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Crunchy, soft, Cinnamon Crunch Apple Butter Soft Pretzel Knots. Homemade soft pretzel dough made with simmered down spiced apple cider. Then rolled up with sweet apple butter and cinnamon sugar. Each knot is topped with a cinnamon CRUNCH coating, then baked. These knots have the yummiest cinnamon and apple flavor. They’re just perfect when eaten warm, right out of the oven! Each pretzel has a little cinnamon crunch with every bite. Everyone loves these soft yet crunchy knots!
Everyone is baking up a pumpkin storm, but I’m here to remind you that it’s still apple season too! I’m so excited to be sharing this recipe. It’s a cross between a yummy apple cider doughnut and a salty, chewy soft pretzel.
If you love a classic apple cider doughnut, these are for you.
Originally, this recipe didn’t include any apple, it was just a sweet cinnamon crunch pretzel knot. But then I wondered if apple butter could actually make these better.
I was too curious not to test it out. And I’m so excited to tell you all that it worked so wonderfully! I don’t think I could love these anymore. They’re quite honestly what fall baking is all about. Cinnamon, apples, and sugar.
All things sweet and nice!
Here are details
Using pretzel dough is the key. You get a really chewy, soft dough with a beautiful golden crust. They’re chewy and perfect.
First, you’ll need apple cider. I recommend finding the best quality spiced cider with no added sugars. If you can, pick up some fresh apple cider from your local farmers’ market. Or even better, go apple picking and pick some up! Nothing quite beats a really good apple cider. It’s always so flavorful this time of year. You could also make my maple apple cider.
Then just some yeast, honey, flour, butter, and salt. Knead everything together in a mixer and let the dough rise.
The pretzel dough is very easy to work with, so don’t let anything intimidate you!
The key to these knots? The sweet cinnamon apple filling and that crunchy, cinnamon, sugar topping.
The filling is made with a delicious blend of cinnamon sugar and apple butter.
The cinnamon crunch topping is a mix of brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and butter.
When the dough is ready, roll it out. Then spread on some butter, apple butter, and cinnamon sugar. Next, fold the dough in half, cut 14-16 strips, and twist! Just twist each strip and then coil it into a knot.
Sprinkle the topping over the top of each knot before baking. As the knots bake, the cinnamon melts into the sugar and butter becoming gooey, while the topping begins to caramelize becoming crunchy.
Promise this is not hard and they do not need to be perfect!
Together they are DELICIOUS.
I do want to note that some of the cinnamon crunch will fall off the knots and onto the pan. What I like to do is spoon/scoop the sugar up off the pan. Then simply spoon it back over each knot. This is why it’s important to line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
You have to eat these warm while they’re crunchy, soft, and gooey. Perfect for fall weekend baking!
Looking for fall baking recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Chewy Brown Sugar Maple Cookies
Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Old Fashioned Caramel Apple Butter Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Lastly, if you make these Cinnamon Crunch Apple Butter Soft Pretzel Knots, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Cinnamon Crunch Apple Butter Soft Pretzel Knots
Servings: 16 knots
Calories Per Serving: 359 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider, warm
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, melted
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup apple butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Instructions
- 1. Combine the water, honey, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit for 5 minutes, until bubbly on top.2. Add the apple cider, butter, and flour. Mix on medium speed until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough is too wet or too dry, add additional flour or water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Cover the bowl and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1-2 hours.3. Meanwhile, mix the sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a bowl. 4. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. 5. On a floured surface, roll the dough out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick (about 16×14 inches), adding flour as needed. Spread the dough with 4 tablespoons butter, then the apple butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Fold the dough in half, pressing to adhere. Cut into 16 strips. Twist each strip into a loose knot, it doesn't need to be perfect. 6. Melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add the brown sugar, flour, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Spoon clumps of the brown sugar mix over the knots (see above photo). 7. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until pretzels are golden brown. Enjoy warm or at room temp, warm is best in my book!
I am sorry to have to say that they are delicious but for the after-effects of acne after having given into consumption and greediness…; not good for my skin at all but good on the tummy! I am sorry; thank you for sharing.
Hey there,
Wonderful! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you giving it a try! Have a great weekend!🍁
Hey Tieghan – I made these today and I think the 1/4 cup soda is wrong. They are sooooo salty. I didn’t see the soda in the directions so perhaps I did something wrong. Perhaps 1/4 t? Thanks for any help- I’d like to try again 😊
Hi Ashlee,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try, SO SORRY the baking soda was a typo, there is no baking soda in the recipe! I hope you’ll give them another try! xx
Instuctions-
Step 5 it males reference to Apple butter.
Don’t see that ingredient???
Hi Kristin,
This recipe calls for 3/4 cup of apple butter. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Yummy chew sticky goodness
Just saw your comments below! Sorry! Thanks for clarifying- I’ll try again tomorrow! House smells amazing tho!
So sorry about that!!
Thanks so much Christine!
Pretty sure the 1/4 cup baking soda is just a typo from the recipe template for the soft pretzels (which is added to the boiling water in that recipe).
I made these as is and ignored the typo about the baking soda, and just didn’t use any. They came out perfect – really delicious! A nice twist on the traditional cinnamon bun.
Thanks so much Aline:) Yes, the baking soda was a typo, but so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for making it! xT
I can’t wait to make these! My family went nuts over the Cider Pretzels and I know they’ll love these!
Hey Stephanie,
Happy Friday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out tasty for you, thanks a bunch for giving it a try!
I am questioning the amount of baking soda; 1/4 cup does sound a lot and when is it added with the flour?
Hey Gayle,
So sorry, the baking soda was a typo, all fixed:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
IS the recipe correct? Where do you use baking soda?
Hi Linda,
So sorry, the baking soda was a typo, all is fixed now! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Where do you use the baking soda in this recipe?
Hi Patricia,
So sorry, the baking soda was a typo, all fixed!! I hope you love the recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
1/4 cup soda?
1/4 baking soda ❓
Hi Lucie,
You can ignore that, the baking soda was a typo, there is no baking soda in the recipe:)
Hi Jewel,
So sorry, that was a typo, there is no baking soda in this recipe:) Please let me know if you give them a try! xx
I’m wondering if this is a hold over from the basic soft pretzel recipe where you’d boil the pretzels before you bake them so they get the glossy, crisp outside. Clearly you wouldn’t boil this recipe, but maybe it didn’t get deleted????
Hi Vicki,
So sorry, the baking soda was a typo, all is fixed! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Wow thank you for the helpful hints. I am excited to try these. Already made apple butter. . The other goodies look amazing as well.
Thanks so much Cynthia! I hope these are tasty for you! Happy Friday! xT
How do I make these if I don’t have a stand mixer?
Hi Jennifer,
You can mix with a wooden spoon and then knead by hand until you have a smooth dough ball. Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Im confused with the 1/4 cup Baking soda and its not in the instructions.
Milena, me too. and 1/4 c Baking soda along with yeast seems excessive. Hope she clears this up.
Sorry Leslie, that was a typo!! All is fixed now:) Happy Friday! xT
Hi Milena,
So sorry, that was a typo, all fixed!! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Can’t wait to make these, Tieghan! I’ve made your cinnamon crunch knots many times and they never disappoint! I just happen to have a few jars of homemade apple butter in my pantry, so I’m all set!
1/4 cup baking soda?
Hi Brenda,
You can ignore that, the baking soda was a typo, there is no baking soda in the recipe:)
Thanks so much Colleen!! I hope you love this recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan