Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce
Soft, chewy pretzel bites served with a creamy cheese sauce, perfect for game days or movie nights.
Ingredients
Pretzel Bites
- 1 1/2 cups warm water Make sure it's warm but not hot.
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 package active dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
- 3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour Add more as needed if the dough is too wet.
- Vegetable oil for greasing bowl
- 3 quarts water For boiling pretzel bites.
- 1/3 cup baking soda
- 1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water For egg wash.
- Coarse sea salt For sprinkling over pretzel bites.
Cheese Sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 8 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated You can substitute with other melting cheeses.
Optional Toppings
- Cinnamon and sugar For a sweet topping.
- Soft cream cheese For frosting.
- Powdered sugar For frosting.
- Vanilla extract For frosting.
- Milk For adjusting frosting consistency.
Instructions
Dough Preparation
- Combine warm water, brown sugar, yeast, and melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix with a dough hook until combined and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Add salt and flour, mix on low speed until combined, then increase to medium and knead until smooth, about 3-4 minutes. If too wet, add more flour one tablespoon at a time.
- Remove dough, knead into a ball, and place in an oiled bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Boiling and Baking
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Boil 3 quarts of water in a small roasting pan and slowly add baking soda.
- Divide risen dough into 8 pieces, roll each into a 22-inch rope, and cut into 1-inch pieces for pretzel bites.
- Boil pretzel bites in the baking soda water for 30 seconds, then remove with a slotted spoon and place on a greased baking sheet.
- Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
Cheese Sauce
- For cheese sauce, melt butter in a saucepan, add flour, and cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk in milk, cook until thickened, then stir in Cheddar cheese until smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Notes
Serve them warm with the cheese sauce for dipping. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 5-10 minutes.