Description
Soft Baked Cheesy Pretzel Dogs are a delightful combination of warm, chewy pretzel dough wrapped around juicy hot dogs and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a fun snack or casual meal, these homemade pretzel dogs boast a golden brown crust with a soft, cheesy interior, served best with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup baking soda (for boiling)
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Other Ingredients
- 8 hot dogs
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
- Coarse salt, for sprinkling
- Mustard or your favorite dipping sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, mix flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture to the flour and stir to form a dough.
- Knead Dough: Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare Baking Soda Bath: In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil, and add baking soda. Stir to dissolve completely.
- Divide Dough: Once dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 8 equal pieces.
- Shape Dough Ropes: Roll out each piece into a rope long enough to wrap around a hot dog and cheese slice.
- Assemble Pretzel Dogs: Place a slice of cheese around each hot dog, then wrap the dough rope around it, sealing the ends and edges by pinching together.
- Boil Dough-Wrapped Dogs: Using a slotted spoon, carefully dip each wrapped pretzel dog into the boiling baking soda water for 30 seconds. This step helps create the pretzel’s signature chewy crust.
- Prepare for Baking: Transfer the boiled pretzel dogs to the prepared baking sheets. Brush each with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse salt for flavor and shine.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool & Serve: Let the pretzel dogs cool slightly before serving. Enjoy with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Boiling the dough-wrapped hot dogs briefly in the baking soda solution is essential to get the authentic pretzel crust texture.
- You can substitute cheddar cheese with your favorite cheese slices like Swiss or mozzarella for variation.
- Ensure your water for activating yeast is not too hot or it can kill the yeast—110°F is ideal.
- For extra flavor, add garlic powder or dried herbs to the dough before kneading.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven to maintain the crust’s texture.
