Description
These homemade Pretzel Bites with Cheddar Cheese Sauce are soft, chewy, and perfect for snacking or serving at parties. The dough is boiled in a baking soda solution before baking to achieve the classic pretzel texture and finished with a rich, creamy cheddar cheese sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Pretzel Dough
- 1 ½ cups lukewarm water
- 2 ¼ tsp instant rise yeast (¼ oz packet)
- 2 tbsp butter (melted)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 egg (beaten)
- ½ tbsp water
- Coarse salt (for sprinkling)
Cheddar Cheese Sauce
- 2 ¼ cups whole milk
- ¼ cup salted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese (grated)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp ground mustard powder
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add warm water and instant yeast. Whisk together until combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Add melted butter, brown sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture and whisk until incorporated.
- Add Flour and Form Dough: Attach the dough hook to mixer on low speed. Gradually add 3 cups of flour in ½ cup increments until combined and dough pulls away from sides. Add additional flour in ¼ cup increments if dough remains sticky.
- Knead Dough: Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 2 minutes. Shape dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Prepare Baking Soda Bath: While dough rests, bring a large pot of water and baking soda to a boil. Cut dough into six equal pieces, roll each into 1-inch ropes, then cut into 1 ½-inch pretzel bites.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Boil Pretzel Bites: Drop pieces of dough into boiling baking soda water for 20 seconds each. Remove with slotted spoon and transfer to baking sheets, spacing about an inch apart.
- Apply Egg Wash and Salt: In a small bowl, beat egg and water together. Brush egg wash on each pretzel bite and sprinkle with coarse salt.
- Bake Pretzel Bites: Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk until lump-free.
- Cook Cheese Sauce: Increase heat to medium, slowly whisk in milk, and cook while whisking often for about 5 minutes until thickened.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in grated cheddar, salt, pepper, and ground mustard powder. Whisk until smooth and adjust seasonings to taste. Serve cheese sauce warm with pretzel bites.
Notes
- Ensure water is lukewarm (around 110°F) to activate yeast properly without killing it.
- Boiling the dough in baking soda solution is key to achieving the characteristic pretzel crust and chewy texture.
- Use coarse salt for authentic pretzel flavor and texture.
- Cheese sauce can be reheated gently if needed; do not boil to avoid curdling.
- You can use mild, medium, or sharp cheddar depending on preference.
- For a twist, add garlic powder or herbs to the cheese sauce.
