Copycat Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dogs

Copycat Auntie Anne’s pretzel dogs are the bomb! If you love homemade soft pretzels and hot dogs for lunch this is going to become your go to recipe.

Pretzel dogs with biscuit dough

There’s something about a soft pretzel that just gets my mouth watering! You can do this. It would be much faster. If that’s more your style follow our air fryer pigs in a blanket recipe. It won’t taste quite the same though I tell you. Give this a try and taste the difference, then decide which you prefer.

If you’re looking for an almost identical Auntie Annes pretzel dog recipe though, you’ve gotta’ make homemade pretzel dough. We’ll use this one from our easy soft pretzel recipe.

Pretzel dough wrapped hot dogs

I mean who doesn’t love those big soft salted pretzels at the mall? They are a savory treat you can walk and snack on or bring home as something special. If you have never tried making those at home, this is how. We used it to wrap wieners but you could twirl into a normal shape too and bake.

How do you know if active dry yeast is working?

Just proof your yeast to find out if it’s still active by adding 1 teaspoon of sugar, one envelope full of yeast, to 1/4 cup of warm water. Then, wait 10 minutes. If the mixture bubbles and develops a yeasty aroma, it is still good.

What is 1 packet of active dry yeast equivalent to?

• It equals 7 grams, 1/4 ounce, or 2 1/4 teaspoons full.
• Alternatively you could use sourdough starter instead.

Once your water, sugar and salt is combined and you’ve sprinkled this on you’ll need to let it bloom for a good five minutes. Then add your flour and with a dough hook mix it for another five minutes or so until it pulls away from the sides and looks like this.

Copycat Auntie Annes Pretzel Dogs

Then cover this with plastic wrap and put your bowl into a warm place so it can rise and double in size for about an hour. Or proof dough in Instant Pot quickly. Then you’ll be ready to cut it into equal pieces and roll them into snake like pieces as you see here.

• This will allow you to wrap your hot dogs and get ready for boiling.
• Why do you boil pretzels? Because that will give you that golden brown color on the outside with a crispier texture.
• A short dunk in your boiling baking soda water bath is all you need, then it is time for a trip into the oven.

Just leave them plain or if you love salted pretzels you’ll want to brush some egg wash on the top and sprinkle on Kosher salt.

Air Fryer Pretzel Dogs

You will follow the same instructions as far as prepping these below. Instead of using a baking sheet though you will use your air fryer basket. You’ll want to spray the inside with olive oil so they don’t stick or use a piece of parchment paper. Air fry wrapped dogs for about 7 minutes turning over halfway thru at 390 degrees F.

This is what you’re going to want to get out in order to get started on these. 😉

Ingredients

1. Baking sheet
2. Nonstick spray or parchment paper
3. Hot dogs
4. All purpose flour
5. Kosher salt
6. Water
7. Egg yolks
8. Baking soda
9. Active dry yeast
10. Sugar
11. Butter
12. Mustard pretzel dip recipe

Can you use frozen hot dogs?

No, you’d need to use defrosted, or this is how to cook frozen hot dogs if you need that info to thaw beforehand.

You could make a double batch of dough to make homemade soft pretzels and really make both. OR make them to serve separately and follow our how long to boil hot dogs to serve side by side.

I have not used wheat flour, bake times may vary if you use that for sure. Now you’ll want to preheat oven to 450 degrees. I prefer parchment to a spray coated tray but that is up to you.

Bake for about 12 minutes or until tops are golden brown as you see here. Pair these with dips of all kinds for a fun snack or dinner. If you are making a very large batch place the first round on a microwave safe plate so and put them in on warm until they’re all done.

• If you want to make mini pretzel dogs with smokies or cocktail weiners you could certainly do that too.
• You’ll just need to cut the strips of dough smaller and cut the cook time by probably half. You’d need to experiment with that as I haven’t done it myself.
• You could also push a stick in the end before baking to make a sort of corn dog of sorts. That would be really fun for kids too.

How do you reheat pretzel dogs?

1. In a toaster oven just preheat it to 400 degrees. Allow them to thaw to room temperature out of the fridge. Then wrap each one in foil and bake for 3 minutes.

In your microwave, allow them to thaw first and microwave for approximately 10–15 seconds on medium setting.

Easy pretzel dogs

They’re really easier than you think. But what if you want to make the dough ahead of time here is a few tips so they still turn out great. Another favorite, bite sized, is our pull apart pigs in a blanket recipe too.

Can you store pretzel dough?

If you decide to make pretzel dough beforehand, it can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for three months. When you’re ready to use it; thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator until it is pliable. Refrigerated dough can be shaped into pretzels while still cold, but it’s better if from there you set it on the countertop to reach room temperature.

This will take a bit more time but will allow the pretzels to puff up again before dipping and baking as directed below. Looking for other hot dog recipes? We have a bunch!

Fun Hot Dog Recipes

You can make our air fryer hot dogs, or chili dogs you see here. They’re amazing as the buns and cheese are crisped inside your hot air machine. Lose the bun and try air fryer smokies or homemade corndogs in air fryer.

• Instant Pot hot dogs are done in a split second and great to make in bulk if you have a large crowd coming over.
• Of course you can add them cut up and make hot dog burnt ends with them too!

Homemade Pretzel Dogs

In a stand mixer with a dough hook combine water, sugar and salt until sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow to bloom for 5 minutes. Add flour to the mixer bowl and beat drizzling melted butter on top as it mixes. Beat for 5 minutes with a dough hook to combine it all.

1. Once the dough forms into a ball and pulls away from the sides turn it off.
2. Grease a clean bowl with oil and put this dough inside, cover with plastic wrap and put into a warm area for an hour so it doubles in size.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large pot boil the water and baking soda together until it dissolves.
4. On a greased cutting board put your dough, divide into 10 equal pieces.
5. Roll each one into a 18″ piece. Pat hot dogs dry with paper towels and then wrap the dough around each one.

Once water is boiling drop 1 hot dog in at a time for 30 seconds, then remove with a slotted spoon and place on your baking sheet.

In a bowl whisk your egg yolk and 1 tbsp of water and brush over the top of your wrapped dogs. Then sprinkle with salt Bake for 12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown