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Soft Baked Cheesy Pretzel Dogs Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 114 reviews

Enjoy these Soft Baked Cheesy Pretzel Dogs made with a homemade pretzel dough wrapped around a cheddar cheese-filled hot dog. Boiled briefly in a baking soda bath and baked to golden perfection, these pretzel dogs have a soft, chewy crust and melty cheese inside, perfect as a fun and tasty snack or meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 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
  • 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Filling

  • 8 hot dogs
  • 8 slices cheddar cheese

Topping and Serving

  • Coarse salt, for sprinkling
  • Mustard or your favorite dipping sauce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast: In a bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
  2. Prepare dough: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour and salt. Add the frothy yeast mixture to the flour and stir until a dough starts to form.
  3. Knead dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. This develops the gluten for the chewy texture.
  4. First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
  5. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
  6. Prepare baking soda bath: In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil and carefully add the baking soda, stirring to dissolve it fully. This bath gives the pretzels their characteristic chewy crust and deep brown color.
  7. Divide dough: Once risen, punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces for individual pretzel dogs.
  8. Shape dough ropes: Roll each piece into a rope long enough to wrap around a hot dog and a slice of cheese completely.
  9. Assemble pretzel dogs: Wrap each hot dog with a slice of cheddar cheese, then wrap the dough ropes around the hot dog and cheese, pinching the dough ends and edges tightly to seal them.
  10. Boil pretzel dogs: Using a slotted spoon, carefully dip each wrapped pretzel dog into the boiling baking soda water for 30 seconds. Remove and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
  11. Apply egg wash and salt: Brush each pretzel dog with the beaten egg to achieve a golden color, then sprinkle with coarse salt for texture and flavor.
  12. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the pretzel dogs turn golden brown and the dough is cooked through.
  13. Cool and serve: Allow the pretzel dogs to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy them warm with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Ensure that the water for activating the yeast is not too hot to avoid killing the yeast.
  • Pinch the dough edges tightly around the hot dogs to prevent cheese leakage during boiling and baking.
  • The baking soda bath is crucial for achieving the classic pretzel crust texture and flavor.
  • You can swap cheddar cheese for other cheeses like mozzarella or pepper jack for different flavor profiles.
  • Serve immediately for the best texture; leftover pretzel dogs can be reheated in a toaster oven for crispness.

Keywords: pretzel dogs, cheesy pretzel dogs, soft pretzel recipe, hot dog snack, baked pretzels, homemade pretzel dough

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/soft-baked-cheesy-pretzel-dogs-recipe/