Copycat Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dogs made at home with soft, buttery dough wrapped around all-beef hot dogs, just like your favorite mall snack! This pretzel dogs recipe captures the essence of the original, making it ideal for family get-togethers, game days, or simply satisfying a craving.
What sets these hot dogs in a blanket apart is the unique blend of flavors and a satisfying texture. Whether enjoyed plain, with a sprinkle of salt, or paired with dipping sauces, our version of Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dogs provide a versatile option for snack enthusiasts!
Favorite Mall Snack made AT HOME!
Everyone loves Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and we really love the pretzel dogs. Now you can make them right at home without going to the mall! This recipe is quick and easier than you think. A simple yeast dough is wrapped around all beef hot dogs, boiled in baking soda water before getting baked and brushed with butter, then topped with coarse salt for the finishing touch. These will be your new favorite copycat recipe to try at home!
Why You Will Love This Pretzel Dog Recipe
- Freshness: Homemade means freshness. Biting into a warm, soft pretzel dog is unbeatable.
- Customization: Vary the hot dog options or add toppings like cheese or spicy mustard for a personal twist.
- Fun Activity: Making pretzel dogs can be a great family activity. It helps develop cooking skills while having fun.
Ingredients for Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dogs
Water: You will need 1 cup of warm water to help activate the yeast and give the dough great moisture.
Flour: The structural base of the dough is 3 cups of flour.
Sugar: Add 1 TBSP of sugar for a subtle sweetness to the pretzel wrap.
Yeast: Use a ¼-oz packet of instant dry yeast (one packet) for a quick rise of your bread wrap.
Salt: Help bring out the flavors in this bread by adding 1 ½ teaspoons of kosher salt.
Water: Use 8 cups of water to boil the hot dog wrapped dough in before the baking process.
Baking soda: Add ¼ cup of baking soda to the pot of water to give the pretzel a nice chewy texture.
Egg: You need 1 egg for the egg wash that will be brushed on the outside of the pretzels just prior to baking.
Hot dogs: This recipe will create enough dough to wrap 12 all beef hot dogs, plenty to feed a crowd.
Butter: Using 3 TBSP of unsalted butter, melted, will give the baked dish more amazing flavor and help the salt adhere to the pretzels.
Salt: Sprinkle each pretzel wrapped dog with coarse sea salt or coarse kosher salt.
Cheese sauce: For a delicious dip, grab your favorite cheese sauce to serve alongside these hot dogs.
How to make Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dog recipe
Dough
Get started by combining the warm water, flour, sugar, instant yeast, and kosher salt in a large mixing bowl. Use a dough hook, or wooden spoon, to mix the dough until combined. You want to mix the dough until a ball forms (if using a dough hook), if using a spoon, knead the dough until it’s slightly sticky and formed into a ball.
Place the dough ball into a greased bowl and cover with a tea towel, set it aside in a warm spot to rise for an hour or until it has doubled in size.
Prep & boil
Next, get the oven preheating to 425°F. Then divide the dough into 12 balls and roll the balls into thin ropes. Proceed to wrap 1 rope around each hot dog and place them on a parchment lined baking tray.
In a large pot, over high heat, combine the 8 cups of water and baking soda, bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat so the water is at a bubbling simmer.
Continue to add each pretzel wrapped hot dog into the water, just a few at a time to not overcrowd the pot and boil them for just 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, remove the hot dogs from the water and place back on the parchment lined baking tray.
Bake
In a small bowl whisk an egg with a splash of water, then brush the egg wash over the dough on each hot dog. Place the pretzel dogs into the preheated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.
Once browned, remove the hot dogs from the oven and brush the melted butter over each pretzel dog and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Serve with cheese sauce and enjoy!
Homemade Pretzel Dog Variations
There are numerous ways to customize Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dogs to fit different dietary preferences. By making a few adjustments, anyone can enjoy these delicious treats, whether they prefer vegetarian or gluten-free options.
Vegetarian Options: To create a vegetarian version of pretzel dogs, one can replace the all-beef hot dogs with plant-based alternatives. Options include veggie dogs or homemade lentil and mushroom hot dogs, which provide a hearty and flavorful substitute. It’s important to choose high-quality products that mimic the texture and taste of traditional hot dogs.
Gluten-Free Alternatives: Preparing gluten-free pretzel dogs starts with substituting traditional flour with gluten-free options, such as almond flour or a gluten-free all-purpose blend. The dough can be enhanced with xanthan gum to improve elasticity. A mix of potato starch and tapioca flour offers a chewy texture that resembles standard pretzel dough.
Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dogs Recipe
Ingredients
Pretzel Dough
Baking Soda Bath
- 8 cups water
- ¼ cup baking soda
Pretzel Dogs
- 1 egg
- 12 all beef hot dogs
- 3 TBSP unsalted butter melted
- Coarse sea salt or coarse kosher salt
- Cheese sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Dough: Combine the warm water, flour, sugar, yeast, and kosher salt in a large mixing bowl. Use a dough hook or wooden spoon to mix the dough until combined. You want to mix the dough until a ball form if using a dough hook, if using a spoon knead the dough until slightly sticky and formed into a ball.
- Place the dough ball into a greased bowl and cover and set aside in a warm spot to rise for an hour or until doubled in size.
- Prep & boil: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Divide the dough into 12 balls and roll the balls into thin ropes. Wrap 1 rope around each hot dog and place on a parchment lined tray.
- In large pot over high heat combine the 8 cups of water and baking soda and bring to a boil, reduce to a bubbling simmer.
- Add your pretzel wrapped hot dogs, just a few at a time to not overcrowd the pot, and boil for just 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon remove the hot dogs from the water and place on a parchment lined baking tray.
- Bake: In a small bowl whisk an egg with a splash of water. Brush the egg wash over the dough. Place pretzel dogs into the oven and bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Once browned remove from the oven and brush the butter over each pretzel dog and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Serve with cheese sauce and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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How long are homemade pretzel dogs good for?
Store leftovers hot dogs in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, and they should last up to 3 days.
For reheating, the oven is ideal. Preheat it to 350°F (175°C) and warm the pretzel dogs for about 10-12 minutes until heated through. Alternatively, a microwave can be used, but the texture may not be as crisp.
Which type of hot dogs are used in Auntie Anne’s pretzel dogs?
Auntie Anne’s typically uses all-beef hot dogs for their pretzel dogs. These hot dogs provide a robust flavor that complements the soft pretzel dough.
Choosing high-quality hot dogs will enhance the overall taste of the dish. Alternatives like turkey or chicken hot dogs can be used for a different option.
Can you prepare Auntie Anne’s pretzel dogs in an air fryer?
Pretzel dogs can be prepared in an air fryer with excellent results. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
Place the wrapped pretzel dogs in a single layer in the basket. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and thoroughly heated. Adjust time accordingly based on the size of the hot dogs used.
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Copycat Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dogs are a wonderful combination of soft, buttery dough wrapped around an all-beef hot dog. These pretzel dogs bring home your favorite mall snack without extra costs and more fun!
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