Easy Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels Recipe {Video} (2024)

These cinnamon sugar pretzels are delicious! They are the perfect treat to take to work with you or to gift as a great holiday gift. They are crazy easy to make, taste delicious, and only take a few ingredients.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels Recipe {Video} (1)

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

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If you want a super easy last-minute gift, these would be perfect! You could put them in a cute jar with a ribbon tied, and you are good to go!

I love giving homemade DIY Gifts during the holidays, which is probably not a surprise if you have been reading Tammilee Tips for a while. I just love sharing my love for baking with friends and family.

Many cute gift containers line the shelves of grocery stores, making it easy to package your homemade cinnamon pretzels. I get distracted by all the pretty seasonal gift packages available when grocery shopping.

I also bought a few more inflatable holiday animals for the front yard. Our new neighbors may think I have lost my mind regarding holiday inflatables, but it is so fun that you can now get inflatable narwhals and grinches.

Next year I should put out some classic decorations, but so far this year, all of our decorations are just a random, eclectic mix of animals. It makes me giggle every time I pull up to the house.

If you’ve been following us, you may have noticed all the holiday cookies and treats we’ve shared over time! We have many ideas for great homemade holiday treats your family, co-workers, and neighbors will love! Or you can just bake them! We are a total no-judgment zone!

I love the holiday season! Any time I can add an epic cinnamon sugar mixture to a recipe it makes me happy. The flavor is perfect for comfort food!

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making epic Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

  • Pretzels
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon

Equipment Needed

You only need a few things to make this recipe, which I love!

  • Large Bowl: You want to use the largest bowl available to keep the pretzels corralled inside. I tried making these with a medium-sized bowl the first time and ended up with pretzels falling over the top and all over the counter.
  • Parchment Paper: This will help make it easier to remove the pretzels after they have baked.
  • Baking Sheet with Sides: Trust me, you do not want to put these on a flat cookie sheet and pull them out of the oven while the pan is hot and you are trying to balance the cookie sheet so they don't slide off the end.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels Recipe {Video} (2)

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
  2. Place pretzels in a large bowl.
  3. Stir oil, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well.
  4. Pour over pretzels, tossing them to ensure they are well coated.
  5. Pour out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and pour any remaining sugar and cinnamon over the pretzels.
  6. Place in oven
  7. Remove from oven and cool before serving.

The cinnamon sugar coating will harden to the pretzels. You want to let the pretzels cool down so the cinnamon sugar coats the pretzels and doesn't fall off onto the prepared baking sheet.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead: None of the ingredients require preparation outside of mixing them before baking, and it’s best to bake them as soon as you coat them.

Storage: The bagged pretzels make this a shelf-stable recipe! Store them in an airtight container for about a week or until they appear stale.

Freezing/How to Freeze: We discovered that bagged pretzels last up to a year when stored in an airtight, freezer-safe container that keeps them dry.

How to Reheat: Thaw leftover cinnamon sugar pretzels by leaving them at room temperature.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions: Feel free to swap the vegetable oil for another neutral-tasting oil, such as canola, coconut, or salted butter (these last two were reader suggestions!). Brown sugar would also be yummy instead of white sugar.

These epic cinnamon sugar pretzels can also be made with homemade soft pretzels, pretzel twists, soft pretzel bites. You will need to adjust the baking time for the soft pretzels.

Vegetarian + Vegan Options: Most store-bought pretzels are vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Always check the product labels to be sure.

Gluten-Free: You’ll be happy to know that grocery stores carry many gluten-free options for this popular snack! Snyder’s is one of the biggest gluten-free pretzel brands we see often.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: Use a smaller or larger pretzel bag, depending on your desired quantity.

Make it Spicy: Cayenne would be a great addition if you use brown sugar and want your cinnamon sugar pretzels to have a kick.

Sugar-Free: Use your go-to sugar alternative to make this recipe sugar-free.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels Recipe {Video} (3)

Tips for the Best Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

  • Reader Tip: Combine the ingredients in a Ziploc bag until fully coated for convenience and less mess.
  • While we love the classic look of knotted pretzels, this recipe also adapts to other shapes for added fun!

What to Serve with Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

These cinnamon sugar pretzels would be fantastic on a sweet snack platter or as a part of a DIY gift bag for any sweetie you love! Here are some pairing suggestions from our Snack Collection!

Snacks: Pumpkin Spice Pretzels, Guinness Glazed Pecans, Crock Pot Peanut Clusters, Chocolate Peanut Butter Muddy Buddies, Hot Chocolate Muddy Buddies, Pumpkin Spice Pumpkin Seeds, Sriracha Caramel Corn, Crock Pot Sugared Candied Walnuts, Sugar and Spice Almonds, Dunkaroo Funfetti Dip

When to Serve Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

  • Snacktime Easy Snacks
  • DIY Gifting!
  • Hoiday Parties
  • Christmas
  • Thanksgiving

Easy Dessert Recipes

No-Bake Peanut Butter Fudge

2 Ingredient Lemon Bars

Earth Cookies

CrockPot Cinnamon Pecans

CrockPot Chocolate Clusters

Edible Brownie Batter

Mini Baked Alaskas

If you are heading to a holiday party, check out these great Christmas toasts just in case you give a toast during the party.

Check out these ranch pretzels for a savory pretzel snack.

Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for our recipe posts.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels Recipe {Video} (4)

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

How to makeCinnamon Sugar Pretzels that are a great holiday gift or snack.

3.80 from 15 votes

Print Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 212kcal

Author: Tammilee Tips

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees

  • Place pretzels in a large bowl

  • Combine oil, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and mix well

  • Pour over pretzels, tossing the pretzels to make sure they are well coated

  • Pour out onto a parchment lined baking sheet, pour any remaining sugar and cinnamon over the pretzels

  • Place in oven for 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes

  • Remove from oven and cool before serving

Kitchen Tools

  • Cookie Sheets

  • Parchment Paper

Notes

Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

Amount Per Serving

Calories 212Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Sodium 359mg16%

Potassium 42mg1%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 2g4%

Calcium 13mg1%

Iron 1.5mg8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Love this recipe?Follow @TammileeTIps on Pinterest

Tried this recipe?Mention @TammileeTipsLife when you share a photo!

Recipe originally shared on December 15, 2013. Updated October 2020.

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels Recipe {Video} (2024)

FAQs

Why are my homemade pretzels so dense? ›

Under or over-proofing the dough

Specifically, under-proofed dough creates dense pretzels, while over-proofed dough can cause them to expand and then collapse. If your recipe requires fermenting (or proofing), one of the biggest mistakes you can make is letting your dough ferment for the wrong amount of time.

What is the ratio of baking soda to water for pretzels? ›

In a large, wide pot, bring 6 cups water and 2 tablespoons baking soda to a boil. Then, transfer one shaped pretzel to the bath using a slotted spatula and let sit for 1 minute. Then move the pretzel to a cooling rack on top of parchment paper. This allows any excess solution to drip away.

What does baking soda do for soft pretzels? ›

As noted above, baking soda is a staple ingredient for making homemade pretzels. Dunking your pretzels in a baking soda bath prior to baking is what enables them to develop their distinctive color and crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside texture.

Why do you boil the pretzels in baking soda and water what does it do ?)? ›

Furthermore, we've introduced the baking soda bath. While it sounds strange, this step is what gives pretzels that iconic flavor, chewy texture, helps deepen their golden color in the oven, and locks in the super soft interior.

Is lye or baking soda better for pretzels? ›

Lye has a pH of around 13 whereas baking soda has a pH of around 8. This extra alkalinity accelerates the Maillard reaction, allowing that caramelization to develop on the exterior of the pretzels. That ultra-deep color and slightly crispy, crunchy exterior crust is only made possible with lye.

What is the secret ingredient which makes a pretzel taste like a pretzel? ›

The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. It also gives them their unique and indelible “pretzel” flavor.

What is the best flour for pretzels? ›

Gluten helps provide structure, allowing a baked good to have more body and sturdiness. As a result, bread flour will make it easier for a pretzel to hold its shape. This can be an advantage to beginner bakers, especially since the shape of a pretzel is so important.

Why are my homemade pretzels bitter? ›

If your pretzels have any sort of a metallic, bitter taste, it all comes down to the baking soda bath.

Do I have to boil my pretzels before baking? ›

Like bagels, pretzels are made in boiling water prior to baking to give them their snappy outsides and chewy insides (messy!). Soft pretzels must be boiled, or dipped in a baking soda bath (or lye if you're gusty and strict with your pretzel traditions). THEN, they can be baked.

What can I use instead of lye for pretzels? ›

The most benign substitute for lye is baking soda. You'll get a little bit of browning and some chew, but don't expect it to taste very pretzel-y. You can also used baked baking soda, which is a stronger alkali than baking soda but not as caustic as lye.

Why do my pretzels taste metallic? ›

When you eat a traditional pretzel, you may notice a slightly metallic taste, which is a result of the chemical reaction between the lye and the dough. However, the overall flavour of the pretzel is more complex than just the taste of lye.

What is the purpose of putting an egg wash on the pretzel? ›

Egg Wash – The egg wash on the pretzels gives them a little shine, and I find it softens the exterior a bit. For a more traditional taste, omit the egg wash and just use salt when the pretzels come out of the water bath.

What is the secret solution for Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

Experts at The Daily Meal (via Fox News) suspect the secret ingredient is sugar. This makes total sense, not because we're some sort of band of dough geniuses over here, but because sugar obviously makes everything better — and because Auntie Anne's pretzels are definitely sweeter than your average pretzel.

Is lye in pretzels bad for your stomach? ›

Once lye-dipped pretzels are baked, they're totally safe (and delicious!) to eat. The most important aspect of baking with lye is that it's diluted, which greatly reduces (but doesn't eliminate) the risk of harm. Doughs are typically dipped in a solution made up of 3% to 4% (by weight) lye-to-water before baking.

How do you keep homemade pretzels soft? ›

Storing pretzels properly will preserve their soft, fresh, flavorful quality. First, note that open air and direct sunlight will quickly turn soft pretzels stale. To remedy this, once cooled, sprinkle some salt over the soft pretzels, then seal them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Why did my pretzels come out hard? ›

Soft pretzels can usually be baked in 15 minutes; hard pretzels, meanwhile, must be baked for up to an hour. The longer baking time further dries out the pretzel. And, as we have discussed, the lack of moisture is what gives the hard pretzel its brittle texture.

Why do you dip pretzels in water? ›

So what makes a pretzel into a pretzel? The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust.

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