Serrano Cheddar Pretzel Dogs

Is anyone else gearing up for Super Bowl 50!? I couldn't be more disappointed that my Steelers lost to Denver, and seriously Denver better bring their game if they think they stand a chance against the Panthers. Can't wait!

In the mean time (while I have to wait) I'm thinking of snacks that my Super Bowl party guests are going to enjoy. I can please most adults and kids with hot dogs and pretzels so these pretzel dogs are perfect! What is everyone else making?

This is a really basic pretzel dough jazzed up with beer!

Pretzel Dough

• 1 cup beer (your favorite kind)
• 1 pkg instant dry yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (+ more for kneading)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

You will also need:

• 1 serrano chili
• cheddar cheese slices (about a 2 oz chunk)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil (for oiling the dough)
• 1, 8 count package standard length hot dogs
• 1/4 cup baking soda

In a microwave safe container heat the beer to 105-115 degrees F. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment. Add yeast and sugar. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until the yeast activates and becomes foamy. You can omit the sugar from this entirely if you wish but since yeast feeds on sugar it will help the activation process.

Add butter and 2 cups flour. Mix on low speed until the dough starts coming together. Add the remaining 1/3 cup of flour and salt and mix again. Add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is tacky but not sticky. Remove from bowl and knead by hand (with more flour if necessary) about 3-5 minutes.

Once the dough comes together you will need to let it rise.

1. Pour 1 teaspoon of olive oil into the bottom of a medium sized bowl.
2. Coat all sides of the dough with oil.
3. Place bowl/dough in a proofer set at 86 degrees F and let rise for 1 hour or until dough has doubled. If you do not have a proofer place a damp towel or plastic wrap over the bowl and let stand for 2ish+ hours or until dough has doubled.

While the dough is rising you can prepare the hot dogs.

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut 8 hot dogs in half.
3. Slice each hot dog down the center (lengthwise) being careful not to slice all the way through.
4. Cut slices of cheddar cheese (pepper jack would be good too!) about the same size as your hot dog pieces.
5. Thinly slice an entire serrano chili (jalapeno or habanero would work too).
6. Place a slice of cheese and three serrano slices in 8 of the hot dogs. (I made 8 with serranos and 8 without.)
7. Repeat with only cheese in the remaining 8 hot dogs.

Once the dough has risen you will need to cut it into 16 equal pieces.

1. Gently dump the dough onto a clean work surface.
2. Cut dough into fourths.
3. Cut each of the fourths in to four pieces - equaling 16 pieces of dough.
4. Start with one piece of dough and stretch it into a long coil.
5. Starting at the end of one of the stuffed hot dogs wrap the dough around the dog. Try to make sure there aren't any holes. Cheese will definitely spill out of some of them. That's okay!
6. Repeat with remaining hot dogs placing them on the parchment lined baking sheet.

In order to set the pretzel dough you will need to boil them. But first preheat your oven to 425 degrees F!

1. Fill a large stock pot with water and bring to a boil.
2. Add 1/4 cup baking soda SLOWLY (a little bit at a time). If you add it all at once the water will boil over the pot...I PROMISE!!!
3. Gently drop 4-6 dogs at a time into the water. Boil about 45 seconds.
4. Remove with a slotted spoon and place back on parchment paper.
5. Repeat with remaining dogs.

You have two options at this point. You can either pop the dogs in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a deep golded brown -or- you can make an egg wash (1 egg to 3 tablespoons water) and brush the tops of the dogs with egg wash and then sprinkle with pretzel salt.

I think I am the only one in the world who strongly dislikes pretzel salt so I always skip this step. They are plenty salty with the hot dogs and the cheese anyway. Over salted foods make me sad. :(

Remove from oven, sprinkle with a little extra cheddar cheese and serve hot with favorite condiments! Enjoy!