Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket
Take the classic pigs in a blanket to a new level…by adding cheese and then wrapping them in pretzel dough! Serve these Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket with a quick and easy honey mustard dipping sauce for extra flavor!
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Almost 2 years ago (sometime in the middle of the pandemic), we adopted two puppies. I wish I could tell you what we were thinking adopting two puppies at the same time. Maybe it was pandemic delirium. Maybe it was a moment of weakness. Who knows? The first year was a bit wild for sure, but Edith and Millie have settled down into great companions. They first met each other in my arms when I picked them up at the rescue organization…and now they are best friends!
The reason I mention our pups in connection to these Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket is because we often call Edith our little hot dog. She’s a short-haired chihuahua, and she’s solid. That dog loves to eat! Like all dogs, she loves to jump in piles of leaves in Autumn, and she actually tolerates snow in the winter. However, unlike her sister who gracefully leaps through the piles of leaves, Edith looks like a hot dog jumping. Just imagine what a hot dog would look like if it could jump. That’s Edith. (I tease her, but make no mistake – we love that dog!)
Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket
Switching gears over to the recipe, let’s talk about these Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket. A “pig in a blanket” is the common term for a mini hot dog wrapped in puff pastry. It’s a delicious appetizer for sure. But you know what makes it better? Adding sharp cheddar cheese and wrapping it in pretzel dough!
This fun appetizer was a huge hit in our house. My sister-in-law happened to be over when I made this recipe, and she said it beats Auntie Anne’s – the soft pretzel stand that you find in nearly every mall. While I can’t speak to the comparison myself, I can say that these Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket are packed with flavor! Think soft pretzel dough wrapped around a mini smoked sausage and stuffed with melted cheddar cheese. The result is a salty, cheesy, buttery bite-sized appetizer that will disappear faster than you can say “yum!”
As if that wasn’t enough already, I served these Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket with a quick and easy homemade honey mustard sauce. This sauce is perfect for dipping all sorts of things, but there is something magical about honey mustard + warm pretzels.
If you’ve never tried your hand at homemade pretzels, then it’s time! Yes, they do involve a yeasted dough. No, it’s not difficult. The dough only rests for about 30 minutes after you make it, and that’s the perfect time to get everything else ready.
One unique thing about homemade pretzels is letting the dough rest for a couple minutes in a water + baking soda mixture. That is a critical step that causes your homemade pretzels to turn golden brown in the oven. Oh, and brushing the pretzels with melted butter when they come out of the oven. That’s critical, too!
I hope you enjoy these Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket as much as we do – a batch doesn’t last long around our house!
Did you make a batch of these Pretzels Pigs in a Blanket? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). I’d love to see your version!
Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Dough
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ Tbsp brown sugar
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
- ¾ cup + 2 Tbsp warm water
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 Tbsp baking soda
For the Pretzels
- 4 oz. cheddar cheese I used Cabot's Vermont Sharp Cheddar cheese
- 36 mini smoked sausages
- coarse salt
- 2 Tbsp butter melted
For the Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1½ Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1½ Tbsp honey
- ½ Tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
For the Pretzel Dough
- Using a countertop mixer, combine the first 5 dough ingredients (flour, salt, brown sugar, yeast, and warm water); mix on medium speed for 5-6 minutes.
- Transfer dough to an oiled bowl; cover and place in a warm (85°F) location for 30 minutes. (Note: I typically put the bowl in the oven. Turn the oven light on, but do not turn actual oven on.)
- Meanwhile, combine the boiling water with the baking soda; mix until well combined. Set aside to cool.
For the Pretzels
- Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper. Spray paper with nonstick spray. (Tip: Spray parchment paper liberally or the pretzels will stick as they bake!)
- Cut the cheese crosswise into 12 equal slices. Rotate and cut each slice into 3 pieces. (Note: This should give you 36 slices of cheese.) Set cheese aside.
- Preheat oven to 475°F.
- Divide pretzel dough into 36 equal pieces.
- Working with one piece of dough at a time, flatten dough into a 2”-2½” oval. Place a piece of cheese onto the dough and then top with a smoked sausage. Fold dough around and pinch seams together.
- Working in batches of 6-8 at a time, place pretzels into the baking soda/water mixture for 2 minutes (spoon water over the top of the pretzel if it is not fully covered by the water). Place pretzel bites seam-side down on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Sprinkle bites with coarse salt, and allow the pretzels to rest for 10 minutes uncovered.
- Bake at 475°F for 9-11 minutes, or until pretzels are golden brown in color. Remove pretzels from oven and brush with melted butter.
For the Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Using a small bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together. Serve with pretzels.
Looking for more tasty appetizer recipes? Check out these other favorites:
Cheesy Garlic Butterflake Rolls
Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
Will be making this soon for the pretzels can i use vegan cheese / mushrooms and vegan butter and for the dipping sauce can i use vegan mayo i never had pretzel pigs in a blanket before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Hey Ramya! That would certainly change this recipe, but I think it sounds tasty – sauteed mushrooms wrapped in pretzel dough would be good. And dipping them in mayo? Delicious! Just like dipping fries in mayo! 🙂
I wonder how many different names they considered before they decided on pigs in a blanket? In my mind, that mustard sauce would really make this whole thing fantastic. I’ve never made a pretzel dough before, but I love fresh pretzels with mustard!
That’s a good point, Jeff. Oinkers in dough? Hog in a rug? Eh – not the same. Haha! Either way, I think you should make pretzels – I can’t believe you’ve never made pretzel dough! It’s actually one of the easiest yeasted doughs to make. Short rise time + quick bake time in a very hot oven. Do it this weekend…you know you want to…
Another great snacky recipe to devour while watching Sweden take the gold in the Olympic curling matches this February.
I love making pretzels. Lately, I’ve been making them in my Ooni pizza oven, so I’ll give these a go and see how they do. We don’t have those little smoky mini sausages, but we have prinskorv (a Google challenge for you) which I think will work well.
I’m all about the snacky recipes right now, Ron. Between football playoffs, college basketball and the upcoming curling matches…we need a lot of snacks! Also, who currently holds the gold medal in curling? I forget….
Interesting idea about pretzels in the Ooni! I’ll have to try that. It makes sense as they need a short bake time in a hot oven. I like it!!
Oh, how you tease. The US men’s team barely won the gold with Sweden winning the silver. But, my fav, the lady’s team won the gold. I think Canada won the gold in mixed. At least that’s the way I remember it.
I can’t deny that – the US team had a run that will never be repeated. But at the end, they were the ones on top of the podium. 🙂 I saw a funny meme somewhere with a picture of the US team that said something like “4 dads who just wanted to get away from their kids for the weekend.” Pretty accurate!
These pretzel dogs in a blanket are so cute! Love that mustard dipping sauce you’ve paired with them too!
Oh, this is one fantastic snack, Michelle! We have plans to make these again soon. 🙂
these look so very cute and delicious david – just like your dog 🙂
Haha – thanks, Sherry! 🙂
This is the kind of appetizer that I end up eating so much of, it becomes a meal. These pretzel pigs in a blanket look absolutely amazing David! I love the pretzel idea, and the cheese and honey mustard are addicting additions. And your story about Edith had me laughing out loud! She’s so adorable!
I totally know what you mean about appetizers as a meal, Shannon! Weekend evenings in January is all about snacky comfort food – and these pretzel pigs in a blanket are mighty tasty! 🙂 Thanks so much, my friend!
I’m loving your take on these pigs in a blanket! All that cheese and that pretzel wrap! Delicious!!! Maybe keep these away from Edith… 🙂
Hahaha – I’m pretty sure Edith would make a batch of these disappear faster than you know what happened. Although to be fair…I kinda did the same. 🙂 Thanks, Kathy!
Edith looks so cute! Oh how Lynne would love us to have a dog. We have a cat. He’s a rescue cat and the vet advised us against ever getting another cat or dog due to his anxieties. He’s fine but is an indoor cat who needs lots of love and attention. Talking about attention my eyes nearly popped out when I saw these pretzel pigs! They remind me a bit of sausage rolls but oh so much more. Yum!
Ah – one day perhaps you can get a rescue dog! I totally understand the anxieties thing…that would be tough on a rescue cat who isn’t used to change. Either way, put these pretzel pigs on the list, Neil! They’re delicious…and homemade pretzel dough is pretty fantastic. 🙂
aww I love hearing about Edith and Millie…so sweet. And I see why these pretzel pigs in a blanket are such a hit – they look incredible! I can’t help but think of Anthony Bourdain when I see pigs in a blanket – look up what he says about them if you haven’t read it before. He’s 100% right – no matter what appetizers people serve, it’s the PIAB that will go first!
Hah – I didn’t realize Anthony Bourdain had a monologue on PIAB! I’ll have to go look that up today. This pretzel version turned out quite well, and we’re planning on making another batch soon! Thanks, Marissa!
These look and sound fantastic David! Classic pigs in a blanket are already so tasty, but the addition of cheese and pretzel dough elevate then to a different level. And this mustard honey sauce? I am in!
I hear ya, Ben – regular pigs in a blanket are fantastic. But then go put a pretzel twist and add cheese? Oh man, these are SO good. Thanks so much, my friend!
I would definitely love munching on those….. endlessly 🤣
Haha – you and me both, Raymund!!