Description
Delicious homemade pretzel bites served with a creamy beer cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 9 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- coarse salt as needed
- ¼ cup (1/2 stick) butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup lager beer
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl whisk the yeast, warm water, salt and sugar. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Then whisk in the melted butter.
- Using a fork mix in the all-purpose flour until it comes together. Using your hands knead the dough until it is soft and smooth (about 2-3 minutes).
- Flour the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes in a covered bowl.
- Once the pretzel dough has rested, transfer the dough to a surface prepared with a small sprinkle of flour.
- Separate the dough into six chunks.
- Roll each section into strands that are about 20 inches long, cutting each strand about 10-12 times (creating the “bites”). Place them on a baking sheet.
- In the meantime, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the pretzel soak by boiling 9 cups of water.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and stir in the baking soda until the baking soda dissolves.
- Place 10-15 bites into the simmering soda bath and toss around for 10-15 seconds (any longer and the pretzels can have a metallic taste). Remove the pretzels using a slotted spoon and place on a baking sheet.
- Top the pretzel bites with coarse sea salt and bake for about 15 minutes, until golden brown.
- Heat a medium-sized saucepan on low heat add the butter and whisk until melted.
- Add the flour and whisk to combine, cooking for about 1 minute.
- Slowly pour in the beer, whisking constantly.
- Next add heavy whipping cream, again, whisking constantly.
- Continue to whisk over medium until the mixture becomes thick.
- Add garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper, mixing until combined.
- Finally, add the shredded cheese, stir completely, until the cheese has melted, and the sauce is smooth. Remove from heat.
- Serve the pretzels with the beer cheese sauce!
Notes
- Ensure the baking soda is fully dissolved in the water before adding the pretzel bites.
- Be careful not to immerse the pretzels in the soda bath for too long to avoid a metallic taste.
- Feel free to adjust the seasonings in the cheese sauce to your preference.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 bites
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg