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Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe Easy Cozy Homemade with Gooey Cheese Dip

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A cozy homemade soft pretzel bites recipe featuring soft, chewy pretzels with a golden crust, served with a rich and gooey cheese dip. Perfect for casual gatherings, movie nights, or a comforting snack.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (440 g)
  • 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water (300 ml, about 110°F/43°C)
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (56 g)
  • 10 cups water (2.4 L) for baking soda bath
  • ⅔ cup baking soda (150 g)
  • Coarse sea salt or pretzel salt (to taste)
  • Melted butter (optional, for brushing)
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (115 g)
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened (115 g)
  • ½ cup milk (120 ml)
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast: In a large mixing bowl, whisk warm water (1 ¼ cups) with sugar (1 tbsp) and yeast (2 ¼ tsp). Let sit until frothy and bubbly, about 5-10 minutes.
  2. Mix the dough: Add melted butter (4 tbsp), salt (2 tsp), and flour (3 ½ cups) to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms. Knead by hand on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  3. Let it rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  4. Prepare baking soda bath: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). In a large pot, bring 10 cups water and ⅔ cup baking soda to a rolling boil.
  5. Shape pretzel bites: Punch down dough, divide into 4 parts. Roll each into a ½ inch thick rope and cut into 1-inch pieces.
  6. Boil pretzel bites: Using a slotted spoon, dip pretzel bites into boiling baking soda bath for 30 seconds per side. Remove and place on baking sheet.
  7. Season and bake: Brush bites with melted butter (optional), sprinkle with coarse salt, and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Prepare cheese dip: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine cream cheese, shredded cheddar, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, Dijon mustard (optional), and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and melted.
  9. Serve warm: Let pretzel bites cool slightly and serve immediately with warm cheese dip.

Notes

If dough feels too sticky, dust hands lightly with flour but avoid adding too much. Keep baking soda bath at a rolling boil but reduce heat if it foams too much. For smooth cheese dip, keep heat low and whisk constantly. Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Pretzel salt can be substituted with coarse sea salt.

Nutrition

Keywords: soft pretzel bites, pretzel bites recipe, homemade pretzels, cheese dip, snack recipe, easy pretzels, cozy snack

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/soft-pretzel-bites-recipe-easy-cozy-homemade-with-gooey-cheese-dip/