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Applebee's Brew Pub Pretzels and beer cheese dip served on a wooden board

Copycat Applebee’s Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip

5 from 2 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Description

Soft Bavarian-style pretzel sticks with a Blue Moon white cheddar beer cheese and honey Dijon mustard — the Applebee's appetizer, made at home.

Ingredients 

Pretzels:

  • 1½ cups warm water, 110°F
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 1 packet
  • 4½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ⅔ cup baking soda
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • Coarse pretzel salt

Beer cheese dip:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup Blue Moon or Belgian-style wheat ale
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • Salt, to taste

For serving:

  • 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard + 2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

  • Stir sugar and yeast into warm water; rest 5 minutes until foamy.
  • Add flour, salt, and melted butter. Knead 5 minutes until smooth. Cover and rise 20 minutes.
  • Divide and roll dough into 6-inch sticks.
  • Boil 10 cups water with baking soda. Dip each stick 30 seconds, then place on a lined baking sheet.
  • Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with pretzel salt, and bake at 425°F for 12–15 minutes until deep golden brown.
  • For the dip, melt butter, whisk in flour, and cook 1 minute. Whisk in beer and milk; simmer 2–3 minutes until thickened.
  • Off heat, stir in cheddar a handful at a time with garlic powder, Dijon, and cayenne until smooth. Season with salt.
  • Whisk honey into Dijon. Serve warm pretzels with beer cheese and honey Dijon.

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Whisk

Notes

Refrigerate leftover dip up to 4 days. Reheat gently over low heat with a splash of milk. Short on time? Use frozen soft pretzels and skip to the dip.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 653kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 21gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 4783mgPotassium: 207mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 805IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 322mgIron: 5mg