Are you ready to rumble?! These Keg Bites are a fun and flavorful snack that are perfect for game day or any other gathering you share with friends! The bite-sized pretzel nuggets are soft, chewy, and infused with the rich, hoppy flavors of your favorite amber beer. These superstar snacks are salty, savory, and perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce with one hand and cheering with the other hand. Grab a cold one and enjoy these delicious and exciting Keg Bites! They’re a real touchdown of a treat!
Ingredients
For the bites:
- 1 (12-ounce) bottle amber beer
- 1 (.25-ounce) package active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4-4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more, to taste, for dusting a work surface
- 10 cups water
- 2/3 cup baking soda
For the egg wash:
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon water
- coarse salt, optional, to taste, for topping
Directions
Step 1 –In a small saucepan, heat the beer until it reaches 110-115 degrees F.
Step 2 –Transfer the saucepan from the heat and stir the yeast into the beer until it dissolves.
Step 3 –In a large bowl, combine the butter, the sugar, the salt, the yeast mixture, and 3 cups of the flour and beat with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until it is smooth.
Step 4 –Stir enough of the remaining flour into the yeast mixture until a soft, sticky dough forms.
Step 5 –Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 6 –Place the dough in a greased bowl and turn once to grease the top.
Step 7 –Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
Step 8 –Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 9 –Grease three or four baking sheets.
Step 10 –Punch the dough down, and then turn it onto a lightly floured surface.
Step 11 –Divide and shape the dough into eight balls, then roll each of them into 12-inch ropes.
Step 12 –Cut the ropes into 1-inch pieces.
Step 13 –In a Dutch oven, bring 10 cups of the water and the baking soda to a boil.
Step 14 –Drop the dough nuggets, 12 at a time, into the boiling water and cook for 30 seconds.
Step 15 –Transfer the pretzel bites with a slotted spoon to paper towels and allow them to drain well.
Step 16 –Transfer the pretzel bites to the prepared baking sheets.
Step 17 –In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk and the remaining water together.
Step 18 –Brush the egg wash over the pretzel bites and sprinkle with the coarse salt.
Step 19 –Bake the pretzel bites until they are golden-brown, about 10-12 minutes.
Step 20 –Transfer the pretzel bites to a wire rack to cool.
Step 21 –Serve.
