Citrus-y Beer Pretzel Bites with Nutella® Dip
These homemade soft pretzel bites are infused with wheat beer and orange, and dusted in a sweet/salty coating that’s spiked with citrus zest. Serve with plenty of Nutella® chocolate hazelnut spread for dipping!
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by the makers of Nutella via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nutella.
Oranges go with beer. Beer goes with pretzels. Pretzels go with Nutella®. Nutella® goes with orange.
They all just get along so great, it’s nothing but a big ol’ love fest! A happy family. A circle of love. A circle of yummy, yummy love.
For today’s recipe post, I once again had Father’s Day in mind. I wanted to bake up an extra special treat for all the dads out there.
Aww.
I don’t think I’ve ever met a dad that doesn’t love beer. My dad loved it (we used to buy him a case for his birthday and/or Christmas and/or Father’s Day gift), and of course my husband does too. There’s nothing better, for a Dad, than coming in after a few hours on the lawnmower and flopping on the sofa to watch a ball game, frosty cold one in hand. 😉
One of his favorite brews is a crisp, cloudy wheat beer, and it’s even more refreshing with a slice or two of orange thrown in. Like summer in a glass!
But of course he’ll want something to nibble on with that brew. What’s better than chewy bites of freshly baked soft pretzels? Tossed in melted butter and dusted with a sweet-salty coating that’s spiked with orange zest?
There’s only one thing I can think of that could make this pairing any better, and that’s a bowl of creamy, chocolate-y Nutella® spread, for dipping.
If you’re a frequent visitor to this blog, then you probably know all about my yeast phobia. I’m not the best bread baker. However, I have made Baked by Rachel’s Beer Pretzel recipe numerous times, and it never fails. The dough comes together easily, has a really great beer-y aroma, and the pretzels bake up so chewy and flavorful.
This time around, I made sure to use a paler beer, with subtle citrus and clove undertones, and I swapped a little of that out for orange juice. Just to reinforce that flavor. It worked great! But I also swapped the bread flour for all-purpose, and while I still managed ok, I probably wouldn’t recommend it. My dough was really slack and hard to shape, so I would recommend sticking with the bread flour if you can, or if not, maybe add a little more all-purpose than the recipe card calls for. If you’re good with bread you’ll probably know how much more, but I’m not, so please don’t ask me. K thanks 😉
Oh my word, you guys. Pretzels and Nutella® is such a winning combo. And so are pretzels and beer. And so is beer with orange. And so is orange and Nutella®. See also above.
I’m telling you, this is just a killer snack, no matter how you look at it! Treat Dad to a special homemade snack this Father’s Day, and spread the happy!
Nutella® hazelnut spread is a happy start to every day! Pick up a jar of Nutella in the spreads aisle and enjoy it with whole wheat toast, waffles, pancakes, strawberries, bananas and many other foods. Nutella. Spread the Happy™.
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Citrus-y Beer Pretzel Bites with Nutella® Dip
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Bites:
- 3 cups (375 g) bread flour
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 cup (236.59 ml) wheat beer
- 1/4 cup (59.15 ml) orange juice
- 1/4 ounce (7.09 g) dry active yeast, (1 packet)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 cups (1.89 l) water
- 1/3 cup (40 g) baking soda
For the Topping:
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher or pretzel salt
- 2 1/2 tablespoons orange zest, (zest of one orange)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter,, melted
- 1/2 cup (150 g) Nutella® spread
Instructions
Make the Pretzel Bites:
- Preheat the oven to the lowest setting (mine is 170 degrees F) and combine the flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Place the beer and orange juice in a liquid measuring cup and warm slightly in the microwave (on my microwave, this takes about 30-40 seconds). The mixture should be slightly warm but not hot.
- Sprinkle the yeast into the beer and orange juice and allow it to dissolve (about 3-5 minutes).
- Pour the mixture into the flour/sugar and mix on low speed with the dough hook attachment for about 10 minutes, or until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Mix in the salt.
- Lightly mist a large bowl with non-stick spray and transfer the dough into the prepared bowl.
- Turn the heat off the oven and place the dough in, allowing it to rise for one hour.
- Divide the dough into bite-sized pieces, and allow to rise on a lined baking sheet for 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and heat the water in a large stockpot until simmering.
- Add the baking soda and cook the pretzel bites in the simmering water for about 1 minute on each side.
- Transfer to a lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until deep golden brown.
Make the Topping:
- Combine the sugar, salt, and orange zest in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Brush the pretzel bites with melted butter, and coat with the salty citrus sugar.
- Serve with Nutella® for dipping.
So irresistible! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
My pleasure Karly! Hope you’re staying cool and having a fun week 😉
Checking out your site from my blogging friend Hip Foodie Mom! So glad I stumbled upon your site because you have some serious creative skills going on over here! Loving these pretzel bites. So innovative and unique!
Aw, isn’t Alice the best! I just love her! Thank you so much for popping over, Chris! And I’m so glad you like what you’ve seen so far. Hope to see you here again, and thanks for taking a minute to say hello!
Fantastic job! Those look absolutely incredible 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks Eric! Hope you have a fantastic weekend and happy blogging to you as well!
These look amazing Allie! Beer is definitely a must with pretzels and these bites are so creative and adorable! So many awesome flavors – love the citrus and Nutella here! Pinned 🙂
Thanks so much for the pin, Kelly! I loved how the citrus and Nutella tasted together. So glad you enjoyed too! Hope you’re having a fun weekend so far, enjoy the Father’s Day holiday!
these are so cute! And so many flavors!
Ya, there’s a lot going on, but it all works! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Chloe!
I loveeee the fact that you placed these dainty delicious bites in the beer mug! I loveeeee beer to go with my food but never used it inside the food! I can’t wait to make these! Anything dipped in nutella tastes like pure chocolate-hazelnut heaven so I can already imagine how AMAZING this is going to taste!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I just love the beer in the pretzel dough! It gives such a great yeasty flavor. And ya, pretty much anything is good when it’s dipped in Nutella, lol!
I was really happy to see this recipe, Allie, as I just sort of ‘rediscovered’ Nutella (added a bit into my morning oatmeal – naughty girl!). It’s a great idea to use it as a ‘dip’. This recipe reminds me of a snack we used to have in the UK when I was a child with sort-of pretzel sticks and nutella for dipping. Mmm!
P.S. I didn’t know that orange could go well with beer. Sounds good, though!
Oh, I love dipping pretzels in Nutella too! That sweet and salty thing is just so irresistible. Here in the US we sometimes squeeze a little orange into a pale wheat beer- it’s really good, especially in the summertime! Thanks for the sweet comment, Helen!
These are amazing!!! Like seriously can be addicting!!!
Thanks so much, love! 😀
Oh Allie these sound ridiculously good!! I love homemade pretzels and they are so fun in these little bites … and then with the orange and of course the nutella… forget father’s day I need to make them for myself : ) haha just kidding, I’d share some with my dad too!
Lol I have to admit I probably ate more of them than my husband! Thanks so much for the fun comment, Ashley!
These are so awesome, Allie! Totally perfect for dads. I really love all the flavors you used, and how you packed them into those little pretzel bites. If I made these for my dad, I’m pretty sure I would eat most of them. Haha:)
Thanks Beth! That little bit of orange tasted so good with the chocolate hazelnut! So happy you enjoyed the post; thanks for the sweet comment! 😀
Wow what a fantastic combination! These sound super. I can’t get enough pretzels!
Thanks Miss Messy! This pretzel recipe from Baked by Rachel is so great- I love the chewy texture and the flavor is fantastic! Thanks so much for the sweet comment 😉
OMG, Seriously! I have a weakness for pretzels ANNDDD Nutella! These look AHA-MAZING!
Me too, Tiffany! I love that sweet/salty thing. So happy you enjoyed! Thanks for the sweet comment 😀
I love these Allie!!! I would be one happy dad if I had these on Sunday:)
Thanks Matt! I’m sure you’ve probably got some yummy treats coming your way this Father’s Day. Thanks for the comment, and hope you enjoy your day!
Oh wow, these sound sooo good. My hubby would be a very happy man if I made him these. 🙂
Thanks Linda! My hubby sure did enjoy. So happy you stopped by! Thanks for the sweet comment 😉
You’ve got to have orange with your wheat beer, so it was a great idea adding that to your pretzels! I love that Nutella dipping sauce…incredible!
I loooove dipping pretzels in Nutella! I’m such a sucker for the sweet/salty thing, Marcie! And the orange zest was a nice twist. Thanks for the sweet comment!
These totally remind me of a sweet version of the pretzel bites we had at Strangelove’s! These would seriously be delicious as dessert!
That’s so funny Vijay I was totally thinking the same thing when I was taking the photos! Those pretzels were seriously so awesome!
Girl these are seriously so heavenly. You and Nutella are a brand match made in heaven! The photography is also incredible.
Thanks Jocelyn! I love Nutella and I’m so happy to be able to write recipes for them 🙂
I can hardly stand how CREATIVE these pretzel bites are! And dipped in nutella?? Seriously, I just died.
My dad doesn’t drink beer, but my older brother does and I have a feeling he would LOVE these pretze bites! 🙂
Thank you so much Sarah! Even just dusted with cinnamon sugar they are so good. Or with salt and mustard! But I liked the combo of orange and nutella. 😉