Description
Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce is a delicious and easy-to-make snack perfect for game days or casual gatherings. These chewy, golden pretzel bites are boiled in baking soda water for that authentic pretzel crust and paired with a creamy, savory vegan cheese sauce made from potatoes, carrots, and nutritional yeast. This plant-based appetizer is packed with flavor and completely dairy-free.
Ingredients
Scale
Pretzel Bites
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup baking soda (for boiling)
- Coarse salt (for topping)
Vegan Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup peeled and diced potatoes
- 1/4 cup peeled and chopped carrots
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and brown sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Prepare Dough: Add salt, all-purpose flour, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer to a floured surface and knead for 5–7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a clean cloth. Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Boiling Water: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and carefully stir in the baking soda, which will cause bubbling.
- Shape Pretzel Bites: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 6 equal portions. Roll each portion into a rope and cut each rope into 1-inch bite-sized pieces.
- Boil Pretzel Bites: Boil the pretzel bites in batches for 30 seconds in the baking soda water. This step creates the characteristic pretzel crust. Remove the bites with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Season and Bake: Sprinkle the boiled pretzel bites with coarse salt and bake them in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes until they are golden brown.
- Prepare Vegan Cheese Sauce: While the pretzels bake, boil the diced potatoes and carrots until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer them to a blender. Add nutritional yeast, unsweetened non-dairy milk, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and paprika. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust the consistency with more non-dairy milk if needed.
- Serve: Serve the warm pretzel bites with the vegan cheese sauce for dipping or drizzling. Enjoy this flavorful and comforting snack fresh from the oven.
Notes
- Pretzel bites are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days and reheated before serving.
- The vegan cheese sauce is versatile and also works well as a topping for nachos, pasta, or steamed vegetables.
- For extra richness and creaminess in the sauce, consider adding a tablespoon of soaked cashews before blending.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 8–10 pretzel bites with sauce
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
