Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce
We are obsessed with these Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce! These buttery bites are made with bread flour for extra chewiness – perfect for dipping in a simple cheddar dipping sauce. Make this delicious recipe for your next game day, gathering with friends, or a fun night in!
Chewy Pretzel Bites
This recipe came about one afternoon when my son and his girlfriend were hanging out and wanted something to snack on. I was wanting to try this recipe and so they were my guinea pigs, LOL.
Admittedly, this one has taken a few practice runs because it’s easy to overdue the baking soda bath which can only result in one thing – a drop in trash bucket. Take it from me, make sure you only let the pretzel dough bites soak for 15-20 seconds to avoid a metallic taste!
I love a project, and this recipe is a great one to work on together when you have a few extras in the kitchen. One person to prep the dough, another to do the baking soda bath and bake, and then a few others to EAT these bites as fast as you make them. Speaking from experience here.
Try some soft and buttery homemade pretzel dogs or Pretzel Sandwich Buns Recipe next!
Why This Recipe Works:
- FUN TO MAKE – While there are multiple steps, this recipe is truly a fun one to make.
- SUPER TASTY – Salty, buttery, and absolutely delicious. Need I say more?
- IMPRESSIVE – Whenever I make these, I get all the oooohhs and aaaahhs. Everyone asks, “You MADE these?” Yup. Make them!
Ingredients needed for Soft Homemade Pretzel Bites:
This recipe uses mostly pantry ingredients. It’s a great recipe to whip up on a whim.
- Yeast – I use active dry yeast. Red Star is my preferred brand.
- Brown Sugar – Just a bit to help activate the yeast.
- Water – You’ll need warm water (between 105-110 degrees) to activate the yeast.
- Butter – Some melted butter makes these pretzel bites…buttery! 😀
- Salt – Kosher salt is what I use in most of my cooking and baking. Sea salt could also be used.
- Flour – Using bread flour makes these nice and chewy. You could, however, use all-purpose flour.
- For boiling – You’ll need a combo of water and baking soda.
- Egg Wash – A mixture of egg and water.
- For Topping – After the pretzel bites come out of the oven, you’ll want to brush with softened butter.
For the cheese sauce, you’ll need sharp butter, flour, milk, cheddar cheese, and hot sauce (plus salt and pepper).
How to make Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce:
Step 1
Activate the yeast. In a bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, brown sugar, and warm water (warmed to 105-110 degrees F). Take a spatula and stir it around a couple of times. Then let it sit for about 15 minutes so that the yeast activates. The mixture get bubbly when it’s ready.
Step 2
Add butter. Add melted butter to the mixing bowl and stir again with a spatula.
Step 3
Add salt and flour to desired consistency. Add 3.5 cups of bread flour and kosher salt to the mixer. Attach dough hook and let the mixer run, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Gradually add more flour until you get a nice dough consistency. It should be slightly sticky, but easy to handle.
Step 4
Let dough rise. Grease a large bowl with oil. Remove dough from mixer and form it into a ball. Then place the dough ball in the bowl and cover it with a clean dish towel. Place bowl in a warm place in your kitchen and let rise until approximately doubled in size, about 30-35 minutes.
Step 5
Prep. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 6
Prep water bath. Combine the water and the baking soda together in a large pot. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
Step 7
Shape pretzel bites. Spread a little bit of oil on a clean working surface or baking mat. Divide dough into eight sections, and roll out each section into a long rope. (See pictures.) Slice into approximate one-inch equal pieces.
Step 8
Boil bites. Gently drop about 12-15 pretzel pieces into the boiling water at a time. Cook for 15-20 seconds, and then immediately start removing them with a slotted spoon, shaking off excess water as you go. Place on the prepared baking sheets and brush with egg wash and a sprinkle of coarse salt, and continue with remaining dough.
For this size recipe, I was able to place half of the dough bites on each baking sheet. While one batch was baking, I prepped the other half of the dough.
PRO-TIP: Make sure you shake off the excess water after the baking soda bath. You can also strain them in a colander and quickly add to baking sheet.
Step 9
Bake. Bake bites in a preheated 450 degree oven for approximately 15-17 minutes, or until nice and golden brown. Immediately brush with softened butter.
Step 10
Make pretzel cheese sauce. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir until full incorporated. Then add the milk, salt, and pepper and stir until slightly thickened.
Add cheese and hot sauce to the mixture and stir until cheese is completely melted. Remove the pan from the heat and spoon the cheese sauce into a serving bowl.
Step 11
Serve. Enjoy the pretzel bites warm out of the oven with our Pretzel Cheese Dip, Light Honey Mustard Dressing, or whatever you choose. Enjoy!
Leftover pretzel bites can be stored in an airtight container for several days. Reheat in the microwave and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs:
The baking soda bath gives pretzels their signature dark brown color, chewy crust, and distinctive pretzel flavor.
Just 20–30 seconds—any longer can cause a bitter baking soda taste.
This usually happens if there’s too much baking soda in the water, the pretzels were boiled too long, or they weren’t drained well before baking.
Baked baking soda is less harsh and creates a smoother, more traditional pretzel flavor—similar to using lye but safer for home baking.
Bake them hot—425–450°F—so they brown properly and don’t taste alkaline.
Yes. You can shape and refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours or freeze baked pretzel bites and reheat before serving.
Brush them with melted butter right after baking and store them in an airtight container once cooled.
Coarse pretzel salt is classic, but garlic salt, cinnamon sugar, or everything seasoning are all great options.
Cheese sauce, mustard, beer cheese, or honey mustard are all popular and delicious choices.
Other Bread Recipes:
- Homemade Brioche Buns – Another soft and buttery recipe, and a great recipe for sandwiches.
- Chewy French Bread – My most popular recipe on the blog. Just five ingredients to the best, easy bread!
- Easy Rosemary Focaccia Bread – The perfect bread for your next Italian meal, soft and delicious.
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
- Bosch Universal Mixer – The mixer I’ve used for years, and perfect for bread making.
- Silicone Baking Mat – I love using baking mats for any kind of bread, like this one.
- Scraper & Chopper – This is great for cutting dough and other baked goods.
xoxo ~Sue
Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon yeast
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 3/4 cup warm water (413 grams)
- 2 Tablespoons butter – melted
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 4 – 4¼ cups bread flour (520-552 grams) – more or less, to desired consistency
Other:
- 8 cups water
- 8 Tablespoons baking soda
- egg wash
- coarse salt – either sea salt or kosher salt
- butter – for brushing on after baking
For cheese sauce:
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese – freshly shredded
- 1-2 Tablespoons Frank's hot sauce
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
Instructions
- Activate the yeast. In a bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, brown sugar, and warm water (warmed to 105-110 degrees F). Take a spatula and stir it around a couple of times. Then let it sit for about 15 minutes so that the yeast activates. The mixture get bubbly when it’s ready.1 Tablespoon yeast, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1 3/4 cup warm water (413 grams)
- Add butter. Add melted butter to the mixing bowl and stir again with a spatula.2 Tablespoons butter
- Add salt and flour to desired consistency. Add 3.5 cups of bread flour and kosher salt to the mixer. Attach dough hook and let the mixer run, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Gradually add more flour until you get a nice dough consistency. It should be slightly sticky, but easy to handle.1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, 4 – 4¼ cups bread flour (520-552 grams)
- Let dough rise. Grease a large bowl with oil. Remove dough from mixer and form it into a ball. Then place the dough ball in the bowl and cover it with a clean dish towel. Place bowl in a warm place in your kitchen and let rise until approximately doubled in size, about 30-35 minutes.
- Prep. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prep water bath. Combine the water and the baking soda together in a large pot. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.8 cups water, 8 Tablespoons baking soda
- Shape pretzel bites. Spread a little bit of oil on a clean working surface or baking mat. Divide dough into eight sections, and roll out each section into a long rope. (See pictures.) Slice into approximate one-inch equal pieces.
- Boil bites. Gently drop about 12-15 pretzel pieces into the boiling water at a time. Cook for 15-20 seconds, and then immediately start removing them with a slotted spoon, shaking off excess water as you go. Place on the prepared baking sheets and brush with egg wash and a sprinkle of coarse salt, and continue with remaining dough.For this size recipe, I was able to place half of the dough bites on each baking sheet. While one batch was baking, I prepped the other half of the dough.egg wash, coarse salt
- PRO-TIP: Make sure you shake off the excess water after the baking soda bath. You can also strain them in a colander and quickly add to baking sheet.
- Bake. Bake bites in a preheated 450 degree oven for approximately 15-17 minutes, or until nice and golden brown. Immediately brush with softened butter.butter
- Make pretzel cheese sauce. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir until full incorporated. Then add the milk, salt, and pepper and stir until slightly thickened.Add cheese and hot sauce to the mixture and stir until cheese is completely melted. Remove the pan from the heat and spoon the cheese sauce into a serving bowl.2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1 cup milk, 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, 1-2 Tablespoons Frank's hot sauce, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Serve. Enjoy the pretzel bites warm out of the oven with some Pretzel Cheese Dip, Light Honey Mustard Dressing, or whatever you choose. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Be careful when doing the baking soda bath. If you let the dough bite in the pot for too long, they will taste acidic. Trust me, I’ve done it and it’s so frustrating!
- Leftover pretzel bites can be stored in an airtight container for several days. Reheat in the microwave and dip in some homemade cheese sauce!
Really Helpful! Thanks for the blog!
You’re welcome!
These pretzel bites make a great appetizer along with the beer cheese dip. I found that a key part of the process is to properly drain the soda water after boiling – I didn’t on my first attempt. Get them to a nice golden brown. On my second attempt they were a big hit! We’ll be making these often.
Thanks so much for your feedback, Dave! 🙂
I’ve been making homemade pretzels for years and decided to try a new recipe. This recipe was so good and so easy! This is the first time I’ve tried using boiling water with baking powder vs hot water. It definitely makes it easier to dissolve the powder. This is my new go to! Thanks, Sue!
Oh, I’m so happy you tried these pretzels, Terry! Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
Kids enjoyed making these! The whole family enjoyed this. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re very welcome! 🙂
What a fabulous pretzel recipe. It is easy to follow and the pretzels are a great snack. The honey adds a great flavor to the dough.
So glad you enjoyed them, Eileen! Thanks for your feedback!
Need to get my hands on more yeast for these. Bread baking is my happy place too.
I hope you find it, Ariella! 🙂
I will definitely make this recipe. I always order something similar at the movie theater and I love the salty bite with the cheesy sauce.
Let me know how it turns out, Carlos!
Pretzel bites with a cheese dip is such a great snack idea, especially making it with stuff you have on hand – YUM!
Exactly! Enjoy these, Terri!
I’ve been baking more than usual lately, and pretzels was on my list~ I pinned to make next week.
So glad! Let me know how these turn out, Anne!
Taste amazing and so much fun to eat! Love the bite size so I can eat more!
Bite sized is good, isn’t it? 🙂
You make these look so easy that I’m definitely going to make these.
Thanks Laura!
Better than Auntie Anne’s, Sue! A real treat and fun to make!
Oh great! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pretzels, Danalea!