melted butter and sprinkle pretzel salt on top before serving.
You can also make a seasoned pretzel by topping them with other seasonings. I recommend trying Everything But the Bagel seasoning! Parmesan cheese is also delicious!
HOW DO YOU AIR FRY PRETZEL DOGS?
If you have family members who are fans of soft pretzels, you might find that they love pretzel dogs too.
It’s easy to cook pretzel dogs in the air fryer too!
Place the pretzel dogs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure there is space around each one so the hot air can circulate.
Cook on 375°-400° for 8-9 minutes, turning the pretzel dogs over halfway through the cooking time. You’ll know they’re done when they’re golden brown and completely cooked through.
Air Fryer Soft Pretzels
Equipment
Ingredients
For Pretzels:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 1/3 cup milk
For Topping:
- 2 Tablespoons butter (melted)
- ¼ cup coarse salt (or pretzel salt)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375° if required by your fryer model.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
- Cut the softened butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or fork.
- Add the milk and stir until a soft dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead the dough until smooth and no longer sticky.
- Separate the dough into eight equal balls. Roll each ball between your hands to form a long rope, then twist the ends together to form a knot.
- Cook the pretzels in the air fryer for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Watch the cooking time for your pretzels. It may differ depending on the model of your air fryer.
- After the pretzels are cooked, brush each one with melted butter and top with coarse salt.
Marie says
I am definitely going to try this recipe. I am amazed at what you can cook in the air fryer. Thank you for sharing.