Sweet & Spicy Bratwurst Pretzel Bombs: fluffy balls of baked pretzel dough, filled with chopped bratwurst, cheese, diced fresh jalapenos, and caramelized onions. Homemade beer cheese dip will make these everyone's fave appetizer!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword pretzel bombs
Prep Time 1 hourhour
Cook Time 30 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour45 minutesminutes
Servings 36
Calories 197kcal
Author Erica
Ingredients
Bratwurst Filling
12ouncesbratwurstchopped
½large red onionthinly sliced
½teaspoonkosher salt
¾cupDr. Pepper soda
8ouncescream cheese
1 ½cupsshredded cheddar
3fresh jalapenosdiced, with seeds
Pretzel Bombs
1 ½cupswarm beer110°-120° F
2 ¼teaspoonsactive dry yeast1 packet
2tablespoonsgranulated sugar
3 ½cupsall-purpose flour + more for dusting
1teaspoonkosher salt + more for garnish
1egg
2tablespoonsbaking soda
2cupshot water
Beer Cheese Dip
2tablespoonsunsalted butter
2tablespoonsall-purpose flour
¼cupmilk
1cupstout beer
½teaspoongarlic powder
¼teaspoonkosher salt
½teaspooncayenne pepperplus more for garnish
3cupscheddar cheese
Instructions
Bratwurst Filling
Add chopped bratwurst to a skillet set over medium heat and cook halfway. Stir in sliced onion and brown with brats for 5-7 minutes until tender. Reduce heat to low, add salt, and stir in 3/4 of the Dr Pepper. Cook for 16-18 minutes, caramelizing the brats and onions and adding the rest of the Dr Pepper as needed while they cook. Set aside to cool.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon liners; set aside.
When caramelized brat/onion mixture is cool, combine with cheeses and fresh jalapeños in a medium bowl. Mix together well and set near large open workspace.
Pretzel Bombs
Pour the beer into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook (you can also knead by hand in a large bowl.) Stir in the sugar, then sprinkle the yeast on top and stir again. Allow mixture to sit, blooming the yeast for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
In a small bowl, beat egg; set near workspace. Sprinkle clean counter top (workspace) with a 1/3 cup of flour.
Add flour and salt to beer/yeast mix. Knead for 3- 5 minutes until the dough comes together in a ball, adding more flour a tablespoon at a time as needed to get it to the proper consistency. Dough should be slightly tacky when you pull it out of the mixer.
Remove dough to floured counter top and knead in flour until it is no longer tacky, 1-2 minutes. Form dough into a ball, then cut ball into quarters using a bench knife or other large blade. Roll each quarter into a log, then cut that into 3 pieces. Roll each of those pieces into logs, then cut them into 3 pieces - yielding 36 pieces of dough.
Fill a medium bowl with 2 cups of hot water and stir in baking soda (you will have to do this about every 12 balls.) Set near workspace.
Working with one at a time, roll each dough piece into a ball and flatten it into a circle in your palm. Use a small cookie scoop to add about 1 tablespoon of bratwurst filling in the center. Carefully pull each side over the filling to cover it, then pinch the edges closed. Once again roll the dough into a ball, being careful to repair tears so there is no exposed filling. Set aside and repeat until you have 3 completed dough balls.
Transfer the dough balls into hot water mixture and make 3 more. Remove dough balls from water mixture with a slotted spoon and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat process with the 3 newly prepared balls. Repeat until all dough balls are on the baking sheets, arranging them as best you can so they are not touching.
Brush the balls with egg wash and sprinkle each with kosher salt.
Bake on center racks for 15-20 minutes until browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly, then serve with beer cheese dip.
Beer Cheese Dip
In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, melt butter.
Whisk in flour and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and add milk, beer, and spices. Mix well.
Return pan to heat and stir for 2-3 minutes until mixture begins to bubble.
Add cheese 1 cup at a time, whisking well until melted. Remove from heat and season as desired with more salt. Pour into serving bowl and sprinkle with more cayenne pepper.