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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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://thedishspot.com/homemade-soft-pretzel-bites-with-cheddar-cheese-sauce-recipe/