Ready for the ultimate appetizer for game day or anytime you are feeling like whipping something up on a lazy Sunday? Try these Ultimate Jalapeno Cheese Pretzels for a snack that everyone will enjoy! Soft fluffy pretzels baked to perfection with a little cheese and spicy jalapenos… yes amazing.
Soft pretzels are honestly a weakness for me. Anywhere where we go and they offer soft pretzels or bites, I have to have them. At a restaurant, at the movies, or at the mall… they are one of my favorite snacks. I decided to give making pretzels at home a try and they turned out great! These Jalapeno Cheese Pretzels are easier than you think with just a few ingredients and a couple steps.
What we love about these Ultimate Jalapeño Cheese Pretzels
- Soft and flavorful
- Easier than you think to make
- Pretzels make the perfect appetizer
- Customizable
Equipment you need to make homemade pretzels
Mixing Bowl
Wooden Spoon
Measuring Baking Sheet
How to make these Jalapeno Cheese Pretzels
Step 1: Make Yeast Mixture
First start by adding the sugars and yeast to some warm water in a mixing bowl. Note the water should be warm, not hot. Then mix the ingredients together a with a wooden spoon.
Next allow the mixture to rest in a warm place for just about 5 minutes. The mixture will be foamy when it is ready.
Step 2: Add in other ingredients
Next add the melted butter to the yeast mixture and stir. Continue to add in the salt, diced jalapenos, parmesan ,and the flour one cup at a time.
Continue mixing with a wooden spoon until all of the flour is incorporated and the dough no longer feels sticky. (If you need to you can add a little extra flour, one half cup at a time).
Then fold in the chopped jalapenos and parmesan. I used fresh jalapenos but canned work, too.
Step 3: Knead the dough
Once the dough is formed pour it out on a lightly floured surface then knead it by hand for about 4-5 minutes, or until the dough is soft and not sticky.
Place the dough in an oiled/ buttered bowl. You can drizzle a little (less than a teaspoon please) of oil or cooled melted butter, directly onto the dough to keep it from drying out.
How long to let pretzel dough rise?
Step 4: Let the dough rise
Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size. This will take about an hour.
Step 6: Make water bath
While the dough rises, prepare the bath by adding the water and baking soda and stirring them together, the soda will settle and need to be stirred frequently during the dipping process. No boiling is required, just a simple dunk into the cold water.
Step 5: Form the pretzels
Cut off small sections of dough and roll the dough ball out into a rope, about a foot long.
Then form the rope into a “U” shape and then cris-cross the end and twist and tuck it under to make it look like a pretzel. Of course you can leave them as sticks or cut them into pieces for pretzel bites.
Step 6: Dip into water bath
Carefully pick up the pretzels and dip them one by one into the baking soda water and then place them on a baking sheet . Leave a little space in between each pretzel.
How long to bake pretzels?
Step 7: Bake the pretzels
Finally bake the pretzels at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Then you can brush them with melted butter add salt, more cheese, etc. Then serve them up as they are or with your favorite dipping sauces. And enjoy!
Additions & Substitutions:
- I used parmesan but any cheese would be good.
- Just want regular pretzels? Leave out the cheese and jalapenos.
- Want a sweet version? Just leave out the peppers and cheese and brush them with butter and cinnamon sugar after baking.
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How to Make Jalapeño Cheese Pretzels
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups flour
- 1 pack of active yeast
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- ⅓ cup of butter melted
- A pinch of salt
- ½ cup of shredded parmesan cheese or other flavor cheese
- 1-2 Jalapenos diced (or canned)
For the “water bath”
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp baking soda
Instructions
- First start by adding the sugars and yeast to some warm water in a mixing bowl. Note the water should be warm, not hot. Then mix the ingredients together a with a wooden spoon.Next allow the mixture to rest in a warm place for just about 5 minutes. The mixture will be foamy when it is ready.
- Next add the melted butter to the yeast mixture and stir. Continue to add in the salt, diced jalapenos, parmesan ,and the flour one cup at a time.
- Continue mixing with a wooden spoon until all of the flour is incorporated and the dough no longer feels sticky. (If you need to you can add a little extra flour, one half cup at a time).
- Then fold in the chopped jalapenos and parmesan. I used fresh jalapenos but canned work, too.
- Once the dough is formed pour it out on a lightly floured surface then knead it by hand for about 4-5 minutes, or until the dough is soft and not sticky.
- Place the dough in an oiled/ buttered bowl. You can drizzle a little (less than a teaspoon please) of oil or cooled melted butter, directly onto the dough to keep it from drying out.
- Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size. This will take about an hour.
- Cut off small sections of dough and roll the dough ball out into a rope, about a foot long.
- Then form the rope into a "U" shape and then cris-cross the end and twist and tuck it under to make it look like a pretzel. Of course you can leave them as sticks or cut them into pieces for pretzel bites.
- Carefully pick up the pretzels and dip them one by one into the baking soda water and then place them on a baking sheet . Leave a little space in between each pretzel.
- Bake the pretzels at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Brush them with melted butter add salt, more cheese, etc. Then serve them up as they are or with your favorite dipping sauces. And enjoy!
