Cheese Sauce for Pretzels
This Cheese Sauce for Pretzels is a creamy cheddar beer cheese dip made with butter, flour, milk, beer, mustard, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne.
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Servings: 48 1 (tbs) servings
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup beer
- 1 tsp grainy mustard
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Cayenne pepper to taste, plus additional for garnish if desired
- Salt to taste, optional
- Tabasco sauce optional, to taste
Instructions
- Place a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the butter to the saucepan and allow it to melt completely.
- Add the all-purpose flour to the melted butter.
- Whisk continuously for approximately 2 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and lightly cooked.
- Gradually add the milk while whisking constantly.
- Add the beer slowly, continuing to whisk until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.
- Reduce the heat to low.
- Add the grated cheddar cheese.
- Stir until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the grainy mustard, dried oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- Stir until the seasonings are evenly incorporated.
- Taste the sauce and add salt or Tabasco sauce, if desired.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Transfer the cheese sauce to a serving bowl.
- Sprinkle the top with additional cayenne pepper, if desired.
- Serve warm with pretzels or other preferred dippers.
Notes
To make this Cheese Sauce for Pretzels gluten free, replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend or use a cornstarch slurry as a thickener.
Use certified gluten-free beer or replace the beer with additional milk for a beer-free gluten-free version.
Verify that the cheddar cheese, milk, butter, grainy mustard, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, and Tabasco sauce are labeled gluten free.
Serve the sauce with certified gluten-free pretzels, gluten-free crackers, vegetables, fries, or roasted potatoes.
Use clean cookware, utensils, measuring tools, and serving bowls to prevent cross-contamination.
If preparing for someone with celiac disease, choose certified gluten-free ingredients whenever possible.