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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.

A white bowl filled with crunchy, sweet and spicy pretzels sits on a white surface, with more pretzels scattered in the background.

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.

A baking sheet lined with parchment paper holds a single layer of sweet and spicy pretzels, spread evenly across the surface. The pretzels appear crisp and golden brown.

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Storing Spicy Pretzels

  • To keep these fresh and not stale, be sure to store the room temperature pretzels in an airtight container. They’ll keep for several weeks as long as they’re airtight.
  • I don’t recommend freezing these – they might get soggy upon thawing.

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.
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Sweet and Spicy Pretzels Recipe

By: Dorothy Kern
The perfect snack for parties, afternoon munchies, or gifts! Pretzels are coated with maple syrup and a spicy sweet cinnamon mixture. It’s addicting!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
A white bowl filled with crunchy, sweet and spicy pretzels sits on a white surface, with more pretzels scattered in the background.
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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.

Notes

If you’re using salted pretzels you may want to reduce the added salt by 1/4-1/2 tsp.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Crazy for Crust. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization is strictly prohibited.

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A glass bowl filled with a light brown, speckled powder mixture—perfect for coating sweet and spicy pretzels—sits on a white marble surface.
A clear glass bowl filled with a small amount of brown liquid, placed on a white marble surface—perfect for dipping sweet and spicy pretzels.
A baking sheet lined with parchment paper holds a single layer of small, crunchy sweet and spicy pretzels twists arranged across the surface.
A glass bowl filled with sweet and spicy pretzels sits on a white surface, with a few crumbs and seasoning visible around the bowl.

How to make Spicy Pretzels Step-by-Step

  1. Mix your spices together in a small bowl. Place maple syrup in a medium bowl.
  2. Toast your pretzels for about 5 minutes at 350°F.
  3. Add hot pretzels to the syrup and toss to coat, then sprinkle on spice mixture and toss to coat.
  4. Spread on a cookie sheet and cool before storing.

FAQs

Can you heat the pretzels in the air fryer?

Yes you can – heat for about 5 minutes in the air fryer at 350°F and then continue with the recipe as directed.

Why are my pretzels too spicy?

Start with the lower end of the amount of cayenne to test for spiciness and add more as desired.

Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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60 Comments

  1. Ouch, that water bill is going to hurt!!! These looks fantastic, I am going to give them a try this weekend while I pretend to watch the game 😉

    Reply

  2. Lol – a big game, indeed! I’m mourning the fact that football season is coming to a close. So sad about it. However, I am excited to eat lots of pizza, wings, and awesome snacks like these *fabulous* pretzels! I love that this is a quick and simple recipe. The spices together sound perfect! Btw, those biscoff and toffee pretzel rods are flippin’ genius!

    Reply

    1. It’s still “settling”. The dust makes it darker. We have to brush it twice a day (and that’s harder than it sounds…I have to do it on Friday. Oh joy!)

      Reply

  4. Oh la la 🙂 this is right up my alley. Not “that” alley. Valentines may be coming but I’m a g-rated girl 😉 these look fantastic!

    Reply

  5. Before food blogging, as in when I made something more than once <– SO true!! I can't remember the last time I didn't make something more than once (and recipe testing to get it perfect doesn't count). If anyone besides me in this household ate the desserts I baked, it'd probably drive them insane… 😉 But sweet & spicy is right up both of our alleys! They look delicious Dorothy!

    Reply