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 condiments go well with pretzels? ›

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. All you need is spicy brown mustard, a cheese spread, and Worcestershire sauce.

Why did you dip your pretzel dough into baking soda and water? ›

Furthermore, we've introduced the baking soda bath. While it sounds strange, this step is what gives pretzels that iconic flavor, chewy texture, helps deepen their golden color in the oven, and locks in the super soft interior.

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 to put on top of pretzels? ›

A Twist on Toppings: 6 Delicious Toppings for Frozen Soft...
  1. Salt: Salt is the original soft pretzel topping, dating back to the earliest soft pretzel recipes. ...
  2. Cinnamon Sugar: For a sweeter twist on the classic soft pretzel, consider cinnamon sugar. ...
  3. Cheese: ...
  4. Honey Mustard: ...
  5. Marinara: ...
  6. Chocolate Sauce:
Oct 26, 2023

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 is good on a hot pretzel? ›

Pretzel Toppings

Cinnamon and Sugar: Just spray a mist of butter on the pretzels first, then sprinkle with a pre-made mix of cinnamon and sugar. Melted Chocolate: Use a ladle to drizzle it over the pretzels (try it on both salted and unsalted to see which your customers prefer).

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.

Why do people put mustard on pretzels? ›

Pretzel-making remained concentrated in Pennsylvania, even after emerging as a national snack in the 1960s. The practice of spreading mustard on soft pretzels is traced to the fact that pretzels were commonly sold by hot dog vendors, who were already offering mustard.

What is the secret solution for Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

Whisk together 2 cups of warm water and the baking soda in a shallow dish. Dip the pretzels into the baking soda bath. Flip and dip the other side. Place the dipped pretzels onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

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.

Do I have to boil my pretzels before baking? ›

Like bagels, pretzels are made in boiling water prior to baking to give them their snappy outsides and chewy insides (messy!). Soft pretzels must be boiled, or dipped in a baking soda bath (or lye if you're gusty and strict with your pretzel traditions). THEN, they can be baked.

How do you keep pretzel bites soft? ›

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 to keep soft pretzels warm for a concession stand? ›

Pizza and pretzels are concession food staples. Keep them warm and fresh with humidified cabinets, merchandisers and even Sterno warmers for locations without electricity.

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.

What temperature to keep pretzels warm? ›

Once pretzels are heated thoroughly, it is recommended by the manufacturer to keep the food temperature at 150°.

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