Kamil Perry
Cheese-stuffed pretzel bites are a delicious snack, side dish, or appetizer. They are made with pizza dough, cheese, and salt. The dough is wrapped around the cheese and baked to create a soft and chewy texture. The size of one serving of cheese-stuffed pretzel bites can vary depending on the recipe and the size of the bites, but typically a serving size is considered to be around 3-4 pretzel bites. They can be served with a variety of dipping sauces, such as honey mustard, cheese sauce, or marinara, and are perfect for game day snacking or as a tasty treat for any occasion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Pizza dough, cheese, salt, butter, egg wash, baking soda, flour, yeast, honey, milk, brown sugar |
| Baking time | 8-15 minutes |
| Storage | Airtight container at room temperature for 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days |
| Reheating | Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and bake for 15-30 minutes |
| Serving suggestions | Honey mustard, grainy mustard, cheese sauce, marinara, chili, soup |
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What You'll Learn
How to make cheese-stuffed pretzel bites
Cheese-stuffed pretzel bites are a delicious snack, perfect for game days, and they're easier to make than you might think. You can use store-bought pizza dough to save time, or make your own dough from scratch.
Making the Dough
If you're making your own dough, start by dissolving instant yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Stir together for about a minute until it's mostly combined. Then, add in salt, brown sugar, and butter, and stir everything together. Next, add in your flour, one cup at a time, until the dough is thick and no longer sticky. You can add more flour, one tablespoon at a time, if needed. The dough should be slightly tacky but still easy to work with. You can use a standing mixer to mix and knead the dough, or do it by hand. If you want to make things even easier, you can put the dough in a bread machine set to the "dough cycle". Just let it rise until it's doubled in size. Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature before mixing.
Stuffing the Pretzels
Cut your dough into 1-ounce chunks and flatten them slightly. Cut your cheese into cubes, about 1/2" to 1" in size, and place a piece of cheese in the centre of each dough chunk. Wrap the cheese completely with the dough, pinching the edges to seal it closed. You can also roll out the dough into a rectangle and place cheese sticks in the centre before wrapping the dough around them and sealing the cheese inside.
Baking the Pretzel Bites
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside. Now, make a baking soda bath by combining 1/4 cup of baking soda with 4 cups of water in a small saucepan and bringing it to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-high and carefully drop a few pretzel bites at a time into the water, allowing them to boil for about 10-15 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to remove them, letting any excess water drip off, and place them on the lined baking sheet. Before baking, you can brush the pretzel bites with an egg wash and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until they turn a deep golden brown.
Serving and Storing
Let the pretzel bites cool slightly before serving. They're great on their own or served with honey mustard, grainy mustard, cheese sauce, or marinara sauce for dipping. They're best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the oven for the best results.
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How long to bake cheese-stuffed pretzel bites
The baking time for cheese-stuffed pretzel bites varies depending on the recipe and the desired level of browning. Most recipes recommend baking the pretzel bites for around 8 to 15 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some recipes suggest boiling the pretzel bites in a baking soda and water solution for about 60 seconds before baking, which can affect the baking time.
To ensure the cheese stays inside the pretzel bites and doesn't leak out, it is important to seal the dough tightly around the cheese. This can be done by wrapping the dough around the cheese and pinching the seams together. The boiling step mentioned earlier also helps to seal the dough and give the pretzel bites their characteristic shiny, golden-brown crust.
When baking the pretzel bites, it is recommended to use a slotted spoon to transfer them from the boiling water to a prepared baking pan. Sprinkling pretzel salt or flaky sea salt on the pretzel bites before baking adds a tasty touch.
Once the pretzel bites are baked, they should be allowed to cool slightly before serving. These cheesy snacks are best served warm, as the cheese becomes ooey-gooey, perfect for dipping and dunking. The bites can be served with a variety of dipping sauces, such as honey mustard, grainy mustard, or cheese sauce, or even marinara on the side.
For those who prefer to make their own pretzel dough from scratch, the process typically involves combining yeast, water, and sugar or honey in a mixing bowl. After the yeast has activated, flour and salt are stirred in, followed by softened butter. The dough is then kneaded until it forms a smooth ball. This homemade dough option may require more time and ingredients compared to using store-bought pizza dough as a shortcut.
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How to store cheese-stuffed pretzel bites
Cheese-stuffed pretzel bites can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 24 hours. If you want to store them for longer, you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, place the pretzel bites on a baking sheet or in a baking pan and cover with foil. Then, bake for 15-30 minutes until warmed through. If you have frozen your pretzel bites, you can reheat them in the oven for about 4-6 minutes at 350°F.
You can also freeze cheese-stuffed pretzel bites for longer-term storage. To do this, place the pretzel bites on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the pretzels to a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
The cheese sauce that often accompanies these pretzel bites can be stored separately in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When ready to consume, reheat the sauce on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or water to thin it out if needed.
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What to serve with cheese-stuffed pretzel bites
Cheese-stuffed pretzel bites are a delicious snack, appetizer, or side dish. They are best served warm, as this ensures the cheese is gooey and perfect for a cheese pull.
There are a variety of dips and sauces that pair well with cheese-stuffed pretzel bites. Firstly, you can't go wrong with more cheese! A cheese sauce, particularly a cheddar beer sauce, is a great option. Alternatively, a honey mustard or grainy mustard dip is a good choice, especially if you want to avoid the extra cheese.
If you're looking for something more substantial to serve with the pretzel bites, they go well with a bowl of soup. Tomato soup is a great option for dipping, but sausage kale soup is another tasty choice. Chili, such as slow cooker chicken chili, is another hearty option to serve on the side.
For a game day or a party, you can also serve the pretzel bites with a beer on the side. You could even make a beer cheese dip by stirring together beer and cheese for a hot and delicious appetizer.
Finally, if you're looking for a sweet and salty combination, you could serve the pretzel bites with a side of honey or another sweet dipping sauce.
How to make pretzel dough
While some recipes for cheese-stuffed pretzel bites suggest using store-bought pizza dough, you can also make your own pretzel dough from scratch. Here's a guide on how to make pretzel dough:
Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need warm water, yeast, butter, sugar, salt, and flour. Some recipes also include barley malt syrup or honey, which can be substituted with brown sugar if you don't have any. You will also need a large bowl for mixing.
Once you have your ingredients, start by whisking the yeast into the warm water. You can add honey or barley malt syrup at this stage if you are using it. Let the mixture sit for around 5 minutes, or until it becomes frothy. Then, add the remaining water, flour, and salt, and stir to combine. You can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, a hand mixer, or mix by hand. Mix on a low speed until combined, then increase the speed to medium and knead for around 5 minutes, or until the dough is elastic and smooth. If you are mixing by hand, this step will require some upper body strength!
Once your dough is ready, it's time to shape it. For pretzel bites, roll out the dough into a rectangle and cut it into smaller rectangles. If you are making larger pretzels, you can divide the dough into equal pieces and roll each piece into a long rope. Then, you can shape the ropes into traditional pretzel shapes by twisting the ends together and folding the dough.
Finally, your pretzel dough is ready to be boiled and baked!
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