Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels

❓ What Is Beer Cheese?

As the name implies, this delightfully warm and creamy dip is made with beer and cheese as its primary ingredients. If we’re getting technical, this cheesy fondue is essentially an American interpretation of French mornay, which is considered a “mother sauce.”

First, a roux is made by cooking butter and flour together. In traditional mornay, milk would be the only liquid added (which would turn the roux into a bechamel), but this Americanized version also adds plenty of beer. 

Next, the beer-spiked bechamel gets a hearty addition of melty cheese (most often sharp cheddar) and plenty of flavorful spices to turn it into a stretchy, cheesy, creamy sauce that could easily be used to make mac & cheese.

Granted, while this beer cheese sauce can also be served chilled as more of a spreadable, cold-pack cheese in the style of pub cheese, I personally prefer it as a queso-adjacent warm dip, especially when served with my easy homemade soft pretzels. 

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

While just about any iteration of melted cheese mixed with beer and bechamel is bound to be pretty tasty, I’m particularly fond of this beer cheese recipe because it’s:

• Made With Just 12 Ingredients, many of which you probably have on hand already.
• Quick & Easy. All you need is one pot and about 15 minutes to whip up this delectable beer cheese pretzel dip.
• Crowd-Pleasing. I mean, honestly. Who can say no to a hot vat of melted cheesy goodness?
• Budget-Friendly. A small block of cheddar, less than a lunchbox carton of milk, and not quite a full beer are pretty much the only ingredients you’ll need to acquire for this delectable appetizer; everything else is a pantry staple!

🍴Ingredients

As promised, this beer cheese dip requires just a few ingredients and a handful of pantry staples to whip up. Here’s what to grab:

• All-Purpose Flour - You’re using this as your thickener, so feel free to swap in cake flour or superfine Wondra flour if you prefer.
• Whole Milk - Cheese dip is not the place to skimp on calories. Go big or go home!
• Stout Beer - Slightly bitter and almost coffee-flavored, bold stout beers are perfect for pairing with sharp cheeses like cheddar.
• Worcestershire Sauce - For a lovely hit of salty, umami punchiness. If you’re fresh out, try one of these 34 genius substitutes; you’re sure to have at least one on hand!
• Dijon Mustard - Even if you’re not a mustard lover, make sure to add a little bit to your homemade beer cheese or it’ll taste incomplete. Feel free to use yellow mustard or ground mustard powder if needed.
• Garlic Powder & Onion Powder - For lots of allium flavor. 
• Chili Flakes & Paprika - For color, warmth, and a touch of heat.
• Cheddar Cheese - I’m a sucker for a sharp cheddar, but feel free to experiment with different flavors to find your happy place.
• Pretzel Bread Dough - Homemade soft pretzels and beer cheese? You little kitchen vixen! Obviously you can opt to use store-bought soft pretzels, tortilla chips, or crudites instead.
• Flakey Sea Salt & Chili Flakes - For giving those tender pretzel twists extra flavor.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

⚒️ Equipment

Making flavorful cheese sauce for pretzels is so much easier than you might think. Here’s every possible piece of kitchen equipment you’ll need:

• Scale or Measuring Cups & Spoons - To get all the ratios right.
• Box Grater - You’ll definitely want to grate your own cheese for the best consistency. You can also use a food processor with the shredder attachment if you like.
• Saucepan - Make sure it has at least 2 quarts capacity to prevent spillage.
• Whisk - A fork or spoon will also work, but a whisk incorporates all the goodness with ease.
• Small Crockpot or Fondue Set - This is optional, but it’s a great way to keep the beer cheese fondue nice and warm for when your guests arrive.

📖 Step by Step Instructions

Once you see how easy it is to make this flavorful cheese dip for soft pretzels, you might just be inclined to try your hand at making the pretzels, too! I’ve included instructions for both below, just in case!

Make Beer Cheese Dip

Step 1: Make Roux. Melt butter in a saucepan, add the flour and whisk together until a thick paste forms.

Step 2: Add Milk. In a slow and steady stream, continue whisking until it slightly thickens, about 1 minute.

Step 3: Finish. One at a time, whisk in the remaining ingredients until smooth.

Make Twisted Pretzels

Step 1: Make Pretzel Dough in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment & prep your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Shape. Divide the dough ball into eight equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a long rope that is approximately 1 ½ feet in length.

Step 3: Fold the rope in half and twist the rope together until they’ve spiraled together as pictured below. Do one final twist in order to achieve the final twisted pretzel shape!

Step 4: Add the pretzels one by one into the boiling, baking soda water for 45-60 seconds, then remove with a slotted spoon. Place them on your prepared baking sheet.

Step 5: Brush the tops of the pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and chili flakes, coarse sea salt.

Step 6: Bake pretzels for 16-18 minutes, turning once halfway through the bake before enjoying!

⏲️ Substitutions & Variations

While Calvin and I are in agreement that this is the best beer cheese dip recipe we’ve ever tried, that doesn’t mean customization is out of the question! Here are a few variations to consider:

• Gluten-Free Beer Cheese - Use your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free flour mix and swap in a gluten-free stout beer (e.g. Glutenberg brand).
• Vegan Beer Cheese - Swap in unsweetened dairy-free milk (preferably on the creamy side, like oat milk), plant-based butter, and your favorite vegan cheddar cheese (e.g. Violife).
• Different Cheeses - Sharp cheddar is my favorite for beer cheese, but feel free to experiment with other varieties like gouda, fontina, havarti, gruyere, or mozzarella. You can also mix and match!
• Different Beer - Lagers, ales, and IPAs all bring their own unique flavor to this cheese party, so play around until you find your favorite.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Grate your own cheese: Grating your own cheese is a fun and easy way to ensure that your beer cheese is fresh and free from any additives. You can either use a trusty hand grater or a food processor for speedy and consistent results. Whether you prefer a fine or chunky texture, grating your cheese will add a personal touch to your beer cheese that everyone will love.
• Make it ahead of time: Want to make your beer cheese even more flavorful? Just make it ahead of time! By storing your beer cheese in an airtight container in the fridge for a few hours or up to a day or two, you'll allow the ingredients to come together and create a tasty fusion of flavors. When it's time to serve, simply take it out of the fridge an hour before and let it soften to room temperature.
• Serve warm: There's nothing quite like the comfort of warm beer cheese, and serving it warm will enhance the flavor and texture. You can easily warm up your beer cheese by microwaving it in short intervals or by baking it in the oven until it's heated through and slightly bubbly. The result? A delicious, cheesy treat that everyone will be raving about!

💭 Recipe FAQs

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