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Crispy German Beer Cheese Pretzel Bites

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Quick and easy bite-sized pretzels made from scratch or frozen dough, boiled in baking soda for an authentic crust, and served with a rich, tangy German beer cheese sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (250g) All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup (240ml) Warm Water
  • 1 tablespoon Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Instant Yeast
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted
  • ½ cup Baking Soda
  • Coarse Kosher Salt, for sprinkling
  • 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup Gruyère Cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup German Beer (pilsner or lager)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add flour and salt, mix until a shaggy dough forms. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth. (If using frozen dough, thaw according to package instructions.)
  2. Shape the bites: Roll the dough into a 1-inch thick rope. Cut into 1-inch pieces and roll each into a ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with a damp towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
  3. Boil the bites: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Stir in baking soda (it will foam). Drop pretzel bites into the water for 30 seconds per batch. Remove with a slotted spoon and place back on the baking sheet.
  4. Bake: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Brush boiled pretzel bites with melted butter and sprinkle generously with coarse kosher salt. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
  5. Make the cheese sauce: While pretzels bake, melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk in beer and mustard. Slowly add shredded cheese, stirring constantly until smooth. Do not boil.
  6. Serve: Serve warm pretzel bites immediately with the hot cheese sauce.

Notes

Do not skip the boiling step as it creates the authentic pretzel crust. Keep the water at a gentle simmer when boiling to avoid breaking the dough. For the cheese sauce, use low heat to prevent separation. If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of milk or beer. If too thin, simmer for another minute. Leftover pretzels can be reheated in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: pretzel bites, beer cheese, german beer cheese, appetizer, game day snack, easy recipe, comfort food, party food

Find it online: https://clunkcook.com/crispy-german-beer-cheese-pretzel-bites-5-ingredient-snack/