These homemade Pretzel Dogs are absolutely delicious! With the perfect combination of a chewy soft pretzel and a juicy hot dog, they make a great lunch, dinner or party food that’s sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
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Homemade Pretzel Dogs
I can’t think of a better snack that soft buttery pretzels, especially when they are homemade. I recently made these Soft Pretzels and these Pretzel Bites, which gave me inspiration to take my hot dog game to a whole new level.
The results were these amazing pretzel dogs that are nothing short of fabulous! After you try them, you’ll never want regular hot dogs again!
The pretzel dough is so soft and chewy and makes the perfect bun for your favorite hot dogs. Make them for your next Superbowl party, family movie night, kids’ birthday parties or just anytime when those hotdog cravings hit.
Why We Love This Recipe
Pretzel bun: These buns are so much more fun and taste WAY better than a regular hotdog bun.
Kids friendly recipe: Even the pickiest eaters will love these hotdogs. One of these pretzel dogs along with a little ketchup served on the side equals happy little faces every time.
Great for meal prep: These pretzel dogs freeze beautifully. Make a double batch and freeze to keep some on hand for when you need a last-minute meal on a busy weeknight.
What’s Needed to Make the Best Homemade Pretzel Hot Dogs
For the Soft Pretzel Dogs
- Hot dogs-Use good quality regular hot dogs, like all beef franks
- Flour – All-purpose flour
- Instant yeast – You need to use yeast, but don’t let that intimidate you. It’s so easy and this recipe shows you how!
- Salt – Adds flavor to the pretzel dough
- Sugar – Helps to activate the yeast and adds a touch of flavor
- Salt – Adds flavor to the dough
- Warm water– Use warm not hot water. If it’s too hot it kills the yeast.
For Cooking
- Water – You’ll need to bring 10 cups to a rolling boil.
- Baking soda – Provides alkaline to the water needed to give the pretzels their signature crust.
- Egg – Egg mixed with one tsp of cold water to make an egg wash gives the pretzels a shiny exterior and helps the salt stick.
- Salt- For finishing the pretzels. You can use special pretzel salt, but a coarse sea salt or kosher salt works just as well.
How to Make Easy Pretzel Dogs
To Make the Dough
- First add a warm water and sugar the large bowl of a stand mixer stir to dissolve sugar. Sprinkle yeast across the top of the water and leave it for about 5 minutes. The yeast will start to foam.
- Attach dough hook to mixer.
- Add in melted butter, salt and half of the flour. Mix on low speed until flour is incorporated (about 2-3 minutes) gradually add as much flour as you need until the dough begins to pull away from the side of the bowl and isn’t as sticky. The exact amount of flour you will need will vary depending on how much moisture is in your flour, the environment etc. I usually need about 4 ½ cups.
- Turn the speed up to medium and allow to knead for about 5 minutes. Alternately you can turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface or cutting board 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 the dough rises and is doubled in size.
Once the dough is raised it is time to make the pretzels!
To Wrap the Hotdogs
- Preheat the oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Separate the dough into 15 equal pieces.
- Take one piece and roll it into a long rope or worm shape about 15 inches long.
- Pat a hot dog dry with paper towels.
- Starting at one end of the hot dog, wrap dough strip around it and gently press. Continue wrapping the dough around the hot dog until it is completely wrapped. Gently press the end to secure it in place.
Cooking the Hotdogs
- Place the 10 cups of water in a large stock pot and ½ cup baking soda in a large pot on the stove and bring it to a boil.
- Set your prepared baking sheet on the counter next to the stove.
- One by one, gently place pretzel dog in the boiling water and cook for about 30 seconds. Using a slotted spatula or slotted spoon gently lift the boiled pretzel dogs out of the water and place it on them baking sheet. Placing them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- You may need to use 2 cookie sheets or work in batches.
- Once they are all boiled it is time to bake them.
- In a small bowl whisk together the egg and 1 tsp water until well mixed.
- Using a brush coat the pretzels evenly with a thin coat of the egg wash. Sprinkle on coarse salt as desired.
- Place the cookies sheets in the oven for about 15 minutes or until pretzels are a lovely golden brown.
- Allow to cool until warm before serving because the inside is very hot right out of the oven.
Store leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container.
To re-heat wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds.
Tips and Variations for the Best Homemade Pretzel Dogs
You sure can! For best results, don’t brush the tops with the egg wash or add the pretzel salt. Just bake them as normal and allow them to cool to room temperature. Place them into the freezer on the cookie sheet for 1 hour just until frozen.
Place each frozen pretzel dog in a freezer safe bag and freeze until ready to use. To prepare, brush the frozen pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until warmed through and golden brown.
A good smear of yellow or brown spicy mustard is always great. But if you are the dipping type, like I am, try a home cheese sauce like this Easy Beer Cheese. It is SO good.
If you like a slightly sweet and salty combination, this Copycat Chick-fil-a Sauce may sound like a strange combination but it’s actually quite tasty, and let’s face it; kids LOVE Chick-fil-a sauce!
Tips and Variations for the Best Homemade Pretzel Dogs
- Allow the prepared dough to rest at room temperature until doubled in size. This ensures the dough bakes up soft and chewy. This usually takes about an hour a warm place. When colder, the time may be closer to two hours.
- You can make mini pretzel dogs with cocktail wieners for little bite size appetizers.
- These pretzel dogs tend to stick, so to make double sure that doesn’t happen, use spritz a little non stick spray.
- Want to add a little kick to your dogs? Add a little bit of chopped jalapeno peppers to the pretzel dough. You can use fresh peppers or the pickled kind. If you use pickles jalapenos, be sure to drain off the extra liquid.
- Take the flavors of these pretzel dogs to whole new level by make them Italian style. Add about a tablespoon of dry Italian herbs to the dough, then serve them with a side of marinara for dipping,
- You can easily make this recipe into cheddar dogs. Cut a slit length wise down each hot dog. Cut a strip of cheddar cheese that is slightly shorter than the hot dog. Place it in the slit and seal it up well with the dough. Continue with the cooking instructions as normal.
The boiling process is super important. Dropping the soft pretzel dough into a baking soda bath for about 30 seconds makes the interior of the pretzel quickly puff up and it starts the crust formation.
The solution is what gives the pretzels that wonderful pretzel flavor, chewy crust, mahogany color, glossy sheen, just like you’d expect from really good soft pretzels.
Want More Easy Party Recipes?
Pretzel Dogs
Ingredients
For the Dog
- 2 ¼ tsp yeast one packet
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 4 Tbsp butter melted
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tsp salt
- 4-5 cups all-purpose flour
- 15 hot dogs
Cooking
- 10 cups water
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cold water
- 1-2 Tbsp coarse salt
Instructions
- First add a warm water and sugar the bowl of a stand mixer stir to dissolve sugar. Sprinkle yeast across the top of the water and leave it for about 5 minutes. The yeast will start to foam.1 Tbsp sugar, 1 cup warm water, 2 ¼ tsp yeast
- Attach dough hook to mixer.
- Add in melted butter, salt and half of the flour. Mix on low speed until flour is incorporated (about 2-3 minutes) gradually add more flour until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl and isn’t as sticky. The exact amount of flour you will need will vary depending on how much moisture is in your flour, the environment etc. I usually need about 4 ½ cups.4 Tbsp butter, 2 tsp salt, 4-5 cups all-purpose flour
- Turn the speed up to medium and allow to knead for about 5 minutes. Alternately you can turn the dough out onto 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 doubled in size.
- Once the dough is raised it is time to make the pretzels.
- Preheat the oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Separate the dough into 15 equal pieces.
- Take one piece and roll it into a worm shape about 15 inches long.
- Pat a hot dog dry with paper towels.15 hot dogs
- Starting at one end of the hot dog wrap the dough around it and gently press. Continue wrapping the dough around the hot dog until it is completely wrapped. Gently press the end to secure it in place.
- Place the 10 cups of water and ½ cup baking soda in a large pot on the stove and bring it to a boil.10 cups water, ½ cup baking soda
- Set your prepared baking sheet on the counter next to the stove.
- Gently place a pretzel dog in the boiling water and cook for about 30 seconds. Using a slotted spatula or slotted spoon. gently lift the pretzel out of the water and place it on the baking sheet.
- Repeat with the remainder of the pretzel dogs. Placing them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. You may need to use 2 baking sheets or work in batches.
- Once they are all boiled it is time to bake them.
- In a small bowl whisk together the egg and 1 tsp water until well mixed.1 egg, 1 tsp cold water
- Using a brush coat the pretzels evenly with a thin coat of the egg mixture. Sprinkle on coarse salt as desired.1-2 Tbsp coarse salt
- Place the baking sheet in the oven for about 15 minutes or until pretzels are a lovely golden brown.
- Allow to cool until warm before serving. The inside is very hot right out of the oven.
- Store refrigerated in an air tight container.
- To re-heat wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds.
Nutrition
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