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Easy Cheesy Soft Pretzel Bites, simply the best! Homemade soft pretzel dough or store-bought pizza dough, cut into bite-size pieces and baked up with butter and cheese. These pretzel bites are soft and chewy with the cheesiest topping. A fun holiday appetizer that’s easy to make and loved by everyone.
Well, I know this is not the prettiest recipe I’ve ever shared, but it’s certainly a delicious one! Some of you may have heard me talk about my grandma’s blue cheese appetizer before. It’s something my family has been making for as long as I can remember. It’s probably the most “retro” recipe I’ve personally ever made.
It consists of just three simple ingredients, canned biscuits, butter, and blue cheese crumbles. Toss the biscuits in butter, then top with blue cheese and bake.
It doesn’t sound like it’s going to be that appealing, but it’s possibly one of the most delicious appetizers my grandma would make. It was a hit with everyone, even those who don’t like blue cheese. I’m telling you, everyone loves this appetizer.
However, in more recent years I’ve stopped making it because I don’t love to use canned biscuits. I try to cook with only real food ingredients and avoid anything processed.
It’s just our preference these days. But man I miss that dish!
And then I had this fun idea. I’ve been making pretzels a lot lately. Which got me thinking, it could be delicious to use pretzel dough in place of canned biscuits. So here we are. Each salty, cheesy, soft pretzel bite is so yummmmmy (as Oslo would tell you).
Details
To keep this recipe super simple, you can simply use store-bought pizza dough. But, if you have some time, you can make my homemade pretzel dough. Either way, you’ll start with the dough.
To make the pretzel dough, simply mix together the yeast, flour, butter, and salt. Then let it rise an hour. If you’re making the dough you do have to plan for the rising time, which I know can be a pain. But again, this is also great with store-bought pizza dough if you’re short on time.
Now cut the dough into bites and boil each bite in water mixed with baking soda. This is the traditional way to make pretzels, it’s what gives them their chewiness.
Boiling the bites takes just 30 seconds, then the rest is really easy.
Arrange the dough bites in a baking dish. Next, brush the tops with a beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with pretzel salt. Then pour over melted butter and top with the blue cheese crumbles.
The key here is to not use a fancy blue cheese. Use the pre-crumbled blue cheese that’s not too strong. This is why everyone loves this dish. It’s got a mild blue cheese taste, nothing too strong.
Bake in the oven until those pretzels are golden, then pull the bites out and serve them up hot.
It really is the simplest, and every bite is so delicious. You’ll be shocked.
If you’d like to prepare them ahead of time, just make and assemble the dish all the way up until baking. At this point, you should keep the unbaked dish in the fridge. Then, when ready to serve, simply boil and bake as directed.
Great for all of your upcoming holiday parties!
Looking for other easy holiday appetizers recipes?? Here are my favorites:
Baked Gruyère in Pastry with Rosemary and Garlic
Mini Ranch Pretzels with Buffalo Cheese Sauce
5 Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls
Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread
Mini Pastry Wrapped Cranberry Baked Brie Bites
Lastly, if you make these Easy Cheesy Soft Pretzel Bites, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Easy Cheesy Soft Pretzel Bites
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 248 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound soft pretzel dough or pizza dough (pretzel dough recipe below)
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1 egg, beaten
- pretzel salt, for sprinkling
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted
- 8 ounces crumbled blue cheese (see notes)
- fresh thyme or parsley, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Cut the dough in 34 bite-size pieces, cover, and let rest 5-10 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.3. Add the baking soda to the boiling water. Boil the dough bites, 10 or so at a time, for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon, dropping each bite onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. 4. Arrange the bites in a greased 12-inch baking dish. Brush the bites with the beaten egg, then evenly pour over the butter. Top with crumbled cheese.5. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until pretzels are golden brown and the cheese has melted. Finish with herbs. Serve warm!
Notes
If You Don’t Like Blue Cheese: try using crumbled feta or your favorite shredded cheese.
To Make ahead: Prepare through step 4. Cover the dish and keep in the fridge for up to 1 day. Remove the dish while the oven preheats. Bake as directed.
Soft Pretzel Dough
Servings: 1 pound dough
Calories Per Serving: 1807 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1 egg, beaten
- pretzel salt, for sprinkling (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- 1. Combine the water, honey, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit for 5 minutes, until bubbly on top.2. Add the butter and flour. Mix on medium speed until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough is too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Cover the bowl and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1-2 hours.3. Use dough as directed in recipe.
Amazing!!! I will work on perfecting a few steps but amazing!!!
Hey Anna,
Happy Monday!!☃️ I truly appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad it was enjoyed! xT
BIG hit Thanksgiving app! Made ours with blue cheese, fresh thyme and cranberries … as my “boy’s” say …. “Bangin’!”
Hey Steph,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xT
I couldn’t even wait for the holiday to be over, I had to post my review! OMG STOP IT WITH THIS DELICIOUSNESS!! Next time I’m doubling the recipe for a party. I used the pre-made pizza dough and these came out amazing. My first time ever making soft pretzels and my small family and I devoured them. Thank you for another winner, Tieghan!
Hey Autumn,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Total hit!
Made this for a party and used Gorgonzola. Literally gone in minutes!
Thanks for the delicious recipe. 😊
Hi Alicia,
Happy Thanksgiving!!🦃🍁 I am so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
Um how much baking soda to how much boiling water/size pot?!? My kitchen looked like I failed a science experiment after pouring in just a portion of the 1/4 cup of baking soda into a large pot of water…
Hey Abby,
I used 1/4 of baking soda in a 7 quart pot of water. So sorry for the trouble! xx
Hi! I’d love to make the pretzel dough myself, but I’m confused about the baking soda and egg in the recipe. I noticed the 1/4 cup baking soda and egg are listed in the ingredients but not mentioned in the step-by-step instructions. I’m wondering if those two elements only belong in the cheesy pretzel recipe. Thanks for any clarification!
Have this exact question at the moment too! Just started my mixer and realized the instructions never had me add the baking soda I measured out or the egg.
Hi Abby,
Sorry if you missed it, but the 1/4 cup of baking soda is used in step 3 and the egg is used in step 4. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Oh, it looks like the ingredients are called for in the pretzel dough recipe itself! Thank you for clarifying!
I think the confusion stems from listing the baking soda and egg in both the pretzel dough ingredient list and the actual pretzel bite ingredient list. Those items shouldn’t really be listed under the dough. If you’re going through and prepping ingredients, at first glance it looks like you need 2 eggs and 1/2 cup baking soda total. Maybe you could edit to be more clear?
Hey Victoria,
Sorry if you missed it, but the 1/4 cup of baking soda is used in step 3 and the egg is used in step 4. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
We made these last night using pre- made pizza dough and they were beyond amazing!! I have another bag of the pre-made herbed dough, and excited to try it with that and maybe switch up the cheese!
Hey Amanda,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xx
Great recipe, thanks! Even with making the dough from scratch the recipe is super easy. It tastes delicious! So many ideas for toppings (roasted hazelnuts, a little drizzle of honey….). Thanks again!
Hey Loretta,
Awesome! Love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend:)
Can these be made ahead of time and refrigerated? Looks like another winner of a recipe. Our family loves them all!
Hey Melissa,
Totally, that would be okay for you to do! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
If I opt for the pizza dough from a can, do I skip the boiling part?
Not pizza dough from a can, buy the frozen pizza dough ball and thaw it, or get some from your local pizza joint. Dough from a can wont work
Hey Erin,
You will still want to do the boiling part and follow the recipe as written:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this recipe turns out well for you! xx
Oh I bet these would be fantastic with buffalo sauce drizzled over the top (or as dipping sauce)!!
Let me know if you give the recipe a try Leah, I hope you love it! xx
OMG!!! These look delish! As a huge fan of your blue cheese biscuit bites (everyone LOVES them), I am very excited about trying this version! I too am trying not to eat processed foods whenever possible. Thank you so much for making a healthier version to try!
P.S. I am not a fan of blue cheese at all! Everyone NEEDS to try these! Seriously, I can’t believe how much I love them!
Lol thanks so much Kippy!! They are a huge family fave, let me know if you give the recipe a try:) xT
I haven’t tried to make this yet, but this is genius and I feel like the pretzel base is perfect, you could do anything on top not just the blue cheese, the options seem endless… buffalo chicken dip, crab dip, any melty cheese.
Hey Jessica,
Yes, totally, it’s super versatile! I hope you love the recipe! xT
This looks amazing! Would a different type of cheese work? My family doesn’t like blue cheese.
Hey Holly,
You bet, feta would be great to use or your favorite shredded cheese. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Just wondering how much honey is needed.
Hey Laura,
You will want to use 1 teaspoon of honey. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Directions for pretzel dough lists in the first step about ingredients to add, including honey but honey is not on the ingredient list. Can you let us know how much to use?
Can’t wait to try these! I made your broccoli cheese casserole with the pretzel roll topping last week and it was delicious. I had concerns about making the dough, I apparently have yeast anxiety! But having become comfortable with your no knead pizza crust I decided to chance it. Super easy, super worth IT! Next up the apple butter pretzel knots, then this cheesy little number. Thanks for all the deliciousness!!!
Thanks so much for your kind message Linda!! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, it’s a family fave!! xTieghan
Hi there! This looks amazing! If we use canned biscuits, do we still boil them? Thank you so much!
Hey Christy,
If you want to just use plain canned biscuits, you do not need to boil them, they won’t have the pretzel affect, but they are still just as delicious! xT
Hey Carrie,
You will want to use 1 teaspoon of honey. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xx