Cheddar Jalapeño Soft Pretzels
These homemade Cheddar Jalapeño Soft Pretzels are so delicious that people will think you got them from a pretzel shop! The dough is loaded with pickled jalapeños and topped with melted cheddar cheese, creating a perfect balance of savory, cheesy, and spicy flavors. Ideal for a snack or appetizer, these pretzels are soft, chewy, and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
- Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast 1 packet
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 8 tablespoons butter melted (divided)
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour plus more for kneading
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- ¼ cup chopped pickled jalapeños plus a few slices for topping
- Finish:
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 3 cups warm water
- 1 egg yolk
- Coarse salt for topping
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, sugar, and 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Let sit for 10 minutes until the yeast activates. Stir in salt, then flour, and finally the chopped pickled jalapeños. Mix for 1-3 minutes until the dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Dump the dough onto a floured surface and knead it. If the dough is too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it’s kneadable but still slightly tacky. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
- Prepare the Pretzel Bath: Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). After the dough rises, punch it down and divide it into 6-8 equal pieces (depending on preferred size). Roll each piece into a 24-inch-long rope and shape into a pretzel.
- Pretzel Bath: Heat 3 cups of warm water in a medium pot and add the baking soda. Stir until dissolved. Gently dip each pretzel into the baking soda mixture for 10 seconds using a slotted spoon.
- Bake: Arrange the pretzels on a baking sheet. Brush with the beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with coarse salt. Top with additional jalapeño slices and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden (closer to 10 minutes if you made 8 pretzels).
- Serve: Brush with the remaining melted butter and serve warm with salsa con queso. Enjoy!