Our homemade soft pretzel bites are one of the most popular recipes on our site. We love them and so does everyone else. When Amanda came to visit, we made pretzel bites, but with a twist. We took pretzel bites to a whole new level:)
I love Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels. Every time I open the bag they disappear. I decided it was time we created our own Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Bites. We used our pretzel bite recipe and stuffed them with peanut butter. Oh, and we didn’t stop there. We also dipped them in chocolate. These pretzel bites are salty, sweet, and so much fun!
Josh is the pretzel master. He usually does most of the work, I just join in for the eating part:) So when I told him I wanted to make Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Bites, he was excited! Josh is allergic to peanut butter and can’t go near the stuff…so he thought he was off the hook. He thought he could hide downstairs while we made a mess in the kitchen:) Nope! We still put him to work! He made the dough for us and helped with everything but the peanut butter part.
While the pretzel dough was rising, I put little dots of peanut butter in the freezer. When the dough was ready, we cut the dough into bite size pieces and wrapped the dough around the peanut butter. We put the bites in the freezer for 5 minutes and then boiled and baked them. Of course, we added sea salt to the top! I love a good salty pretzel!
And I really love a salty pretzel with peanut butter inside. The pretzel bites are soft, chewy and filled with creamy peanut butter. They are good plain, but dunking them into warm chocolate makes them extra special. Pretzels, peanut butter, and chocolate-all of my favorite things in one snack! I die!
I am so glad Amanda was there to help me eat these tasty little pretzel bites. We had so much fun making them and eating them!
Oh, and there’s more, we also made Cinnamon & Sugar Pretzel Bites to go with our Salted Caramel Sauce! Visit Amanda’s blog for the pretzel recipe! Our kitchen was a pretzel factory!
Get your pretzel on and make these Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Bites. And don’t forget the chocolate! Dunking is the best part, minus the eating:)
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 package active dry yeast 2 ¼ teaspoons
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 4 ½ to 5 cups all-purpose Gold Medal flour
- Canola oil for greasing the bowl
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter for filling the pretzels
- 3 quarts water
- 2/3 cup baking soda for boiling the pretzels
- 1 whole egg beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
- Coarse sea salt for sprinkling on pretzel bites
- Melted chocolate for dipping the pretzels, optional
Instructions
- 1. Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- 2. Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.
- 3. Oil a large bowl with canola oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
- 4. While the dough is rising, line a baking sheet or plate with wax paper. Using an ⅛ of a teaspoon, scoop out little dots of peanut butter and place them on the wax paper. Freeze until hardened, about 30 minutes. Keep in the freezer until ready to make the pretzel bites.
- 5. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 ¼ to 4 ½ ounces each. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape. Cut the dough into one inch pieces to make the pretzel bites.
- 6. Working with 10 bites at a time (keep the rest of the bites covered with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out while you make the pretzel bites), press an indentation into each dough bite with your finger. Place a dot of frozen peanut butter on each bite. Wrap the pretzel dough around the peanut butter and pinch the ends until the bite is closed completely. Make sure you watch the peanut butter, if it starts to thaw out while you are working, put it back in the freezer for a bit. When all of the pretzel bites are made, place them on a baking sheet or plate and put them in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- 7. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over high heat and carefully add the baking soda. It will bubble up, so add it slowly. Boil the pretzel bites in the water solution in batches. We did about 15 bites at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray or that is lined with a Silpat baking mat. Make sure they are not touching. Brush the tops lightly with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt. Place into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
- 8. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature before serving. Serve with melted chocolate, if desired.
- Note-the pretzel bites are best eaten the day they are made. You can store them in an air-tight container on the counter if necessary.
Have you tried this recipe?
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If you like these Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Bites, you might also like:
- Rosemary Sea Salt Pretzels with Rosemary Cheddar Cheese Sauce from Two Peas and Their Pod
- Twisted Pretzel Bites from Six Sisters’ Stuff
- Pizza Pretzel Bites from Two Peas and Their Pod
This is just such an awesome idea! I LOVE PB and this is so perfect for me! The caramel sauce with the bites, or with chocolate sauce, seriously, I’d be in heaven! I love how you got super creative with even freezing the PB. Your hard work and dedication paid off. They’re amazing!
Oh, my. This look amazing! Salty-and-sweet combos are my favorite, so this is pretty much heaven. Especially with those dips! Can’t wait to try them. 🙂
The TJs pretzels are a favorite in our house too. These look amazing. I think they would be gone very quickly after coming out of the oven.
Totally delicious! I want this instead of cake for my next birthday 😉
I have to agree with Averie…that was pure genius about the PB! Caramel AND peanut butter are two of my favorite things! You two are such a great creative team! You rock! Thank you for sharing these pieces of heaven with us today!
Why d you torcher me on a Friday? I love TJ’s PB filled pretzels and now making them at home! Oh my gosh! I can only imagine how dangerous this would be! SO guess what? I”m making them on Sunday, while my Hubby watches NASCAR! Thank you for sharing and have a fab weekend!!
Peanut butter stuffed pretzels are SO dangerous but I am dying to try your soft pretzel version!
Such a great idea!! I have a feeling these are WAY better than the ones that can be bought in the store. They look absolutely delectable!
Oh how I love chocolate and PB! Add in your yummy pretzels and you’ve got a winner!!!
I love Trader Joes pretzel bites and go there just to pick up a bag. So when I saw you mention these I knew I was in trouble. I’m going to have so much fun making these. Unfortunately it will take longer to make them than it will to eat the entire batch.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I know what I’m making this weekend!
These look so good, Maria! I must make t his for my little guy. I know he’ll love them!
These look so fun!!! I love the crunchy versions, but the soft pretzels sound absolutely heavenly!
I just fell in love with a pretzel. The crunchy peanut butter stuffed ones are dangerous enough but now I can have soft ones and dip them in melty chocolate? You are too evil.
Peanut butter, chocolate and salty pretzels; these would be so addictively good!
Mind. Blown.
I must make these!!! You two are genius.
Shut. Freaking. Up.
Wow. Just WOW!! There goes my diet. 😉
Maria, these are beyond dreamy!
What a fun day in the kitchen. These look dreamy!
oh my gosh! the combinations are so perfect. poor Josh must be tortured not getting to enjoy all of these with you.
This is GENIUS. I would pop these into my mouth all the live-long day.
This is kind of a genius recipe. Like, totally amazeballs. It would be hard for me to stop at eating a handful…and I probably wouldn’t share! 🙂
What a wonderful idea! I also adore those TJ peanut butter filled pretzel bites! A soft pretzel must make these even more amazing!
Love these little pretzel bites! So fun!
Did you know that your blog is nominated on the About.com site for Best Food Blog?
You haven’t mentioned it here so I thought perhaps you were unaware.
The pretzel bites look yummy. I will have to try them soon.
Oh, wow! How delicious. Would you believe I’ve never made homemade pretzels. You’ve inspired me to do just that this weekend!
I am totally in love with both! Yum!
I about died when i saw these. they are AMAZING!!! They’re bite-sized so that means I can have more, yes? 🙂
These are seriously so awesome. I love it Maria, and my kids would freak out over this snack!
LOVE these little pretzels Maria!
um… yes please!
These are seriously too perfect Maria!!
These look incredible! Love that you dip them in chocolate, perfect combination!
Wow! What a great idea! These looks wonderful!
We don’t hvae a TJ’s, but every time I am close to one I pick up a bag of those pb filled pretzels. Love this soft version at home, and the dipping sauces sound like a great pairing!
I love, love, love these pretzels so much!! Had so much fun baking with you two!! 🙂 I am craving pretzels now 🙂 xoxo
These are so so great! Dipped in that chocolate? Yes please!
This is a beautiful combination here! I love dipping my pretzels in peanut butter, but you really can’t beat soft pretzels and I was hoping there’d be some chocolate sauce on the side!
Know I would love them but husband would not. Wish I could try some you have cooked.
OMG. Best.Idea.Ever.
oh wow…….I think I just need to come over to your house to get some of these!
Carbs and chocolate? Yes please!
I think having fresh warm homemade pretzels in the house would be extremely dangerous. These looks awesome!
These look yummy! They’d go so well with Bakingdom’s Nutella filled pretzel bites. Imagine that combo 🙂
Would love to try this with Sunflower Seed butter instead of peanut butter (due to allergies). Love the recipe. 🙂
not good
Maria, these sound and look SO amazing!!
Oh how I miss peanut butter! This looks divine!
Oh, oh! How about filling them with a chocolate kiss and then rolling them in cinnamon sugar when they come out of the oven???!!! Be still my heart!
Just yesterday I volunteered to make soft pretzels for a friend’s bridal shower and here you are with these today! It’s definitely kismet.
*gasp* Yes please! I’ll take all of them!
YUM! i just opened a bag of tj pretzels, but these look a TON better!
Oh my gosh! These look so YUM! Did you see the Nutella filled pretzel bites on the Bakingdom blog? These ones and those ones need to get together ASAP.
Nutella ones? I have to check these out! PB and Nutella would be so good together!
It’s no mystery why pretzel bites are so popular on your blog…they are lovely! And, these are probably going to top your original! Peanut butter in the middle? Get outta here! 😉 Beautiful!
These looks good, but I saw the same technique on bakingdom.com several weeks ago. Why no credit?
I didn’t know there was another peanut butter pretzel recipe out there. I will have to check it out!
OMG are you kidding?? I HAVE to try these, they look fab Maria!
Holy delicious! I am dying to make these now! What a yummy treat! I know I can always count on your for delicious treats, Maria! Mmmm!!
They look wonderful! I love the pb and chocolate, with Easter coming up these will be perfect for Easter Sunday with my family. Thanks for the recipe.
Genius! I could live off peanut butter filled pretzels so I have no doubt these little bites will be devoured in no time. I’ll be making these very soon! Yum!
These look SO good!! I can’t even begin to imagine how they taste especially dipped in the chocolate!!
Yum! Now that I’m baking with yeast I’m all over trying to make these!
I’m craving pretzels now. With peanut butter!! Oh my!!
these look amazing!!! ohmyword!!! wow.
I absolutely love Trader Joe’s pretzel bites too! I will have to try your recipe sometime. I just want to snatch one up off my computer screen!!! Thanks for sharing!
Maria!! I have to make these. 🙂 You, my friend, are a genius! I love the crunchy pretzels with peanut butter inside but never thought to make soft pretzels using the same idea. LOVE this!!
I haven’t stopped craving these (or the cinnamon sugar coated ones) since I read this post a few days ago. I might have to suck it up and put in the work to make these happen in my apartment soon.
It so is! Oh yum, nothing beats these pretzel bites! I’ve never had this before, but I totally wish I could eat them as they sound right up my alley. Perhaps I need to make some right now!
I love these! They’re dangerously good. 🙂
PB filled pretzel bites are one of my favorite snack indulgences! I can’t believe you can make them at home…this is a dangerous revelation 🙂
I made these today and they are delicious!
Some notes:
– Grab a helper! I halved the recipe, but it still took my a *really* long time to make all those little peanut butter dots, as well as to fill and fold all the pretzel bites. Well worth the effort, though!
– Is there a typo in the recipe? It says to make 8 ropes of dough, about 22 inches each. Then to cut them into 1-inch bites. That would make 176 bites, and incredibly thin ones at that. I rolled the ropes into 11 inches each and it seemed right. 🙂
– This is my first time making pretzels so I don’t know enough, but I cut the boiling water & baking soda in half, and after boiling 44 pretzel bites, I still had *plenty* of the solution left. I think you could halve the water & baking soda (or at least cut it down some) and still boil all 88 bites just fine.
– I didn’t feel like using an egg to brush the tops of the pretzels with (saving the eggs for Finnish cinnamon rolls) so I just melted some butter and mixed with milk. I think for the full recipe, you could use 1 Tb melted butter + 3 or 4 Tb milk.
– I had set the timer initially for 15 minutes, but at 13 minutes the house began smelling irresistible. I checked the pretzels at that moment and the tops were already that ideal brown. I pulled the pretzels out immediately and they were done to perfection at 13 minutes. So just keep an eye on them.
Anyways, thank you so much for the recipe. I quickly snarfed down 10 of these after dipping them in grape jelly. Hehe 🙂 Positively delicious, and my house smells like a pretzel shop at the mall. Yumm. I’ve already written the recipe down to keep permanently in my recipe box. Thank you!
I just made these tonight. I added the 4 1/2 cups of flour and the dough was a bit dry but 1 tsp of water during the kneading took care of that. I found this recipe to be very easy. The peanut butter can still be a bit sticky even while in the fridge but keeping it in there did make the stuffing process easier. The final result was tasty (didn’t make the chocolate sauce though 🙁 ) but still good none the less. The slight problem I encountered is that some of the bites did open up during the baking process but it was still tasty, just not as pretty as the picture lol. I yielded way more than 80 bites so since I had extra dough I just baked them following the same process and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I would make this recipe again and really ensure the edges are sealed. Thanks for this recipe and this would be great for any kind of get together.
Super-Duper web site! I am loving it!! Will come back again – getting you feeds also, Thanks.
Hi! What an awesome recipe, I can’t wait to try it! Actually… I have a potluck coming up but I’m responsible for a savory app. Do you think these could work filled with Daiya cheese? Would you still recommend freezing little balls of it?
So apparently Facebook doesn’t always notify you when someone tags your FB page, so I thought I would let you know that I shared this with my FB fans 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151821780533070&set=a.174654903069.124188.163690253069&type=1
I tried these but didn’t like them to good. Would be better with cheese and jalapenos or pepperoni and cheese. The bread is good but the peanut butter didn’t seem to fit with the bread.
Made these for a snack at a birthday party and everyone who ate them raved on and on and on! I was looking specifically for a peanut butter filled pretzel bite recipe, but I have to mention that this pretzel recipe alone is amazing and not labor-intensive. I made some bites plain (no filling) and even made a few actual pretzel knots. Delicious!
Can these be made with almond butter, cashew butter, soy butter or sunflower seed butter? I looked up sunflower seed butter filled pretzels on Google Shopping, but I couldn’t find such a product anywhere.
How many pretzel bites does this recipe make?
Great recipe! In your opinion, if I lowered the oven to about 350 and baked longer (maybe 45 mins?) if these babies would work as hard pretzels rather than soft bites?
Hello Maria
Can I freeze these after boiling till I need to bake them at another time?
Can u add a little jam in middle with the peanut butter???!!!!I have to know this!
Sure, yum!