Description
Pretzel Bites with Cheddar Sauce are soft, chewy, bite-sized pretzels served warm alongside a rich and creamy cheddar cheese dip. Perfect for parties, game days, or casual snacking, this homemade snack offers the ideal balance of salty, crunchy, and cheesy flavors.
Ingredients
Pretzel Bites:
-
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
-
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
-
1 ¼ cups warm water
-
1 tbsp sugar
-
2/3 cup baking soda (for boiling)
-
1 tsp salt
-
4 tbsp butter, melted
-
Coarse salt, for sprinkling
Cheddar Sauce:
-
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
-
3 tbsp butter
-
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
-
2 cups milk
-
1 tsp mustard powder
-
½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Pretzel Bites:
-
Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water; let sit until foamy (~5-10 minutes).
-
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Add yeast mixture and melted butter; knead until smooth and elastic (~8 minutes).
-
Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
-
Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Divide dough into bite-sized pieces and roll into balls.
-
Boil water with baking soda. Drop pretzel bites in batches for 30 seconds; remove with slotted spoon onto baking sheet.
-
Brush bites with melted butter, sprinkle with coarse salt.
-
Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
Cheddar Sauce:
-
Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook 1-2 minutes to form roux.
-
Gradually whisk in milk; cook until thickened.
-
Remove from heat; stir in shredded cheddar, mustard powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Notes
Add jalapeños or hot sauce to cheddar sauce for spice.Toss pretzel bites in cinnamon sugar for a sweet alternative.Substitute cheese with gouda or pepper jack for different flavors.Serve with mustard or ranch as dipping options.Store pretzel bites airtight at room temperature up to 2 days; cheddar sauce refrigerated up to 3 days.
