Description

Golden, chewy homemade pretzel dough wrapped around juicy hot dogs and gooey melted cheese, boiled in a baking soda bath and baked to perfection. These baked cheesy pretzel dogs are the ultimate game day snack, party appetizer, or fun family dinner that tastes better than anything from the ballpark or freezer aisle.

Ingredients

Scale

Pretzel Dough

1½ cups warm water (110–115°F / 43–46°C)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

Boiling Bath

10 cups water
⅔ cup baking soda

To Assemble

8 hot dogs or sausages (beef franks, all-beef, or your favorite brand)
8–16 cheese sticks (mozzarella or cheddar work great; or use 1–2 slices of American/cheddar per dog)

Topping

1 large egg (beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash)
Coarse salt or pretzel salt
Optional: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning

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Instructions

Step 1: Make the Dough

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the warm water, sugar, and kosher salt until dissolved.

1. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy and bubbly (this means your yeast is alive!).

1. Stir in the melted butter.

1. Gradually add the flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon or dough hook until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.

1. Knead the dough for 5–7 minutes by hand on a floured surface (or with a stand mixer on medium speed) until smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky.

1. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Step 2: Shape the Pretzel Dogs

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

1. Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles, then divide it into 8 equal pieces (use a kitchen scale for precision if you want).

1. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough into a long rope about 20–24 inches long.

1. Place a hot dog at one end. If using cheese sticks, lay the cheese alongside the hot dog (or wrap sliced cheese around it first).

1. Wrap the dough rope around the hot dog and cheese in a spiral, overlapping slightly as you go. Pinch the ends and seams to seal tightly so cheese doesn’t leak out.

1. Repeat with remaining dough and hot dogs.

Step 3: Prepare the Baking Soda Bath

1. In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil. (It will foam a bit—that’s normal!)

1. Working with 1–2 pretzel dogs at a time, carefully lower them into the boiling water using a slotted spoon.

1. Boil for 20–30 seconds per side (they’ll puff up slightly and develop that pretzel skin).

1. Remove with the slotted spoon, letting excess water drip off, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each pretzel dog.

Step 4: Bake

1. Brush each pretzel dog generously with the egg wash (beaten egg + water).

1. Sprinkle with coarse salt and any optional toppings like sesame seeds or poppy seeds.

1. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until deep golden brown and the dough sounds hollow when tapped.

1. Let cool for 2–3 minutes before serving (the cheese will be molten hot!).

Notes

Don’t skip the boiling step! This is what creates the chewy, glossy pretzel crust. Without it, you just have bread-wrapped hot dogs.
Seal those seams well. Pinch and press the dough edges firmly so cheese doesn’t ooze out during baking (though a little leakage is tasty and normal).
Work quickly with the baking soda bath. Don’t let them sit in the water too long or they’ll get gummy.
Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to avoid burns and easily flip the pretzel dogs in the boiling water.
Egg wash = golden perfection. Don’t skip it—it’s what gives that beautiful shiny brown crust.
Make them uniform. Try to keep your dough ropes the same thickness so they bake evenly.

Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (includes rising time)
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Snack
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 Pretzel Dog
Calories: 385
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 1,240mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 14g
Cholesterol: 55mg