Simple Pretzel Twists

-Making homemade soft pretzels are very simple and will have them done in no time so you don't miss any of your favorite game or spending time with your family. These simple pretzel twists only need a bowl, rubber spatula or spoon and a couple baking sheet pans to make, so preparing and clean up is simple. And the beer cheese dipping sauce is just a perfect combo with the soft pillow like pretzels that come out perfectly from your oven.

Making the dough is very easy, start by combine yeast with warm water and sugar in a bowl. Once mixture becomes foamy to top, the yeast is ready. Stir in salt and 1tablespoon of melted butter. Add flour 1 cup at a time until a dough forms and is no longer sticky. Knead the dough for 5 more minutes until smooth on a floured counter top. Form dough into a ball and place it back into the bowl to rest for 20 minutes.

Once the dough has rest, take dough out of the bowl and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Cut dough into 16 sections. Roll each triangle into a rope, about 9-10 inches long.

Shape dough into ribbon shape and place in baking soda bath for 2 minutes, flipping over half way through. Carefully pick pretzel up either by your hand and place on prepared baking sheet. Reshape it if needed. Repeat these steps until all pretzels are prepared and on the baking sheets

Bake pretzels for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately from the oven, brush with  remaining melted butter and top with course salt.

Beer Cheese Sauce:
 1 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup beer or hard apple cider
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
 
Add butter and flour to a medium pot over medium heat. Whisk together to form a roux as the butter melts
 
Add garlic powder and salt, cook roux for 1-2 minutes until very light brown.
 
Add the beer/cider and milk to the mixture slowly to the roux mixture and stir until thickened to a gravy consistency. Add the cheese and Dijon mustard. Keep stirring until cheese is completely melted. Serve warm with pretzels.