Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (2024)

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Serve these Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites as a delicious party appetizer or game-day snack. The salty and buttery soft pretzel dough stuffed with with oozing cheese and ham will keep your party guests grabbing for more!

Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (1)For New Year's Eve, I wanted to make an easy appetizer that was at least a little impressive. These pretzel bites were perfect, except that I poorly planned my timing so that I was making them as our guests arrived. A few days later, we were invited to our friends' to watch the UFC fight, so I made another batch of these to bring with us. This time I didn't have to hurry to free up my kitchen, so their appearance was much more appealing!

Contrary to what it seems, it doesn't take much effort to make these. Just whip up the dough, let it rise for 2 hours, shape the pretzels, let rise again for 30 minutes, then boil and bake! If you're anything like me, you'll have the itching to pinch the sides of the rolls shut -- but don't! Some of the ham and cheese might ooze out, but that's fine. They puff right up in the oven, resulting in the perfect soft pretzel texture.

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Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (2)

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5 from 1 vote

Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites

Serve these Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites as a delicious party appetizer or game-day snack. The salty and buttery soft pretzel dough stuffed with with oozing cheese and ham will keep your party guests grabbing for more!

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Resting Time2 hours hrs

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 package (¼ oz) active dry yeast (or instant yeast)
  • 2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar , divided
  • ¼ cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)
  • 1 cup warm milk (110-115 degrees F)
  • 2 ½ to 3 cups flour
  • ½ cup finely chopped ham (about 3 ounces)
  • ½ cup shredded cheese of choice (I used cheddar)
  • 6 cups water
  • 4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
  • 1-2 Tablespoons coarse salt

Instructions

  • Combine the yeast, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and warm water in a large bowl. Set aside until foamy, 5-8 minutes. (If using the instant yeast, you can skip this step and just add it to the flour.) In another bowl, stir together the remaining 2 tablespoon brown sugar and warm milk until dissolved.

  • Add 2 ½ cups flour and milk mixture to the yeast. Stir with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. Add the remaining flour as needed. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead a few times, forming a smooth ball.

  • Brush the inside of a large clean bowl with olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow to rise in a warm, draft free area for about 2 hours, until dough has doubled in size and bubbles appear on the surface.

  • Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 4 equal pieces. Lightly dust your hands and rolling pin with flour. Roll one of the four sections into a 12×4-inch rectangle. With the long side facing you, gently press ¼ of the ham and cheese into the bottom third of the dough, and roll as tightly as possible, starting with the end that has the filling. Cut into 12 1-inch pieces and transfer to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining 3 portions of the dough.

  • Let rest, uncovered, at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°F.

  • Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add the baking soda and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Boil pretzels in batches, cooking about 20 seconds each, turning once. They should be slightly puffed. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them back to the baking sheets.

  • Bake until puffed and golden-brown, about 15 minutes.

  • Brush warm pretzel bites with melted butter and sprinkle with salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Source: Adapted from Pink Parsley

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Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites - Easy Recipes for Family Time - Seeded At The Table (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep pretzel bites warm at a party? ›

Simply wrap all the pretzel bites tightly in foil, sealing the edges together, then place in your oven on “keep warm,” or 170F.

What goes well with pretzel bites? ›

What pairs well with soft pretzels?
  • Creamy smoked Gouda cheese dip (recipe below)!
  • Mustard: yellow, honey, dijon, or whole grain.
  • Beer cheese dip.
  • Warm marinara sauce.
  • Garlic aioli.
  • Ranch dressing.
  • Hummus.
  • Spicy sriracha mayo.

What is the best thing to dip pretzels in? ›

Mustard. If you want to embrace the pretzel's German roots, go with a mustard dip! Dijon mustard or a spicy brown mustard are the typical go-tos, as they add an extra kick to your pretzel snack. However, you can also get the best of both worlds by choosing a cheesy mustard dip.

What are pretzels dipped in before baking? ›

Traditional Bavarian pretzels are dipped in a lye solution before they are baked. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is essentially the same stuff that's used to make soap and clean drains. It can even dissolve glass.

How to keep soft pretzels warm at a wedding reception? ›

Purchase a ceramic bread warmer at a kitchen supply store or online. Heat the warmer in the microwave for about a minute and place it in a basket using an oven mitt. Cover the bread warmer with a clean dish cloth and place your warm pretzels on top of it to serve.

How to serve soft pretzels at a party? ›

Create an Appealing Display: Use decorative serving platters, tiered stands, or rustic wooden crates to display your pretzels and toppings. Add small chalkboard signs or labels to identify the different pretzel varieties and dips.

What goes with pretzels and cheese? ›

Pretzels & Queso: This is the ultimate happy hour snack! Take some help from the store with your favorite variety of queso, pop it in the microwave and grab a bag of Cheddar Jalapeno OMG! Pretzels for dipping. A cold beer or margarita transforms this pretzel and cheese snack into a party.

Can you heat up pretzel bites? ›

Pretzel Instructions

If using microwave: Place pretzel bites on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave until heated through, about 15 seconds per every 10 bites. Bon appétit!

How long to heat up pretzel bites? ›

To reheat, bake frozen bites at 350°F (177°C) for 10 minutes or until warmed through or microwave frozen bites until warm. The prepared pretzel dough can be refrigerated for up to one day or frozen in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight.

What do Germans put on pretzels? ›

The popular toppings of authentic bavarian pretzels are:

Sesame, poppy, sunflower, pumpkin or caraway seeds, cheese sauce and bacon bits. Bavarians especially enjoy their pretzels in the late morning with Weißwürst, sweet mustard, and a Beer.

Do you eat pretzels with cheese? ›

Cheddar Cheese- classic cheddar does wonders with pretzels. Its sharp and tangy flavors complement beautifully with the saltiness of the pretzel. Choose mild or sharp based on your personal preferences, both are delicious.

What is the slang pretzel dip? ›

Many people enjoy the pretzel position because it allows for deep penetration without sacrificing eye contact, which can contribute to a sense of intimacy. Additionally, the pretzel sex position is sometimes called the pretzel dip, but the two names refer to the same basic maneuver.

What is the secret ingredient which makes a pretzel taste like a pretzel? ›

But it's the distinctive "pretzel" flavor that makes this bread extraordinary. That comes from dipping the shaped dough in an alkaline solution — traditionally a small amount of food-grade lye dissolved in water — before baking.

What's the difference between a Bavarian pretzel and a regular pretzel? ›

Unlike their American counterpart, Bavarian pretzels pack a denser, chewier inside and a darker, crispier outside. And there's a certain "tang" to the Bavarian-style pretzel that sets it apart from other soft pretzels. But best of all, it doesn't need to be dipped in cheese or drenched in butter to taste delicious!

What state eats the most pretzels? ›

The area roughly considered to constitute the Pretzel Belt, identified with Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Pennsylvania in general produces 80% of the pretzels consumed in the United States, with many of the top producers located in York County alone.

How do you warm soft pretzel bites? ›

Cover and store leftover pretzel bites at room temperature for up to 3 days. They lose a little softness over time. To reheat, microwave for a few seconds or bake in a 350°F (177°C) for 5 minutes.

How do you keep soft pretzels warm and fresh? ›

Storing Freshly Baked Soft Pretzels

Individually Wrapped: Wrap each pretzel in plastic wrap to protect against dry air. Room Temperature for Short-Term: Store them in an airtight container at room temperature if enjoying within a couple of days.

How do you heat premade pretzel bites? ›

When ready to eat, preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place on a baking sheet and bake from frozen for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, you can microwave pretzel bites but they tend to get a little soggy.

What temperature to keep pretzels warm? ›

Keep brats on rollers set on “150” (use back rollers). 2.) Pretzels Turn on warmer and set temperature to 120 degrees.

References

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