Soft Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese

Chewy pretzel bites rise from a simple yeast dough, take a brief baking-soda bath, and bake golden beside a creamy sharp-cheddar lager dip.

110 min

8 shareable appetizer servings

Golden salted pretzel bites are served with a bowl of smooth beer-cheese dip.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 1/4 tsp instant yeast

1 tbsp brown sugar

4 cups all-purpose flour for the dough

3 tbsp all-purpose flour for the beer-cheese sauce

1 tsp kosher salt

5 tbsp unsalted butter, divided

10 cups water for the baking-soda bath

1/2 cup baking soda

1 large egg

1 tbsp water for the egg wash

1 tbsp coarse pretzel salt

8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated

1 cup mild lager beer

1/2 cup whole milk

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp smoked paprika

Equipment

Large mixing bowl or stand mixer · Dough hook or clean counter · Large pot · Slotted spoon · Rimmed sheet pan and parchment · Pastry brush · Small saucepan · Whisk

Keep the dip creamy

Use finely grated cheese and add it over gentle heat; boiling after the cheddar goes in can make the sauce grainy.

Serve right from the oven

Pretzel bites are chewiest while warm, so finish the dip as they bake and serve both together.

Mix and rise the dough

01. Combine warm water, instant yeast, and brown sugar; wait 5 minutes for light foam.

02. Add flour, salt, and melted butter; knead 6 to 8 minutes until elastic and slightly tacky.

03. Cover and rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 45 to 60 minutes, until doubled.

Prepare cheese and shape bites

04. Grate cheddar and measure lager, milk, mustard, and paprika while the dough rises.

05. Heat oven to 425 F, divide dough into 6 pieces, roll into ropes, and cut into 1-inch bites.

Use the soda bath carefully

06. Turn off heat before adding baking soda to the boiling water; add it slowly as it foams, then return to a gentle simmer.

07. Dip bites about 20 seconds per batch, drain, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake and make the dip

08. Bake at 425 F for 12 to 15 minutes, rotating once, until rich golden brown.

09. Whisk flour into melted butter, then add milk and lager gradually; remove from hard heat before stirring in cheddar.

Serve warm

10. Bring the smooth warm beer-cheese dip to the table with the pretzel bites while their centers are still soft.