Hot Dog Pretzels

Who doesn’t love homemade pretzels? They’re fluffy, cute, and a touch fancy, elevating hot dogs from “kids’ food” to an elegant appetizer. Let’s just say they fly off the platter whenever I take these to a party. Honestly, they’re not hard to make, either. All you need to do is make the pretzel dough, wrap the hot dogs, and bake! So, the recipe is less labor-intensive than you might imagine. If going for fancy, don’t skip dipping them in the baking soda solution. However, if you’re making them for the fifth time this week because your kids can’t get enough, you can bake them without dipping them. Trust me, it’s not the end of the world, and they still taste fantastic. 😅

Recipe Ingredients

How to Make Hot Dog Pretzels

Make the Pretzel Dough

Activate Yeast – Mix warm water and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let it sit until the yeast dissolves and starts bubbling – for about 5 minutes. (Photo 1) Liquid Ingredients – Combine the milk, butter, sugar, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Then microwave for about a minute. Stir until the sugar and butter melt. Avoid getting it too hot so it doesn’t kill the yeast. Make Dough – Dump everything into the yeast mixture and mix for 2 minutes on medium. Next, add about 4½ cups of flour and continue mixing until a soft dough forms. It will start pulling away from the side of the bowl. (Photo 2) Knead – Turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-6 minutes. (Photo 3) Rise – Place the pretzel dough in a greased bowl, covered loosely with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1-2 hours or until the dough has doubled. Make Pretzels – Punch the dough down and place it on a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 18-20 pieces. Roll each piece into a rope to wrap around the hot dogs or sausage.

Assemble & Make the Hot Dog Pretzels

Preheat the oven to 425℉ (220℃). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Wrap the pretzel dough around the hot dogs, leaving about an inch of hot dog peeking out on each end. Tightly pinch the dough at the seam to secure it. (Photos 4-6) Boil – Next, bring water to a boil and add the baking soda. Place the wrapped pretzel dogs in the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to soak up excess water. Repeat the process with the rest of the pretzel dog. (Photo 7) Transfer the hot dog pretzels to the prepared baking pan, positioning them so they don’t touch. (Photo 8) Egg Wash – Finally, brush each pretzel dog with the egg yolk mixture and sprinkle with salt, sesame seeds, or your spice of choice. Bake for about 15-17 minutes until golden brown. Serve – Let them cool for a couple of minutes and serve with mustard, ketchup, or your dipping sauce of choice.

Recipe Variations

Tips and Tricks

Make-Ahead Instructions

These taste incredibly fresh out of the oven. However, you can make them a day ahead and reheat them in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350℉ (175℃). Just refrigerate them in an airtight container ’til then. Or freeze them for up to three months and reheat them in the same way.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve these bad boys fresh out of the oven or at room temp – it’s your call! Make sure you have some fun dipping sauces, too. Store leftover pretzel hot dogs in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Reheat them in the oven or your microwave.

What Goes With Hot Dog Pretzels

If you’re making a meal of these, serve them with seasoned fries and maybe a quick wedge salad. For an appetizer buffet, serve them alongside pizza rolls, spinach artichoke dip, and crispy chicken wings. 🎉