Homemade Bavarian Pretzels With Beer Cheese Recipe
Prep Time:
1 hour
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Servings:
10 Pretzels
Ingredients
  • :
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110 F)
  • Pretzel salt, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons food-grade lye
  • 1 liter water, room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • ⅔ cup beer
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook add the flour, brown sugar, yeast, and salt and mix on low speed until combined.
  4. Add the water to the bowl and knead for about 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  5. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces.
  6. Roll each piece out into a long rope that is about 24-inches long.
  7. To shape the pretzels, first form a rope into a horseshoe shape.
  8. Cross one side over the other.
  9. Twist the sides over each other again.
  10. Fold the bottom up, and press the edges into the top to stick. Repeat the process with all pretzels, and place the folded pretzels on the prepared baking sheet. (Optionally, you can allow the pretzels to rise for 15 minutes before making the lye bath.)
  11. Make the lye bath: Add 1 liter of water to a plastic or glass container. Wearing gloves, sprinkle the lye into the water and stir with a silicone spatula until the lye dissolves.
  12. Dip each shaped pretzel into the lye bath for about 30 seconds then place them back onto the baking sheets.
  13. Sprinkle the pretzels with salt as desired.
  14. Use a knife to score the pretzels in at least 2 places on each pretzel.
  15. Transfer the pretzels to the oven and bake for 16 to 18 minutes, until they are a deep golden brown.
  16. Make the cheese sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in the flour until a clumpy paste forms.
  17. Whisk in the milk and heat until it thickens slightly, about 1 minute.
  18. Whisk in the remaining ingredients and heat until the cheese is melted and smooth.
  19. Pour the beer cheese into a serving dish and serve with the warm pretzels.