Soft Pretzel Dogs
Have you ever wanted to slow down and simplify? I don’t know why but I’ve really been feeling the urge to purge recently. I’m surrounded by too many things that occupy my space. These things also take up space in my thoughts. Here’s how it all goes down in my brain while I’m lying awake at night:
Did I take the last load of laundry out of the dryer tonight?
I forgot to get laundry detergent at Target yesterday.
I spent way too much at Target yesterday.
Why did I go in there in the first place?
Oh yeah for diapers and wipes.
Kids are expensive. I love our children.
My foot still hurts from stepping on that Hot Wheels car today.
Four Year Old Foodie has too many cars.
His brother seems to be more into balls than cars.
Should I get rid of that mechanic’s garage toy?
Nobody plays with it anymore.
I should have a garage sale.
I could get rid of a lot of old baby clothes.
Baby clothes. I left them in the dryer. Ugh.
Does my husband have clean socks for tomorrow?
What will I make for dinner tomorrow?
Hot dogs. Soft pretzel hot dogs!
I hope I remember this in the morning.
My mind is too cluttered.
I like soft pretzels.
My space is too cluttered.
I need to have a garage sale.
I’ll sell that toy mechanic’s garage.
And I did! Ahh it feels good to simplify (and it helps to make a few dollars on the side!). It is nice to simplify dinners in the summer too and that’s what this recipe is about. The concept is simple. The dough is simple. The dishes were simple. And we pretty much cleared out every last bite so the clean up was simple!
You could make these into pretzels instead of pretzel dogs. For me that was NOT simple. I will not be applying for a job at the mall anytime soon I guess. I made 6 pretzel dogs and turned the rest into bite-sized pieces. I can handle that!
Soft Pretzel Dogs
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast, approx. 2 ¼ teaspoons
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water, 110- 115 degrees F
- 4 cups flour
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 – 3 Tablespoons melted butter
- Coarse Kosher Salt, optional
Instructions
- In the bowl of your mixer (fitted with dough hook) dissolve yeast, brown sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups warm water. Mix in flour until you can turn your dough on a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl. Cover, and let rise for one hour. ** This step can be done with a wooden spoon instead of a mixer. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead – 8-10 minutes.**
- After dough has risen, cut into 12 pieces. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes. Roll each piece into a 2-3 foot rope.
- In a large saucepan, bring water and baking soda to a simmer over medium heat.
- Roll your dough around the hot dogs and dip into the baking soda solution for about 20-30 seconds. Place on parchment covered (or greased) baking sheets, and let rise 15-20 minutes.
- You could certainly roll your pretzel dough into any shape at this point.
- Brush with melted butter and salt. Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 8 -10 minutes, or until golden brown.
103 Comments on “Soft Pretzel Dogs”
These look delicious! I’d like to freeze them to have on hand for my kids’ lunches… any recommendations on whether to freeze before boiling, after boiling, or after boiling and baking? Thanks!
I just made these for dinner tonight, and shall I say… FANTASTIC!! I made them with hot dogs for the kids, and beer brats for me and the hubby. In the brats ones, I also wrapped some caramelized onions. Because of the onions, I couldn’t twist-wrap the dough, so instead I gently rolled out thick rectangles big enough to fit around the sausage and onions. Then I just pinched the dough closed with a seam across the top. I had enough dough to wrap 4 brats this way as well as 4 hot dogs. My family loved them and are asking when I’m going to make them again!
This is such a nice hot dog twist (no pun intended). I can’t wait to try them!
These look amazingly delicious!!! I must have one soon! I want some of those pretzel bites too…but with nacho cheese! Yum! I’m glad you were able to clear out some of the stress and make a couple extra bucks!
My kids would like BOTH the pretzel dogs and the pretzel bites. YUM.
My boys would absolutely love these! I see some soft pretzel dogs in my future. 🙂
oh boy!! saw your tweet and immediate came here .. this is sad. Why does Blogger keep doing this ?? eating away stuff all the time. 60 to 2 comment is sad 🙁
You know sweetie I like all your recipes and i loved this one too. I hope the comments come back!
http://www.sunshineandsmile.com
Love this. Simple is almost always better. Don’t know why we gotta take a simple recipe or concept and totally complicate it and make it harder on ourselves (unless of course we have the time, energy or money to do all that). I usually have none of the above..lol. Gorgeous recipe and your pictures are making me salivate!
I am craving these at 5am.. not good. Not good at all.
teaspoons! yikes! thanks 🙂
Is the yeast 2 1/4 Tablespoons or Teaspoons? Tablespoons seems like a lot.
Yum! We make something similar in Italy and I have always loved them! I have the same problem: "cluttered mind" perfectly describes my state! I keep forgetting things as I have too many things to do! I usually write things down on pieces of paper… but that adds to the mess (you know how it is… toddlers' mess!!!) and they often get lost or drawn on! I am hopeless! hahaha
This is good! My kids would love this soft pretzel dogs!
MUST. MAKE. THESE. The BF wont eat a hot dog but from time to time – oh yeah, Ill indulge. These look awesome. I have been itching to make homemade pretzels for a while – but stick a hot dog in there and I really have to make these soon.
Your recipe looks delicious and your comments leading up to it are so funny because they are so true!
So I never discovered that I love pretzels with mustard until I was something like 35!! And I'm with you… I think I'll just keep my pretzels shapes in bites, you can't go wrong!!
Thanks Kate!
Totally agree – my pretzels looked like tangled up shoe laces. The dogs were easy – my 4 year old even rolled out his own and wrapped it! I was so proud of him!
The the healthiest fare but still fun to mix it up once in a while!
Hey thanks for stumbling this for me! 🙂
Oh just wait – you must try one then! 😉 btw- I'm glad you're liking Pinterest!
Great post! My little ones always skip the bun for hotdogs (why? who knows..lol) , but I bet I could totally do the pretzels..they'd love that! Wonderful family friendly food. Wonderful as always, Katrina!
Thanks so much Jennifer! 🙂
Oh the dogs were WAY easier than the pretzels. My pretzels looked like tangled up shoelaces! The dogs and the bites were the way to go (for me!).
Thanks! There is a pretzel place in our mall called auntie Anne's and they make something like this. Mmm!
Anything that comes from Sweet Pea's Kitchen is Ahhh-mazing! 🙂
I was enjoying your blog but I can't comment 🙁 That mochi looks yummy – I'd love to try it sometime!
Thanks for stopping by! Yes – Target sees me coming and smiles. Oy!
Ha! I assure you I am NOT! You should have seen my pretzels – they looked like tangled up shoelaces! lol
Sylvie – that is my husband too! I get distracted and move on to another point before I finish the first and he was…whoa! Back up…! lol
I'm a fan of bite sized food!
Ha ha! I never thought about it like that! lol So true!
That's a good way to put it – reviewing the day and gearing up for the next. Whew! Exhausting!
LOL! Well, my youngest was napping and the oldest was on a bike ride with Dad! I was thankful to get in a few shots because there were NO leftovers!
I know it is frustrating sometimes to make space then fill it up again. But at least it is better than always accumulating MORE 🙂
I've never had the Einstein bros ones but these are like the ones at the mall Auntie Anne's I think 🙂
The dogs and bites were simple…not so much on twisting the pretzels (for me anyway!) Good luck! 🙂
I'm with you on the simple things, you really need them at times to stop from going crazy 🙂
Delicious!
I LOOOVE pretzel dogs……never tried making them though, but I know it was a real pain just making soft pretzels! lol
Thanks for linking up! I featured your post in my wrap up! https://tidymom.net/2011/great-ideas/
Those look so yummy. I am going to give those a try.
Oh WAY better! 😉
I love the glimpse into your mind! 🙂 And these pretzel dogs! I always see something similar at the mall food court, but know that it can't be good for me. Homemade has to be better though, right? 🙂
These look amazing – so impressed! AND…. I can totally relate to the list running through your head – must be a MOM thing!
Yum! This would make such a fun dinner. Love the little pretzel nuggets.
Your train of thoughts is so familiar. Hubby has a hard time catching up with my nightly questions :)))
The bites sound amazing. you'd love a couple.
Maybe it's because i'm from the uk or something but I have no idea what soft pretzels are…and I feel like im missing out! These look amazing!!
Thumbs up!!!!
Oh dear! I can imagine.. it used to happen with me when i was crazy busy with work .. now I am more relaxed and no babies yet 😛 I love kid ..i do.
These are one of my all time fav bite and every time we go for shopping I have to pick one in the mall ..
Fabulous! These are so perfect for outdoor grilling appetizers. Well done! And glad the garage sale was a success! You and I share a brain because I just thought this morning 'I MUST clean out this house!' Buzzed 🙂