Description
Soft, chewy homemade pretzel bites served with a creamy, sharp beer cheese dip. This easy recipe takes about 45 minutes and is perfect for game day or weeknight snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 to 3.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ⅔ cup baking soda
- Coarse sea salt or pretzel salt for sprinkling
- 2 tablespoons butter (for dip)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for dip)
- 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup beer (lager or pilsner)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Add melted butter and salt to the yeast mixture. Add flour and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Let dough rise in a covered bowl for 30-45 minutes until doubled.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then stir in baking soda. Reduce heat to a simmer.
- Punch down dough and divide into 4-6 pieces. Roll into ropes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Roll into rough balls.
- Boil pretzel bites in batches for 30 seconds per side until they float. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Sprinkle boiled bites with coarse salt and bake for 12-15 minutes until deep golden brown.
- While pretzels bake, melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour to make a roux, then slowly whisk in beer and milk. Cook until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese, mustard, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
- Serve warm pretzel bites immediately with the hot beer cheese dip.
Notes
The baking soda bath is essential for the authentic pretzel flavor and dark crust. Always grate your own cheese for the dip to ensure a smooth texture. You can freeze unbaked pretzel bites for later use.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 8-10 b
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
Keywords: pretzel bites, beer cheese dip, game day snack, homemade pretzels, soft pretzels, easy snack, party food