Homemade Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites (Salted & Cinnamon Sugar with Cheese Dip & Cream Cheese Frosting)
Homemade Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites (Salted & Cinnamon Sugar with Cheese Dip & Cream Cheese Frosting)
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Dough
- 1/2 cup warm whole milk, (105-115°F)
- 1/2 cup warm water, (105-115°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons dry rapid/instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Boiling Solution
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
For the Salted Pretzel Topping
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons coarse pretzel salt
For the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
For the Cheese Dip
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk, as needed for consistency
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm whole milk, warm water, dry rapid/instant yeast, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Add 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, and 1 teaspoon salt to the yeast mixture. Mix with a spoon or dough hook until a shaggy dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes on a lightly floured surface or with a stand mixer until the dough is smooth and elastic.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Lightly grease a clean bowl with oil, place the dough in it, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 60 min
- 4
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 5
Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 4 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a long rope, about 1 inch thick. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces to form the pretzel bites.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil. Carefully add 1/2 cup baking soda to the boiling water (it will foam up).
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Working in batches, drop the pretzel bites into the boiling solution for 20-30 seconds. Do not overcrowd the pot. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pretzel bites and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between them.
⏱️ 10 min
- 8
For salted pretzel bites: Brush half of the boiled pretzel bites with 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter and sprinkle generously with coarse pretzel salt. For cinnamon sugar pretzel bites: Brush the remaining half of the boiled pretzel bites with 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Bake the pretzel bites for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. While the cinnamon sugar bites are still warm, toss them in a mixture of 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400
- 10
To make the Cheese Dip: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to create a roux.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring, until thickened. Reduce heat to low and stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 2 ounces softened cream cheese until melted and smooth. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and optional 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
⏱️ 5 min
- 12
To make the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat 4 ounces softened cream cheese and 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, beating until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 13
If the frosting is too thick, add 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Serve the warm pretzel bites immediately with the warm cheese dip and cream cheese frosting.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Homemade Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites (Salted & Cinnamon Sugar with Cheese Dip & Cream Cheese Frosting)
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Dough
- 1/2 cup warm whole milk, (105-115°F)
- 1/2 cup warm water, (105-115°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons dry rapid/instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Boiling Solution
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
For the Salted Pretzel Topping
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons coarse pretzel salt
For the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
For the Cheese Dip
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk, as needed for consistency
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm whole milk, warm water, dry rapid/instant yeast, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Add 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, and 1 teaspoon salt to the yeast mixture. Mix with a spoon or dough hook until a shaggy dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes on a lightly floured surface or with a stand mixer until the dough is smooth and elastic.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Lightly grease a clean bowl with oil, place the dough in it, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 60 min - 4
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 5
Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 4 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a long rope, about 1 inch thick. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces to form the pretzel bites.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil. Carefully add 1/2 cup baking soda to the boiling water (it will foam up).
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Working in batches, drop the pretzel bites into the boiling solution for 20-30 seconds. Do not overcrowd the pot. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pretzel bites and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between them.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
For salted pretzel bites: Brush half of the boiled pretzel bites with 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter and sprinkle generously with coarse pretzel salt. For cinnamon sugar pretzel bites: Brush the remaining half of the boiled pretzel bites with 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Bake the pretzel bites for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. While the cinnamon sugar bites are still warm, toss them in a mixture of 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400 - 10
To make the Cheese Dip: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to create a roux.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring, until thickened. Reduce heat to low and stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 2 ounces softened cream cheese until melted and smooth. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and optional 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
⏱️ 5 min - 12
To make the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat 4 ounces softened cream cheese and 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, beating until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 13
If the frosting is too thick, add 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Serve the warm pretzel bites immediately with the warm cheese dip and cream cheese frosting.
⏱️ 1 min