Homemade Pretzel Dogs
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These homemade pretzel dogs are the perfect tasty snack for your game day party or a fun surprise for dinner. Take hot dogs wrapped in a soft pretzel dough and baked to golden perfection for a delicious treat that’s a hit every time!
If you’ve never had a pretzel dog, you have no idea what you’re missing! I may be lukewarm when it comes to hot dogs but wrap them in pretzel dough and you’ve just taken things to a whole new level!
We already love homemade pretzels so my kids went nuts the first time I made this this easy pretzel dog recipe. Not only are they great They also make awesome football food for game day!
Why we love this recipe
This family friendly recipe is perfect for when I don’t have dinner planned ahead of time. That’s because I usually have most of the ingredients in my pantry and hot dogs in the freezer!
It sure doesn’t hurt that my family loves it too! They already love hot dogs but now that they’ve had this recipe, regular hot dogs just don’t do it for them anymore.
The bonus? This recipe makes delicious pretzel bites too!
What is a pretzel dog
A pretzel dog is a hot dog wrapped in a pretzel dough made from flour, water, yeast and salt. Once it’s wrapped, it’s tossed briefly in boiling water, then baked until golden brown. The pretzel dough makes a yummy alternative to your traditional hot dog bun.
How To Make Pretzel Dogs
Step 1: Combine warm water and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a regular large bowl if mixing by hand). Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then sprinkle yeast across the top. Let sit for about 5 minutes (the yeast will begin to foam).
Step 2: Add melted butter, salt and half the flour.
Step 3: Attach dough hook to mixer. Mix on low speed until flour is fully incorporated (about 2-3 minutes).
Step 4: Add more flour, a little at a time, until the dough is less sticky and starts to pull away from the side of the bowl.
NOTE: How much flour you’ll need will vary depending on the moisture in the flour and the environment. I typically use about 4 1/2 cups.
Step 5: Increase the speed to medium and knead for about 5 minutes. You can also turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it by hand until smooth. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover loosely and let rise at room temperature for about an hour (or until dough doubles in size).
Step 6: Preheat oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, divide dough into 15 equal pieces. Take a piece of dough and roll it into a 15 inch long rope shape.
Step 7: Use a paper towel to dry a hot dog. Starting at one end, wrap dough around the hot dog, gently pressing as you go. Keep going until the hot dog is completely wrapped, gently pressing the end to secure it in place.
Step 8: Combine 10 cups of water and ½ cup baking soda in a large pot. Bring to a boil.
Step 9: Set your baking sheet on the counter next to the stove. Gently place a pretzel dog (I sometimes do 2-3 at a time) in the baking soda bath and cook for about 30 seconds.
Use a slotted spoon to take the boiled pretzel dogs out of the water, placing them on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pretzel dogs, placing them about 2 inches apart (you may need two cookie sheets).
Step 10: Whisk egg and 1 tsp water in a small bowl. Brush a thin layer of the egg wash over the pretzels, then sprinkle course salt over the top.
Step 11: Bake for 15 minutes or until pretzels start to turn a deep golden brown. Cool slightly before serving because the center will be very hot after baking.
Can I use other kinds of salt?
You can but coarse salt or kosher salt makes the best pretzel salt. The crystals are much bigger and they give the pretzel dogs a salty crunch!
What types of dips go with pretzel dogs?
Try dipping these in ketchup, yellow mustard, spicy mustard or a cheese sauce.
What to serve with pretzel dogs?
There are plenty of things you can serve with pretzel dogs, including:
- Potato chips
- French fries
- Potato salad
- Cole slaw
- Corn on the cobb
- Garden salad
- Fruit salad
How can I can use up leftover dough?
If you have extra dough or just don’t want to make 15 pretzel dogs, there are plenty of options. Freeze the dough for later or use it to make breadsticks, soft pretzels, pretzel bites, pizza dough or even dip them in chocolate for a yummy dessert.
What is the best way to store these?
You can store cooked pretzel dogs in an airtight container for up to three days. To reheat them, just wrap in a paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds or bake until heated through.
Can I freeze leftover pretzels dogs?
Yes! After the pretzel dogs have been cooked and cooled you can easily freeze them. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. When you’re ready, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven or microwave.
Not only do these make a great budget friendly meal, it’s one that’ll have your whole family begging for more! You seriously can’t go wrong with these awesome homemade pretzel dogs!
Easy Pretzel Dog Recipe
Ingredients
For The Dough
- 1 cup warm water
- 4 Tbsp sugar
- 1 pkg yeast or 2 1/4 tsp
- 4 Tbsp butter melted
- 2 tsp salt
- 4 cups flour
- 15 hot dogs
For cooking
- 10 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cold water
- 1-2 Tbsp coarse salt
Instructions
- Combine warm water and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then sprinkle the yeast across the top. Let sit for about 5 minutes (the yeast will begin to foam).1 cup warm water, 4 Tbsp sugar, 1 pkg yeast
- Add melted butter, salt and half the flour.4 Tbsp butter, 2 tsp salt, 4 cups flour
- Attach dough hook to mixer and mix on low speed until flour is fully incorporated (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add more flour, a little at a time, until the dough is less sticky and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. NOTE: If the dough is still sticky after four cups of flour, add more a little bit at a time. Sometimes the amount you need will change depending on humidity, elevation, etc)4 cups flour
- Increase the speed to medium and knead for about 5 minutes. You can also turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it by hand until smooth. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover loosely and let rise for about an hour or until dough doubles in size.
- Preheat oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, separate the dough into 15 equal pieces. Take one of the pieces and roll it into a snake-like shape approximately 15 inches long.
- Take a hot dog and pat it dry with a paper towel. Start at one end of the hot dog and wrap the dough around it, gently pressing as you go. Keep going until the hot dog is completely wrapped, gently pressing the end to secure it in place.15 hot dogs
- Combine 10 cups of water and ½ cup baking soda in a large pot. Bring to a boil.10 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda
- Set your baking sheet on the counter next to the stove. Gently place a pretzel dog in the boiling water and cook for about 30 seconds. Use a slotted spatula or spoon to take it out of the water and place it on the baking sheet. You can do up to 2-3 at a time. Repeat with the remaining pretzel dogs, placing them about 2 inches apart (you may need two baking sheets).
- Whisk egg and 1 tsp water in a small bowl. Brush a thin layer over the pretzels, then sprinkle course salt over the top.1 egg, 1 tsp cold water, 1-2 Tbsp coarse salt
- Bake for15 minutes or until pretzels start to turn a golden brown. Cool slightly before serving because the center will be very hot after baking.
Notes
Nutrition
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