These homemade cinnamon sugar pretzels will become your new favorite treat! They’re perfectly soft and chewy, dipped in butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar.
While I love my classic homemade soft pretzels and soft pretzel bites dipped in pretzel cheese dip, it’s nice to mix it up and make a sweeter version too!
Table of Contents
Homemade Soft Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels
Cinnamon sugar quickly turns a soft pretzel recipe from savory to sweet and makes the perfect addition to homemade pretzels. The soft and chewy texture paired with the sweet sugar flavor is out of this world!
One of my childhood favorites were the large soft cinnamon sugar pretzels from Annie’s. If you loved them too, I’m going to show you how to make them easily at home.
These easy cinnamon sugar pretzels are made in under an hour and have the most delicious flavor. This recipe makes about 12 big pretzels or 60-70 mini pretzel bites. If you aren’t making these for a party, you can easily cut it in half. The cinnamon sugar coating paired with the soft and chewy pretzel texture is seriously divine. They won’t last long!
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels
Proof the yeast. Add the warm water and yeast in a small bowl. Let sit until the top starts to foam, about 3 to 5 minutes. Then stir in the salt and sugar.
Mix and knead the dough. In a separate large bowl, add in the flour. Pour the yeast mixture on top and knead for about 5 minutes. You can use a bread hook or your hands to knead the dough.
Shape the dough. Divide the dough into 12 pieces, then roll each piece into a rope that’s about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Shape the rope into a circle and twist the top ends together. Then bring the twisted ends down the center of the circle and pinch together with the bottom to form into the classic pretzel shape.
Boil the pretzels. Now it’s time to boil the dough to give them that classic pretzel texture. Bring 8 cups water and 1/3 cup baking soda to a boil in a large pan. Once it’s boiling, place a piece of dough into the water and let cook for about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and then transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pretzel dough.
Bake in oven. After the pretzels are boiled, they finish cooking in the oven. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, or until they’re golden brown. Then transfer to a baking rack to cool.
Coat with cinnamon sugar. Now for the best part: the cinnamon and sugar coating! Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. Then dip both sides of the pretzels into the melted butter and then into the sugar mixture.
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
If you don’t want to shape them into the classic pretzel shape, make pretzel bites instead. These are a bit quicker and still equally as delicious. Just follow these simple steps:
- Proof the yeast, mix and knead the dough as directed.
- Roll the dough out into ropes and instead of shaping them into pretzels, simply cut the ropes into 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces.
- Bring the water and baking soda mixture to a boil, then place about 8 of the dough pieces into the water for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat until all pretzel bites are boiled.
- Bake at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the pretzels are golden brown.
- Then dip the pieces in melted butter and the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
TIP: To help the pretzel bites expand uniformly, cut a “t” or “x” on the top of each piece of dough with scissors.
Dipping
Just like my homemade churros these taste delicious all on their own, however they would also be delicious dipped in:
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate sauce
- Drizzled with warm cream cheese frosting
- Crepe filling
More Cinnamon Recipes You’ll Love
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Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 packet active yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour , more as needed
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup baking soda (for boiling water)
Cinnamon sugar:
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, add warm water and yeast. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes. Add salt and sugar and stir.
- In a large bowl, add flour and then pour yeast mixture over top. Knead with bread hook in your mixer or by hand for about 5 minutes.
- Separate dough into 12 sections. Roll dough into ropes about 15-20 inches long and 1 inch thick. Then form rope into a circle and twist the top ends together. Then bring the twisted ends down the center of the circle and pinch together with the bottom to form the pretzels.
- In a large pan, bring about 8 cups water + 1/3 cup baking soda to a boil. Once water is boiling, place a piece of dough into the water for about 30 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon and place onto baking sheet. Repeat until all pretzels have been boiled.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven to a cooling rack.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Then dip the pretzels into the melted butter and then into the sugar mixture. These pretzels are best served the same day. If you don't plan to serve them right away, wait to roll them in butter and sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Bread, Desserts, Yeast Bread
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I’ve made these before and they were absolutely delicious! Such a hit.
@jamielyn Can these be baked ahead of time & frozen for a few weeks?
Hi Lissa! Yes, you could freeze them but I would wait to dip them in butter and add the cinnamon sugar until you’re ready to serve.
You don’t proof the dough at all?
Yes, you proof the yeast :) It’s included in step #2 in the instructions in the recipe card. Mix together the warm water and yeast in a small bowl, then let sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Then add salt and sugar and stir.
I have never really baked before in my life but this was really easy to follow! I probably did something wrong, but just the flour and yeast were way too dry so i added some more water until it worked, and they still taste amazing even with my poor baking skills.
I’m so happy to hear this, Caitlyn! Everyone measures flour different, so the mixture may have been a little dry because of that. I like to use a spoon to scoop flour into a measuring cup, then use a butter knife to remove any excess flour from the top. This way, your measurements will be more accurate :)
I made these as a dessert for my kids, they love them everything turned out perfect…
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Made tonight for hubby’s bday since he’s been craving the movie theater ones and they’ve been closed. Turned out FANTASTIC! So yummy! I did use just half a stick of melted butter and it was enough to cover all 12.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them!
AMAZING!!!
Haven’t made yet but think I will soon.
I hope you enjoy them! :)
Thanks for the tips for making these come out perfectly! They were perfect!
Everyone has to try this recipe! Amazing!