Soft, tangy sourdough pretzel bites paired with a rich, velvety cheese dip make the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer for game days and gatherings.

Scale

½ cup active sourdough starter

1 cup warm water

3 cups flour

2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

¼ cup baking soda

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

1 cup milk

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

2 oz cream cheese

½ tsp Dijon mustard

1. Combine sourdough starter, warm water, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl.

2. Stir in flour and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 8–10 minutes.

3. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1½–2 hours until doubled in size.

4. Punch down the dough, roll into ropes, and cut into 1-inch pieces.

5. Bring water to a gentle boil, add baking soda, and boil pretzel bites for 20–30 seconds.

6. Remove bites with a slotted spoon, place on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with coarse salt.

7. Bake at 425°F for 12–15 minutes until golden brown.

8. Brush the hot pretzel bites with melted butter.

9. In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to form a roux.

10. Gradually whisk in milk until the sauce is smooth.

11. Stir in cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and Dijon mustard until the dip is creamy.

12. Serve the warm pretzel bites with the creamy cheese dip.

Keywords: sourdough, pretzel bites, cheese dip, appetizer, game day snacks, homemade pretzels, creamy dip, soft pretzel, comfort food