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Spicy Pretzels are a sweet and spicy snack – crunchy pretzels coated in a sweet and spicy mixture of brown sugar, cayenne, and other delicious flavors. Make a batch of these pretzels and everyone will beg for the recipe.
Sometimes you just crave a crunchy snack and pretzels are always a top choice. This spicy pretzel recipe is a little different than the regular ranch seasoning ones you normally see – instead these are sweet and spicy pretzels with a little kick. The sweetness cuts the heat and makes them hard to resist!
Ingredients in Pretzel Mix
- You can use any kind of pretzels you like. We prefer a pretzel twist, but you can use pretzel sticks too.
- Gluten-free pretzels can be used.
- The sweetness comes from a mixture of granulated sugar and maple syrup. The maple syrup is what adheres the spice mix to the pretzels.
- The spice comes from ground black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, ground ginger, and ground cinnamon.
- Want to add some other flavors? I think these would be great with garlic powder too.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.
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Dorothy’s Expert Tips
- I prefer to use plain pretzels and the full teaspoon of salt. However, if you’re using salted pretzels you’ll want to cut down on the added salt in the recipe (to about 1/2 teaspoon).
- It’s hard to lower the heat level, so start with a smaller amount of cayenne pepper and add more if needed.
- Heating the pretzels in the oven toasts them and deepens the flavor, and allows the spices to adhere and stick. Don’t skip that step.
- The maple syrup is the “sticky” needed for the spice mixture to stick. You can substitute agave or honey.
Sweet and Spicy Pretzels Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups pretzel twists (approx. 6-7 ounces or 185g)
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt (see note)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper see note
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat. Place pretzels on the cookie sheet.
- Mix sugar and all spices in a small bowl. Place maple syrup in a large bowl.
- Bake the pretzels for about 3-5 minutes, until they’re hot to the touch. Pour the pretzels in the large bowl of maple syrup, toss to coat. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the top and stir to coat. Turn out the pretzels on the cookie sheet and let cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
How to make Spicy Pretzels Step-by-Step
- Mix your spices together in a small bowl. Place maple syrup in a medium bowl.
- Toast your pretzels for about 5 minutes at 350°F.
- Add hot pretzels to the syrup and toss to coat, then sprinkle on spice mixture and toss to coat.
- Spread on a cookie sheet and cool before storing.
FAQs
Yes you can – heat for about 5 minutes in the air fryer at 350°F and then continue with the recipe as directed.
Start with the lower end of the amount of cayenne to test for spiciness and add more as desired.
Okay I just made these, and OMG! They are so good! I can’t stay out of them!! Only one problem, I had to actually put mine back in the oven and bake them a little while longer because they never actually got crunchy on the outside after I coated them. But a few minutes in the oven and they are perfect!! Now to just stay out of them long enough to last until the big game tomorrow!!
Good to know Kim! My sugar dried hard, but it took awhile. Enjoy!!
These would be great for the big game day and I bet a mustard based sauce would taste delicious with these. Maple syrup is always a great option as well. 🙂
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