Pretzel Bites Recipe
Five soft salted pretzel sticks served with our house made Gouda cheese sauce
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Ingredients
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Pretzel Bites
Gouda Cheese Sauce
Method
Pretzel Bites
- 1
Activate the Yeast
In a mixing bowl, combine the warm water (1.5 cups) and granulated sugar (1 tbsp). Sprinkle the active dry yeast (1 tbsp) over the top and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- 2
Make the Dough
In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour (4 cups) and salt (1 tbsp). Once the yeast mixture is foamy, add it to the flour mixture along with melted unsalted butter (2 tbsp). Stir until a dough begins to form.
- 3
Knead the Dough
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- 4
Shape the Pretzel Bites
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope about 12 inches long, then cut each rope into 1.5-inch pieces to form bites.
- 5
Boil the Pretzel Bites
In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil. Add the baking soda (0.5 cups) carefully. Boil the pretzel bites in batches for about 30 seconds each, then remove with a slotted spoon and place on a greased baking sheet.
- 6
Gouda Cheese Sauce
- 7
Make the Roux
In a saucepan, melt unsalted butter (2 tbsp) over medium heat. Once melted, add all-purpose flour (2 tbsp) and whisk continuously for about 1-2 minutes until it turns a light golden color.
- 8
Add Milk
Gradually whisk in the milk (1 cup) until smooth. Continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
- 9
Add Cheese and Seasoning
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the shredded Gouda cheese (1 cup) until melted and smooth. Add garlic powder (0.5 tsp), salt (0.25 tsp), and black pepper (0.25 tsp) to taste. Stir until well combined.