With a crisp, salty outside and dense, chewy inside, these Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce elevate snack time. From-scratch pretzels and melty cheese make a snack the whole family will love!
A Snack You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into
These Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce are from-scratch pretzels done right! Soft and chewy inside and just the right amount of salty crust on the outside. Served with a melty, flavorful cheese sauce, they’re the perfect soft pretzel recipe.
Ballpark Pretzel Right in Your Kitchen
You know that feeling when you first bite into a homemade pretzel? Salty and crisp on the outside. Warm, soft and chewy inside. Oh my gosh, y’all. It reminds me of being at a ballgame! Definitely one of my favorites! These pretzel bites are ballpark pretzel goodness you don’t have to leave home for!
Perfect for the Big Game
Pretzel Bites are great for serving during game time or any time you have a hungry crowd. I use these pretzel bites in the Game Day Board from my Beautiful Boards cookbook and The Big Game Spread (seen below) from my Spectacular Spreads cookbook. They’re so versatile!
Quick Tip: Give it Time
Although this pretzel recipe is very easy, the dough takes about an hour to rise, so make sure you factor that into your planning.
What Do I Need to Make Soft Pretzel Bites?
- Active dry yeast
- Granulated sugar
- Warm water (110°F)
- Unsalted butter, melted & slightly cooled
- All-purpose flour or bread flour
- Kosher salt and coarse sea salt
- Baking soda
- Large eggs
How to Make Soft Pretzel Bites
- First, add the yeast and sugar to a large bowl. Gently pour the warm water over it and let proof until foamy, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk in the melted butter and then stir in the flour and salt until well combined. Using well-floured hands, form dough into a moist ball.
- Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Bring 7 cups water and 1/3 cup baking soda to a slight boil in a large pot. Reduce heat to medium low.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set a wire rack over another baking sheet.
- Once dough has doubled in size, divide into 6 equal portions, about 1/2 cup each. Place portions of dough back into the greased bowl and cover with the damp cloth while you work with one portion at a time.
- Roll and stretch a portion of dough into a 20-inch rope with your hands. Cut the long ropes of dough into about one-inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Repeat with two more portions of dough.
- NOTE: You will want to make the pretzel bites in two batches (3 portions of dough and then the remaining 3 portions of dough)
- Using a slotted spoon, gently place about 15 of the pretzel bites at a time into the hot baking soda solution. Keep submerged for about 15 seconds, and then transfer to the wire rack.
- Repeat process with 15 more bites of dough until you’ve boiled all of the bites from the first three portions of dough.
- Transfer boiled pretzel bites to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Then whisk together one egg and 1 teaspoon water.
- Brush the egg wash all over the tops and sides of each pretzel bite and immediately sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt.
- Place baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and bake pretzel bites until golden, 12-14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking time.
- NOTE: While first batch of pretzel bites are baking, prepare the other three portions of dough into boiled bites so they’re ready to go in the oven when the first batch comes out.
- Place baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and bake pretzel bites until golden brown, 12-14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking time.
- While first batch of pretzel bites are baking, prepare the other three portions of dough into boiled bites so they’re ready to go in the oven when the first batch comes out.
How to Make the Cheese Sauce
- First, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Then whisk in the flour and then slowly whisk in the milk. Continue whisking until it comes to a slight simmer. Reduce the heat to low.
- Add in the cheese and stir frequently until melted.
- Serve immediately or keep warm over low heat so it stays melty until you’re ready to serve it. Whisk in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the cheese sauce starts to thicken.
More Small Bites They’ll Love
- Bacon, Spinach and Tomato Egg Bites: A quick, delicious, protein-packed breakfast they’ll love. Tangy feta, ripe tomato and fresh spinach make these breakfast bites small but mighty.
- Easy Cheesy Sausage Bites: For an easy, flavorful appetizer or snack, try these Easy Cheesy Sausage Balls! Crisp on the outside with a soft and savory inside, they’re fun to dip and share with friends!
- Pepperoni Pizza Pocket Bites: Filled with flavorful pepperoni and melty mozzarella all wrapped up in crispy wonton wrappers and oven toasted to perfection. Get ready to dip!
- Muddy Buddy Bites: These yummy treats deliver all the crunchy, peanut-buttery goodness without all the mess. You’ll have a ball with these delicious treats!
- Mini Chocolate Fudge Cream Pies: The easiest little cream pies with a buttery crust and the dreamiest, creamiest fudge filling!
How to Store and Reheat Soft Pretzel Bites
Store pretzel bites in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To freeze, place in a freezer-safe container or baggies in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Reheat pretzel bites in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes if at room temp or for about 10 minutes if frozen.
To store cheese sauce, let cool completely. Then place in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or over low heat on the stove. If it’s too thick, add more milk a tablespoon at a time to thin it out until of desired dippable consistency.
If you make these Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. 
I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!
xoxo,
Soft Pretzel Bites
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 120 pretzel bites
Description
With a crisp, salty outside and dense, chewy inside, these Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce elevate snack time. From-scratch pretzels and melty cheese make a snack the whole family will love!
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2–1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted & slightly cooled
- 2–1/2 cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Other Ingredients:
- 7 cups water
- 1/3 cup baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons water
- coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the yeast and sugar. Gently pour the warm water over it and let proof until foamy, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk in the melted butter and then stir in the flour and salt until well combined. Using well-floured hands, form dough into a moist ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Bring 7 cups water and 1/3 cup baking soda to a slight boil in a large pot. Reduce heat to medium low.
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set a wire rack over another baking sheet.
- Once dough has doubled in size, divide into 6 equal portions, about 1/2 cup each. Place portions of dough back into the greased bowl and cover with the damp cloth while you work with one portion at a time.
- Roll and stretch a portion of dough into a 20-inch rope with your hands. Cut the dough into about one-inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Repeat with two more portions of dough. You will want to make the pretzel bites in two batches (3 portions of dough and then the remaining 3 portions of dough)
- Gently place about 15 of the pretzel bites at a time into the hot baking soda solution, for about 15 seconds, and then transfer to the wire rack. Repeat process with 15 more bites of dough until you’ve boiled all of the bites from the first three portions of dough.
- Transfer boiled pretzel bites to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Whisk together one egg and 1 teaspoon water. Brush the egg wash all over the tops and sides of each pretzel bite and immediately sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt.
- Place baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and bake pretzel bites until golden, 12-14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking time.
- While first batch of pretzel bites are baking, prepare the other three portions of dough into boiled bites so they’re ready to go in the oven when the first batch comes out.
- Serve with cheese sauce (see recipe).
Cheese Sauce
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups
Description
Pretzels + Cheese Sauce — there’s nothing like it! This cheese sauce is the perfect companion for soft pretzels and pretzel bites!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk, plus more if needed
- 8 ounces deluxe American cheese slices, cut into smaller pieces
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and then slowly whisk in the milk. Continue whisking until it comes to a slight simmer. Reduce the heat to low. Add in the cheese and stir frequently until melted.
- Serve immediately or keep warm over low heat so it stays melty until you’re ready to serve it. Whisk in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the cheese sauce starts to thicken.
Do you think this cheese sauce would be ok in a small crockpot at “keep warm”?
Hi, Michelle! Yes, I think so. Just remember to stir frequently and keep an eye out for burning.