Try these crispy and utterly delicious homemade pretzel chips. Made with leftover soft pretzels, olive oil, and spices, this is one of the easiest homemade snacks I know, not to mention one of the tastiest.
Today's recipe is very easy, quick, cheap, and totally delicious: homemade pretzel chips made with day-old pretzels.
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What to do with day-old pretzels?
I love leftover recipes, hate throwing away food, and am always looking for ideas for using up whatever leftovers I happen to have.
I am an expert in using leftover hard-boiled eggs; there are lots and lots of wonderful recipes for them on the blog, for instance, Deviled Egg Pasta Salad or Eggs in Mustard Sauce.
But leftover soft pretzels?
We had brunch guests a few weeks ago, and, as usual, I exaggerated the amount of food I served. Between other things, soft pretzels as well. We all love a fresh, salty pretzel smeared with a little butter or German Camembert Spread, but if there are also rolls and pumpernickel and so many other things on the table, you really do not manage to eat a whole large soft pretzel as well.
So, I made pretzel chips. And trust me, no matter how delicious the fresh soft pretzels are, you will probably like the pretzel chips better. They are so crispy and crunchy and spicy that once you start eating them, you will have difficulty stopping.
Recipe ingredients
How to make pretzel chips?
Making the pretzel chips or pretzel crisps at home is very easy.
- Step #1: Cut the old pretzels into pieces. Cutting regular pieces is very important; it's probably the only thing you have to do carefully when making this recipe.
- The actual size of the pretzel chips is not that important. You can cut them thinner or thicker, depending on your taste; just make sure that they are all equally thin or equally thick.
- Otherwise, the thinner pieces will be baked before the thicker ones are done, and they will get too brown and burn around the edges, which will not be nice.
- Step #2: Mix olive oil and spices and pour the mixture over the pretzel pieces. Rub them thoroughly.
- Step #3: Bake the chips for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on size. Leave to cool and serve.
Check out more pretzel recipes: Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket, Romanian Covrigei, and Baked Schnitzel served in a pretzel bun.
How to season the pretzel chips?
Most of the time, I keep it simple: sweet paprika powder and black pepper. I only use salt if the pretzels are unsalted.
Use of salt: I usually buy the salted ones and remove some of the salt flakes; they tend to be too many and mostly concentrated on one half of the pretzel... In this case, salting the pretzel chips is not really necessary. However, if you use unsalted pretzels, I recommend adding a good pinch of salt to the rub mixture as well.
Other spices you might use are any kind of curry powder you like, hot paprika powder or cayenne pepper for a hot alternative, dried herbs like rosemary or thyme, and some garlic or onion powder if you like. Experiment and find your favorite spice mixture.
How to store them?
The pretzels are best served once cooled on the day you make them. Otherwise, they will keep for several days and keep most of their crispiness, if you pack them in an airtight container.
How to serve pretzel chips?
We have the pretzel chips as a snack most of the time. I make them shortly before guests arrive or before one of our family movie evenings and munch on them while we watch the film or chat with our friends.
If you are having them with friends, don't forget the cool beer.
Do you like this recipe?
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How to Make Pretzel Chips
Equipment
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 3 large soft pretzel one or two days old
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
- freshly ground black pepper
- fine sea salt optional and to taste, Note
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 360°F/ 180°C. Line the baking sheet with baking paper.
- Cut the pretzels into regular slices, about as thick as a finger. Cutting regular pieces is very important; the actual size of the pretzel chips is not that important. You can cut them thinner or thicker, depending on your taste; just make sure that they are all equally thin or equally thick. Otherwise, the thinner pieces will be baked before the thicker ones are done, and they will get too brown and burn around the edges.3 large soft pretzel
- Season pretzels: Place the pretzel pieces into a bowl. Mix together the oil and the spices. Pour the mixture over the pretzel chips and rub well.3 tablespoons olive oil + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder + freshly ground black pepper + fine sea salt
- Bake leftover pretzel chips: Place the chips onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on their thickness. Start checking after 10 minutes. They should be completely crisp and golden brown.
marie johson says
I’m always looking for new things to add to my meal and this is such a great idea. thanks 🙂
Amy says
I wonder if these would make good salad croutons? Thanks for sharing this idea.
Adina says
Why not? Sounds good!