So, there's this pizza place by my work, right? My coworkers and I are totally smitten, and while their pizza is pretty good, that's not even what keeps us coming back. Our addiction is... their soft pretzels. Oh my gosh, y'all, they are so incredibly good! You can get them with traditional butter and salt, or with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. The very best part, however, is the beer cheese that comes with them to dip the pretzels into. Seriously swoon-worthy!
I figured it was something definitely worth attempting to recreate at home, and since the restaurant's specialty is pizza, I guessed that if anything, their soft pretzels are made with pizza dough, so that's the route I went! The results are seriously nothing short of spectacular. Buttery, irresistible pretzels with a crisp outside and a chewy inside, dipped in cheesy perfection! I used storebought pizza dough, so these took me literally less than 30 minutes to make.
Now that I think about it, I don't think the pizza place boils their soft pretzels before baking, which is what gives pretzels the traditional crusty outside and chewy inside, so I have to say I think my version is actually better than the originals 😉 As for the beer cheese, it's really very similar to a traditional cheese sauce you would make for macaroni & cheese and the like, except some of the milk is replaced with beer! This sounds weird, I know, but it gives the dipping sauce a totally addicting little something that keeps you coming back for more! I will say the beer flavor is subtle, so it works best with something simply flavored like these pretzels. We tried putting it on burgers {what can I say, we had a lot left over} and you could hardly taste it! I have, however, heard that if you use a darker beer, the flavor will be more pronounced, so adjust accordingly 🙂 I hope this easy-peasy recipe inspires you to make soft pretzels at home! Happy baking and happy eating!
Here is my homemade pizza dough recipe!
Looking for more yummy recipes using pizza dough? You can check out my Garlic Knots, Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Pizza, Roasted Tomato, Arugula, & Bacon Jam Pizza, and my Braided Pizza Bread!
- *for the pretzels*
- 2 lbs pizza dough
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- coarse salt, for sprinkling
- flour, as needed
- 5 tablespoon baking soda
- *for the beer cheese*
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon flour
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ cup beer
- 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- salt & pepper to taste
- First, prepare the pretzels. Preheat oven to 500F, and line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Lightly flour your work surface, and divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a long and skinny log {make it longer than you think you need}, and twist into the traditional pretzel shape. Repeat with all.
- Mix the 5 tablespoon of baking powder with water in a large pot, and bring to a boil. Cook each pretzel for about 30 seconds, flipping halfway, then remove and place on prepared baking sheet.
- Brush the pretzels with the melted butter, sprinkle with coarse salt, and bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
- While the pretzels cook, make the beer cheese. In a medium nonstick pot, melt the butter, then whisk in the flour all at once and cook for a couple of minutes, until it smells lightly toasted.
- Slowly pour in the milk, followed by the beer, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Stir in the cheese until just melted, then remove from heat and add the seasonings.
- Serve pretzels and beer cheese warm!
Claira says
I have such a soft spot for warm pretzels and cheese. Boiling them definitely does help give them that nice crunch outside.
Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking says
Beer cheese? Bread and carbs? That's a man pleasure for sure haha! And a woman pleaser too - looks amazing and fuffy