What you need

These soft pretzel bites are chewy inside, golden outside, and finished with crunchy salt plus a silky cheese sauce. They are a make-ahead-friendly party snack for game day, movie night, or a cosy gathering.

For the pretzels:

240ml warm water
2¼ tsp instant yeast
1 tbsp brown sugar
360g plain / all-purpose flour
1 tsp fine salt
30g melted butter
2 litres water
60g baking soda
Coarse salt, for topping

For the cheese sauce:

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
240ml milk
150g grated cheddar
½ tsp mustard
Black pepper

Recipe Steps

Mix warm water, yeast, and sugar; stand 5 minutes. Add flour, salt, and butter and knead until smooth. Rise 45 minutes.
Heat oven to 220°C / 425°F. Divide dough into ropes and cut into bite-size pieces.
Bring water and baking soda to a simmer. Boil bites in batches for 30 seconds, then drain.
Place on lined trays, brush with butter, sprinkle with coarse salt, and bake 12–15 minutes.
For cheese sauce, melt butter, whisk in flour, then milk. Simmer until thick; stir in cheddar, mustard, and pepper.

Tips & Variations

Boiling in baking soda gives the bites their deep pretzel colour.
Freeze shaped, unboiled bites on a tray, then bag them; thaw before boiling.
Keep sauce warm over low heat and loosen with a splash of milk if needed.

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Soft Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce