There’s something comforting about combining the flavors of a soft, freshly baked pretzel with a juicy hot dog and melted cheese. This recipe for homemade cheesy pretzel dogs is easy to make at home and offers that perfect balance of savory and salty, all in one handheld snack.
I’ve always loved soft pretzels. Anytime I go to a carnival, sporting event, or festival, you can bet I’m grabbing a soft pretzel with a side of cheese. I’ve been this way ever since I was a kid! There’s something about that warm, chewy dough and hint of salt that just hits the spot every time. I’m also a big fan of hot dogs, so combining these two favorites was a fun recipe to create and, even better, to eat!
How To Make Cheesy Pretzel Dogs
Prepare the Dough: For mixing the dough, I like to use my Kitchenaid stand mixer. I add all the ingredients and let the mixer do the work. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can mix it with a spatula in a large bowl. Then flour a flat surface and knead the dough for 2 minutes by hand.
Baking Soda Dip (Alternative to Boiling): A medium sized bowl is perfect for making the baking soda dip solution.
Bake: Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper keeps the pretzel dogs from sticking, making cleanup a breeze. I also recommend a durable baking sheet that heats evenly.
Salt: I prefer to use pretzel salt when making anything soft pretzel related, however if you don’t have any on hand you can use course kosher salt!
Tips for Perfect Homemade Cheesy Pretzel Dogs:
- Choose Your Cheese: Cheddar is a fantastic choice because it melts nicely, but you can use any cheese you love. Mozzarella gives a gooey texture, while pepper jack adds a little spice. For a lighter version, skip the cheese altogether and make classic pretzel dogs!
- Dipping vs. Boiling: Traditional pretzel recipes involve boiling in a baking soda solution, but that can be time-consuming. Dipping in a warm baking soda solution before baking gives a similar flavor and texture without the extra step of boiling. Perfect for busy days!
- Seal the Dough: Make sure to wrap the dough tightly around the hot dog and cheese to prevent any cheese from oozing out while baking.
- Reheating: These pretzel dogs are best enjoyed fresh, but they reheat beautifully! Just pop them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5 minutes, or in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Make It Your Way
These cheesy pretzel dogs are highly customizable. You can try different hot dog varieties (turkey, beef, veggie) or experiment with flavors by adding a sprinkle of garlic powder or smoked paprika to the dough for extra depth. If you’re a fan of spice, tuck in a slice of jalapeño along with the cheese for a fun twist.
Serving Size
This recipe makes 10 pretzel dogs, but hot dogs typically come in a package of 8. If you want you can make just the 8 and use the rest of the dough to make pretzel bites, pretzel buns or mini soft pretzels.
Why You’ll Love These Cheesy Pretzel Dogs
This homemade version is fresher, customizable, and uses ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Ditch the store-bought pretzels and enjoy the satisfaction of making these crowd-pleasers at home!
Cheesy Pretzel Dogs
Ingredients
For the pretzel dough:
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 packet of Instant Yeast 2 ¼ tsp
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup salted butter melted
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 2 cups warm water
- 10 hot dogs
- 10 slices mild cheddar cheese
For the topping:
- 3 tbsp melted butter
- pretzel salt you can also use kosher salt
Instructions
For the pretzel dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer combine warm water, salt, and sugar. Add yeast and let rest 5 minutes until yeast starts to foam.
- With the mixer on medium-low speed add in the flour and melted butter and mix thoroughly until a dough forms onto the dough hook of the stand mixer, about 2 minutes. Wet hands and remove the dough from the bowl then rub 2-3 tablespoons of oil all over the stand mixer bowl (or a large new bowl if you prefer) Add the dough back to the oiled bowl. Cover with Saran Wrap. Let it rise for 1 hour (I turn oven on for 2-3 min, make sure to turn it off, then place in the oven to rise)
- Once the dough has risen remove from the oven and preheat to 450°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cookie spray. Set aside. Add baking soda to a medium sized bowl with warm water and whisk.
- Turn it out the dough onto a slightly floured work surface, and divide into 10 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a rope that’s about 20 inches long. Use a pizza cutter or knife to trim up each side to be straight, about 1 inch in width. Take 1 slice of cheese and gently wrap it around the hotdog. Then, starting at one end, wrap the dough around the hot dog, pinching each end together so that it’s sealed. Place onto the prepared pan and repeat with the remaining dough and hot dogs.
- Place the pretzel dogs into the warm water mixture and twirl, coating each side for 30 seconds total. Remove them from the water and space about 3 inches apart on the pan. Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. (If you don't have pretzel salt you can use kosher salt!)
- Bake until golden brown, about 12-14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving. If you have extra dough, you can shape them into small soft pretzels or cut into pretzel bites before baking!