Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese Dip
Pretzel bites with beer cheese dip combine soft, salty dough with creamy, tangy cheese sauce for a deliciously indulgent snack or appetizer. The pretzel bites are made from a yeast dough, boiled briefly then baked to perfection, resulting in a chewy texture and golden crust. Paired with the rich and flavorful beer cheese dip, featuring a blend of cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, and spices, these bite-sized treats offer a satisfyingly savory experience that's perfect for gatherings or game nights.
Ingredients
Pretzel Bites:
- 2 ¼ tsp Fast Active Yeast
- 1 ½ cups Lukewarm Water
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 4 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour 540 grams
- 2 tsp Salt
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Melted Butter
- ¼ cup Baking Soda
- 2 tbsp Milk
- Coarse Salt
Beer Cheese:
- ¼ cup Unsalted Butter
- ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- ½ tsp Paprika
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Cayenne
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 cup IPA or Lager Beer
- 2 cups 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup 4 oz Monterey Jack Cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
Pretzel Bites:
- In the bowl of a mixer, combine yeast, water, and honey. Let it bloom for 5-10 minutes. In another bowl, mix flour and salt.
- Once the yeast mixture has bloomed, add it to the mixer with the dough hook. With the mixer on low, add flour, salt, and butter. Mix on medium speed for 5 minutes.
- Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for an hour.
- After an hour, turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Divide it into 4 balls. Roll each ball into a thick rope and cut into 1-2 tbsp bites.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
- In a large pot, fill ¾ full of water and add baking soda. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, drop the bites into the water for 15-20 seconds. They should float when ready. Remove with a slotted spoon and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Brush with milk and sprinkle with coarse salt.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the middle is cooked through. For the last minute, switch the oven to broil mode to brown the tops.
Beer Cheese:
- While the bites bake, make the beer cheese sauce.
- In a medium pot over medium-low heat, melt butter. Whisk in the seasoning and cook for a minute.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for another minute. Whisk in the mustard followed by the milk and beer. Cook for 4-5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Reduce heat to low and whisk in both cheeses. If the sauce is too thick, slowly add more milk until it reaches a dip consistency.
Serve:
- Dip pretzels into warm beer cheese and enjoy!