Pretzel Bites with Cheese Dip // 3 Ways (2024)

February 16, 2023February 15, 2023 by Erin

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Pretzel Bites with Cheese Dip are the perfect snack for tailgating. Soft, chewy and bite size with a golden crust, they’re perfect for dunking into a rich cheese dip that can be customized 3-ways.

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🛒 Pretzel Bites Ingredients

🧀 Cheese Sauce Ingredients

🥨 How to Make Pretzel Bites

🥣 How To Make Pretzel Cheese Dip

Mustard Pretzel Cheese Dip

Nacho Pretzel Cheese Dip

🛒 Pretzel Bites Ingredients

Flour
Instant Rise Yeast
Butter
Brown Sugar
Baking Soda
Salt
Egg

🧀 Cheese Sauce Ingredients

Milk
Butter
Flour
Cheddar Cheese
Salt + Pepper

🥨 How to Make Pretzel Bites

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water, and whisk to combine.
Add the butter, brown sugar, salt and yeast mixture to a mixing bowl.
Stir until combined. Then slowly add in the flour.
Lightly flour your counter and turn the dough out onto it.
Knead for about 2 minutes, then form into a ball.
Place the dough in a large mixing bowl that has been lightly coated with nonstick spray. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil with the baking soda and preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Section dough into six equal parts and roll each section into long ropes. Then, cut into 1-1/2 inch bites.
Working in batches, drop the pretzel bites into the boiling water for 20 seconds.
Remove with a slotted spoon and place onto parchment paper lined baking sheets, making sure that pretzel bites do not touch. Repeat with remaining pretzel bites.
Brush an egg wash over each pretzel bite and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown. Enjoy!

🥣 How To Make Pretzel Cheese Dip

Heat milk until bubbles form.
In separate pan, melt butter, whisk in flour, and cook until lightly browned.
Add warm milk to flour and whisk until thick.
Stir in the cheese.

Mustard Pretzel Cheese Dip

Make a mustard cheddar cheese sauce for pretzels by adding a dollop of your favorite mustard to the prepared cheese sauce.

Nacho Pretzel Cheese Dip

Make a spicy nacho cheese sauce for pretzels by adding 2 tablespoons of hot sauce and 1 teaspoon cayenne when you add the cheese.

Horseradish Cheese Dip

Make a zingy horseradish cheese sauce for pretzels by adding 2 tablespoons of horseradish when you add the cheese.

Let me just give you a minute to ponder →How many of these pretzel bites can you eat in one sitting?

If you do happen to have leftovers, here’s the best ways to store them…

🕕 How to Make Ahead & Store

The pretzel biteswillremain fresh for up to 3 days in an airtight container, though they will lose some softness. You can also store them in a paper bag.
You can also freeze the baked pretzel bites. To serve, let thaw then reheat in 300-degree oven until warmed through.
You can also make the cheese sauce ahead of time. Simply reheat in the microwave when you’re ready to serve.

✔️ More Appetizer Recipes

Artichoke Queso Blanco
Buffalo Smashed Potatoes
Sausage Bites in White Wine with Creamy Mustard Dipping Sauce
Corn Queso Dip
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Bacon-Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Cherry Peppers

ℹ️ What Goes Good with Pretzel Bites?

Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Potato Cheese Soup
Spicy Beer Chili
Toasted Ravioli

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Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce Recipe

Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce are the perfect snack for tailgating. Soft, chewy and bite size with a golden crust, they're perfect for dunking into a rich cheese dip that can be customized 3-ways.

4.96 from 75 votes

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Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Created by Platings and Pairings

Ingredients

Pretzel Bites

1 1/2 cups water (lukewarm)
2 1/4 teaspoons instant rise yeast ((1/4 ounce packet))
2 Tablespoons butter (melted)
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
1/2 cup baking soda
1 egg (beaten)
Coarse salt (for sprinkling)

Cheese Dip

2 1/4 cups whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese (grated)
salt + pepper to taste

Nacho Cheese Dip

Cheese Dip (recipe above)
1 jalapeno (ribs & seeds removed, diced )
2 Tablespoons hot sauce
1 teaspooon cayenne

Mustard Cheese Dip

Cheese Dip (recipe above)
1 Tablespoon mustard

Horseradish Cheese Dip

Cheese Dip (recipe above)
2 Tablespoons horseradish

Instructions

Pretzel Bites

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water. Whisk well until combined, about 1 minute.
To a mixing bowl add the butter, brown sugar, salt, and yeast mixture. Stir until combined. Slowly add in 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix by hand or use mixer fitted with dough hook, until dough is thick. Add 3/4 cup more flour and stir. If dough is still sticky, add flour, and additional 1/4 cup at a time, until no longer sticky, and dough bounces back when poked with your finger.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 2 minutes and shape into a ball. Place in a large mixing bowl that has been lightly coated with nonstick spray. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil with the baking soda, preheat oven to 425 degrees, and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Section dough into six equal parts and roll each section into long ropes. Then, cut into 1-1/2 inch bites.
Once water is boiling, drop 10 pretzel bites into water and boil 20 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place onto prepared baking sheets, making sure that pretzel bites do not touch. Repeat with remaining pretzel bites.
Brush beaten egg over each pretzel bite and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown, rotating the sheet pans once halfway through cooking.

Cheese Dip

Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form on the top.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in another saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes.
Add the warm milk to the flour butter mixture in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

This recipe was originally published in 2015. It was updated in 202 to add new photographs and an instructional video, and again in 2023 to add new content. The original pretzel bites and cheese dip recipe remains the same. Enjoy!