National Pretzel Day is the perfect excuse to turn a simple snack into something way more interesting. Pretzels are good on their own but they are even better when you load them up, crush them into a crust, or stuff them with something worth talking about. These recipes take pretzels way past the food court and actually give you a reason to celebrate.
Stuffed Pretzel Bites
These pretzel bites are filled with creamy hummus and baked until golden, giving you a soft salty outside and a smooth filling inside. Great for Pretzel Day when you want something a little more interesting than a plain pretzel.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Pretzel Bites
Pretzel Crusted Pork Chops
Pretzel crumbs give baked pork chops a crunchy finish that makes dinner feel like it actually took effort. This is a great way to fold Pretzel Day into a full dinner without needing to change much about your usual routine.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Crusted Pork Chops
Gluten Free Soft Pretzels
These gluten free soft pretzels taste just as chewy and addictive as the ones you remember. They are a great way to make sure everyone has something to snack on for Pretzel Day without anyone missing out.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Soft Pretzels
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This old-school dessert layers a salty pretzel crust, creamy filling, and a sweet strawberry Jell-O top packed with fresh berries. It has been a potluck favorite for decades because it just works. There is no better excuse than National Pretzel Day to bring it back and remind everyone why it never went away.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Salty pretzels topped with melted Rolos and crunchy pecans are about as easy as treats get. These bite-sized snacks bring that salty sweet mix people actually want and are perfect for a last-minute Pretzel Day celebration. Make a double batch because they disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Hershey Kiss Pretzels Snack
All you need are pretzels, Hershey Kisses, and M&Ms to pull off these colorful little snacks. They take about five minutes to make and still somehow look like you put in effort. Great for Pretzel Day when you want to celebrate but also want something you can make without thinking too hard.
Get the Recipe: Hershey Kiss Pretzels Snack
Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate Topping and Pretzel Crust
A homemade pretzel crust gives this creamy peanut butter pie the salty base it needs to balance all that sweet richness. This no-bake dessert is a great way to celebrate Pretzel Day if you want something that feels a little more impressive but is still easy to pull together.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate Topping and Pretzel Crust
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
Skip the bag from the store and make your own peanut butter pretzel nuggets from scratch. These are soft, chewy, and way better than anything prepackaged. Pretzel Day is a great excuse to finally tackle a homemade version that actually delivers.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
Sourdough Pretzels
If you have a sourdough starter and a little patience, these chewy sourdough pretzels are worth the time. They bring that classic bakery-style chew with a tang that sets them apart. They are perfect for showing off your skills and giving Pretzel Day a little extra bragging rights.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Pretzels
Homemade Take 5 Bites
Everything you love about a Take 5 bar packed into an easy homemade treat. Pretzels, caramel, peanut butter, and chocolate all show up and do their job. These are a great way to turn Pretzel Day into a full-on snack fest without having to buy a bunch of candy bars.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Take 5 Bites
Pretzel Crusted Chicken
Chicken coated in crushed pretzels and baked until crispy gives you the crunch you want without needing a fryer. Serve it with a quick honey mustard sauce and you have a dinner that checks every box. It is a perfect way to sneak Pretzel Day into your dinner plans without making extra work.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Crusted Chicken
Toffee Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookie
These cookies are packed with peanut butter, crunchy pretzels, and little bits of toffee for a salty sweet combo that never gets old. They are easy to mix up and great for celebrating Pretzel Day when you are more of a cookie person than a soft pretzel person.
Get the Recipe: Toffee Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookie
Spider Web Pretzel Snacks
Pretzel sticks, white chocolate, and a little patience turn into these fun spider web snacks that are perfect for Halloween but work just as well for Pretzel Day. They are simple to make and let you celebrate with something that looks cool without needing baking skills.
Get the Recipe: Spider Web Pretzel Snacks
Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
These soft and buttery pretzel bites taste just like the ones you buy at the mall but better because you made them yourself. Perfect for parties, game days, or just a solid Pretzel Day snack you can dip in anything from mustard to nacho cheese.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
Homemade Blue Cheese Mini Pretzels
Pretzels stuffed with blue cheese bring a bold upgrade to the usual snack lineup. These are a little different, a little fancy, and a great way to flex your flavor game on Pretzel Day without making things complicated.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Blue Cheese Mini Pretzels
Taralli
These Italian-style pretzels have a satisfying crunch and a savory flavor thanks to olive oil and white wine. They are easy to batch out and perfect for Pretzel Day if you want something a little different than the usual soft pretzel setup.
Get the Recipe: Taralli
Firecracker Pretzel Rods
Pretzel rods dipped in red, white, and blue candy coating are perfect for patriotic holidays but there is no reason not to use Pretzel Day as an excuse. They are festive, easy to make, and great for getting kids involved too.
Get the Recipe: Firecracker Pretzel Rods
Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix
This snack mix packs pretzels, crackers, and cereal all coated in a parmesan ranch seasoning. It is a great big batch recipe to have on hand for Pretzel Day parties when you need something that keeps people snacking without any extra prep.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix
Hot Honey Pretzel Chicken Fingers
These pretzel crusted chicken fingers bake up crispy with a spicy sweet hot honey drizzle that hits just right. They are easy to make, great for feeding a crowd, and a smart way to make Pretzel Day feel like a full meal instead of just a snack break.
Get the Recipe: Hot Honey Pretzel Chicken Fingers
Soft Beer Pretzels with Beer Cheese Dip
Soft pretzels made with a splash of beer for flavor and served with a creamy beer cheese dip are a great way to make Pretzel Day feel like an event. Perfect for game days or casual get-togethers when you want something that feels a little more grown up.
Get the Recipe: Soft Beer Pretzels with Beer Cheese Dip
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Fresh strawberries, whipped cream cheese filling, and a crunchy pretzel crust come together in this classic no-bake dessert. It is a great way to bring something bright and fresh to Pretzel Day that still leans hard into that salty sweet combo.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Chewy Chocolate Chip, Marshmallow, and Pretzel Cookies
Pretzels baked into marshmallow chocolate chip cookies add the perfect salty crunch to an otherwise sweet cookie. These are the kind of treats that work great for Pretzel Day when you want something fun but still easy to throw together.
Get the Recipe: Chewy Chocolate Chip, Marshmallow, and Pretzel Cookies
S’mores Dip
Swap out graham crackers and use pretzels to scoop up melted chocolate and gooey marshmallows in this easy baked s’mores dip. It is the kind of messy, satisfying dessert that deserves a spot at any Pretzel Day party.
Get the Recipe: S’mores Dip
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.