Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheddar Cheese Sauce Recipe

Introduction

Homemade soft pretzel bites are warm, chewy, and perfect for snacking or sharing. Paired with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce, these bite-sized treats bring the taste of a classic pretzel shop right into your kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 3 ounces unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
• Vegetable oil (for coating dough and baking sheet)
• 3 quarts water (for boiling)
• 1/3 cup baking soda
• 1 whole egg (beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water)
• Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
• ½ tablespoon unsalted butter (for cheese sauce)
• ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour (for cheese sauce)
• ½ cup milk (for cheese sauce)
• 8 ounces Cheddar cheese (grated, for cheese sauce)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm water, brown sugar, yeast, and melted butter. Mix with a dough hook until combined, then let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add kosher salt and 4 1/2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until incorporated, then increase to medium and knead for 3 to 4 minutes until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the bowl. Add additional flour, one tablespoon at a time, if the dough is too wet.
3. Step 3: Remove the dough from the bowl, knead lightly on a flat surface, and form into a ball. Coat a clean bowl with vegetable oil, place the dough inside, and turn to coat. Cover and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4. Step 4: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
5. Step 5: Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large roasting pan. Slowly add the baking soda, being careful as it will bubble up.
6. Step 6: Turn the dough out onto a flat surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 22-inch rope and cut into 1-inch pieces to form pretzel bites.
7. Step 7: Boil the pretzel bites in batches for about 30 seconds each, then remove with a slotted spoon and place on a baking sheet coated with vegetable oil, making sure they don’t touch.
8. Step 8: Brush each pretzel bite with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
9. Step 9: Let the pretzel bites cool on a rack for 5 minutes before serving.
10. Step 10: To make the cheese sauce, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in milk and cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat, add grated Cheddar, and stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
11. Step 11: Serve the warm pretzel bites with the cheddar cheese sauce for dipping.

Tips & Variations

• For extra flavor, sprinkle garlic powder or cinnamon sugar on the pretzel bites before baking.
• If you don’t have a stand mixer, knead the dough by hand for about 8 to 10 minutes until smooth.
• Try using different cheeses like mozzarella or pepper jack for a unique cheese sauce twist.
• Freeze boiled but unbaked pretzel bites and bake directly from frozen when ready to enjoy fresh pretzels.

Storage

Store leftover pretzel bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To keep them soft, reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes. Cheese sauce should be refrigerated in a sealed container and used within 3 days; gently reheat on the stove with a splash of milk before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it overnight. Bring it to room temperature and let it rise before shaping and boiling.

Why do I boil the pretzel bites in baking soda water?

Boiling in baking soda water gives pretzels their signature chewy crust and helps develop the golden brown color when baked.

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheddar Cheese Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 114 reviews

Delicious homemade soft pretzel bites with a golden crust and soft interior, perfect for snacking. These bites are boiled in a baking soda bath before baking to achieve their classic pretzel texture and served warm with a creamy homemade cheddar cheese sauce for dipping.

• Author: Windy
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 8 servings 1x
• Category: Snack
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pretzel Dough

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
• Vegetable oil (for coating bowl)

Boiling Solution

• 3 quarts water
• 1/3 cup baking soda

Topping

• 1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
• Coarse sea salt

Cheese Sauce

• ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
• ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ½ cup milk
• 8 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm water, light brown sugar, active dry yeast, and melted butter. Mix with the dough hook until just combined. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes to let the yeast activate.
2. Knead the Dough: Add kosher salt and flour to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add additional flour by tablespoon if dough is too wet. Remove dough onto a flat surface and knead into a ball by hand.
3. Let Dough Rise: Lightly oil a large bowl with vegetable oil, place the dough inside, and turn to coat evenly. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4. Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius) to preheat.
5. Prepare Boiling Solution: Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a roasting pan over high heat. Slowly add 1/3 cup baking soda carefully to avoid boilover.
6. Shape Pretzel Bites: Remove dough onto a flat surface and divide into 8 equal portions (about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 ounces each). Roll each piece into a 22-inch long rope. Cut ropes into 1-inch pieces to form pretzel bites.
7. Boil Pretzel Bites: Working in batches (about 15 bites at a time), boil the pretzel bites in the baking soda water for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray, spaced so they do not touch.
8. Egg Wash and Salt: Brush each pretzel bite with the beaten egg wash. Sprinkle liberally with coarse sea salt.
9. Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the pretzel bites turn golden brown.
10. Cool Pretzels: Remove the pretzel bites from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
11. Make Cheese Sauce: Melt ½ tablespoon unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in ½ cup milk and cook until the sauce slightly thickens. Remove from heat and stir in 8 ounces grated Cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
12. Serve: Serve the warm pretzel bites alongside the homemade cheddar cheese sauce for dipping.

Notes

• Ensure water for dough is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast.
• The baking soda bath is essential for the classic pretzel crust texture.
• Add flour gradually during kneading to avoid a tough dough.
• Do not overcrowd the baking sheet when baking; pretzel bites need space to crisp.
• Cheese sauce can be kept warm on low heat or reheated gently before serving.
• For an extra buttery finish, brush baked pretzel bites with melted butter before serving.

Keywords: pretzel bites, soft pretzels, homemade pretzels, cheese sauce, snack recipe