If you’re ready for a snack that’s as comforting as it is crowd-pleasing, you’re going to fall head over heels for these Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce. Imagine perfectly golden, salty little pillows—soft inside, gloriously chewy outside—served up with a creamy, tangy vegan cheese sauce that will make everyone (vegan or not) come back for seconds. Whether it’s game night, a cozy movie marathon, or you just want to wow friends with a homemade treat, Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce is a recipe you’ll want to keep in your back pocket all year round.

Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

What’s beautiful about this recipe is how each ingredient truly earns its spot: from the fluffy, flavorful dough to the luscious cheese sauce, every component adds to the irresistible magic. Let’s break down why you’ll want every item on your kitchen counter before getting started.

Warm water: The right temperature wakes up the yeast to give you that classic pretzel rise and texture.
Active dry yeast: Kickstarts the dough’s lift and ensures each pretzel bite is airy and light.
Brown sugar: Boosts the yeast and sneaks in a mellow caramel sweetness for the perfect bite.
Salt: Vital for flavor in the dough and brings out every element’s best self.
All-purpose flour: The trusty base of fluffy, soft pretzel bites.
Vegan butter: Adds richness and that unmistakable pretzel flavor—plus, a brush for finishing gives a glossy sheen.
Water (for boiling): Boiling the dough gives your pretzels their iconic chewy crust.
Baking soda: The secret to deep pretzel color and snappy chew—don’t skip it!
Coarse sea salt: That classic pretzel top sparkle and satisfying salty bite.
Raw cashews: Soaked cashews are the magical creamy base for your vegan cheese sauce.
Unsweetened almond milk: Smooths out the sauce for perfect dippability, without excess sweetness.
Nutritional yeast: Delivers a nutty, “cheesy” flavor that’s key for plant-based sauces.
Tapioca starch: Gives the sauce its stretchy, gooey, melty character—like real cheese!
Lemon juice: Brightens the sauce with fresh tang and brings all the flavors together.
Garlic powder: Lends gentle savoriness for a full-flavored dipping sauce.
Smoked paprika: Adds subtle smokiness and a beautiful amber color.
Salt (for sauce): Melds all the cheese sauce flavors so every dip is pure comfort.

How to Make Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce

Step 1: Proof Your Yeast and Start the Dough

Start in a large mixing bowl by combining your warm water, active dry yeast, and brown sugar. Let the mixture sit undisturbed for about 5 to 10 minutes. You’re looking for a creamy, foamy top—this means your yeast is alive and ready to work its magic! Add in the salt, flour, and the melted vegan butter. Mix it all together until a shaggy dough forms, then turn it onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic. A good knead makes all the difference for airy, fluffy pretzel bites!

Step 2: Let the Dough Rise

Place your smooth dough ball in a greased bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover it with a damp towel or plastic wrap, set it in a warm spot, and let it rise until doubled in size—about an hour. This downtime is when your dough becomes extra puffy and tender.

Step 3: Shape and Cut the Pretzel Bites

Punch down the dough (so satisfying!) and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope, about 12 inches long and evenly thick. Slice each rope into 1-inch bites. You’ll get that perfect poppable size—ideal for dipping into your cheese sauce.

Step 4: Boil for Classic Pretzel Texture

Bring 10 cups of water and that all-important baking soda to a boil in a large pot. Working in batches, drop your pretzel bites into the bubbling bath for about 30 seconds each. This step is what gives pretzels their signature glossy, chewy crust. Transfer the boiled bites to two parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them out for even baking.

Step 5: Bake Until Golden and Gorgeous

Brush your pretzel bites generously with more melted vegan butter, then sprinkle with coarse sea salt for that iconic pretzel look and flavor. Pop them in a preheated 425°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until beautifully golden brown and irresistibly fragrant. The anticipation will be tough, but it’s so worth it!

Step 6: Prepare the Vegan Cheese Sauce

While the pretzels bake, blend up the cheese sauce. Add your soaked and drained cashews, almond milk, nutritional yeast, tapioca starch, lemon juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt to a blender. Blend on high until you get a silky-smooth mixture with no lumps. Pour your mixture into a saucepan and heat over medium, stirring constantly. Watch as it thickens and turns stretchy in just about 5 minutes—plant-based cheese magic!

Step 7: Serve and Savor!

Your kitchen will smell amazing, and now it’s time for the best part: serve those warm, golden soft pretzel bites with vegan cheese sauce on the side for dunking and devouring. Be prepared for every hand to reach in at once!

How to Serve Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce

Garnishes

The finishing touches can make this appetizer feel truly special. Consider sprinkling a touch more coarse sea salt after baking, or add a smattering of chopped fresh parsley for color. For a little flair, dust your cheese sauce with extra smoked paprika or even a hint of cayenne for gentle heat.

Side Dishes

Because Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce are already a star, keep sides simple. Crisp apple slices, tangy pickles, or some roasted veggies work beautifully and add freshness to your spread. For heartier gatherings, pair with vegan chili or a crunchy salad for a full meal.

Creative Ways to Present

Get playful with presentation! Arrange your pretzel bites in a ring around a bowl of vegan cheese sauce for a beautiful platter. Thread bites and veggie skewers for a party look, or serve everything mini-style in small cups for a snack tray. This recipe is as at-home at a big bash as it is on a movie night snack board.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers (not a guarantee!), store cooled pretzel bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. The vegan cheese sauce keeps in a covered container in the fridge for up to four days. If the sauce thickens, just stir in a splash of almond milk when ready to use again.

Freezing

Yes, you can freeze these! Place completely cooled pretzel bites in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to three months. They maintain their chewy softness surprisingly well after a quick oven reheat. The cheese sauce can also be frozen in a sealed container—thaw in the fridge overnight and whisk smooth before reheating.

Reheating

To bring your Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce back to life, warm the pretzel bites in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes until heated through. Reheat the cheese sauce gently on the stovetop or microwave in short bursts, whisking in almond milk if needed until smooth and pourable.

FAQs

Can I use gluten-free flour for this recipe?

You can substitute a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour for the all-purpose flour to make the pretzel bites gluten-free, though the texture may be slightly different. Keep an eye on kneading and rising times—they may vary with different flours.

What if I don’t have tapioca starch for the cheese sauce?

Tapioca starch creates that gooey, stretchy “cheese” effect, but you can use arrowroot or cornstarch in a pinch. The sauce will thicken, but it won’t get quite as delightfully stretchy.

Is there a nut-free option for the cheese sauce?

If you’re allergic to cashews, try using soaked sunflower seeds as a substitute. They’ll blend into a creamy base, though the flavor will be slightly different—still totally delicious!

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes! After your dough rises, you can store it covered in the fridge overnight. Just let it come to room temperature before proceeding with rolling, cutting, and boiling as directed.

What’s the best way to make the pretzel bites bite-sized and uniform?

After rolling your dough ropes, use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut even 1-inch pieces. For extra precision, measure the rope and cut it into half-inch or full-inch sections for perfectly poppable pretzel bites.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never tried homemade Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce, now’s absolutely your time. You’ll love every soft, golden bite and the creamy, flavorful dip—plus that happy feeling of sharing something homemade with the people you care about. Don’t be surprised if these become your new go-to for parties, family hangs, or whenever you crave something cozy and craveable. Give them a try and see just how addictive they are!

Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 25 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes (including rise time)
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Diet: Vegan

Print Recipe

Description

These Soft Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese Sauce are the perfect savory snack or appetizer. The warm, fluffy pretzel bites paired with the rich and creamy vegan cheese sauce create a delicious flavor combination that will have everyone coming back for more.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pretzel Bites:

1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F)
1 packet active dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons vegan butter, melted (plus more for brushing)
10 cups water
⅔ cup baking soda
coarse sea salt for sprinkling

For the Vegan Cheese Sauce:

1 cup raw cashews (soaked in hot water for 30 minutes and drained)
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon tapioca starch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the Pretzel Bites: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and brown sugar. Let sit until foamy. Stir in salt, flour, and melted vegan butter to form a dough. Knead until smooth. Let rise until doubled.
Bake the Pretzel Bites: Preheat oven. Boil water and baking soda. Divide dough, shape into bites, boil, then bake until golden.
Make the Vegan Cheese Sauce: Blend soaked cashews, almond milk, nutritional yeast, starch, lemon juice, spices, and salt until smooth. Cook in a saucepan until thickened.
Serve: Enjoy the warm pretzel bites with the vegan cheese sauce for dipping.

Notes

You can freeze baked pretzel bites and reheat in the oven at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
The cheese sauce thickens as it cools—whisk in a splash of almond milk to loosen before reheating.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking, Boiling, Blending
Cuisine: American