Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket are an appetizer made with cocktail-sized sausages wrapped in strips of pizza dough, boiled, sprinkled with salt, and baked to a golden brown. Then, they are served with my homemade cheddar cheese sauce for dipping. I also have the classic pigs in a blanket appetizer, too!
Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket
I love pigs in a blanket for a quick and fun-to-eat appetizer for all ages. When I upgraded to these pretzel pigs in a blanket, I could not stop eating them! In fact, I was planning to save some for the rest of my family, but…hey, I was hungry! (And, they are THAT good.) You get the soft, chewy pretzel ‘blanket’ that wraps around the little sausages. It’s an easy finger food that is sure to be a hit at any gathering. Serve them this holiday season for all of your Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties! Trust me, they won’t last long. Oh, and don’t forget the cheese sauce. I will also let you know how to cook them in an air fryer.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Dough: Look for a tube of store-bought pizza dough to make this an easy appetizer to make. However, you could also use homemade pizza crust dough, too!
Sausages: Cocktail sausages are sausage links that are just a little smaller than regular sausage links. You will need 24 of them for this recipe. You could also use hot dogs, cut into smaller sizes that would just peak out from the dough when wrapped.
Baking Soda: The baking soda is the leavening agent added to the boiling water to give the dough its soft pretzel taste and texture.
Egg: Beat an egg to brush over the pretzel pigs in a blanket before baking to give them that lovely golden brown color.
Dipping Sauce: I absolutely thought my cheddar cheese sauce made this snack even better! Of course, you could buy cheese sauce to use or try dipping these into a beer cheese dip or Dijon mustard.
Air Fryer Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket
With the holidays here, the more ways I can use my air fryer, the better! This appetizer turns out great in an air fryer. Follow the instructions up until baking the bites (including boiling in baking soda and water). Instead of placing them in the oven, work in batches to cook them in an air fryer. Air fry the pretzel dogs for 4-6 minutes at 375°F, flipping them halfway.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
Sure! First, get the little sausages wrapped in the dough. Next, cover the pretzel pigs in a blanket with plastic wrap. Place them in the refrigerator overnight, or for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, let them come to room temperature before boiling and baking.
Can I Freeze Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket?
Sure! In fact, you can freeze these before or after baking. If freezing them before boiling and baking, first, get them assembled and place them in the freezer for an hour or two. After they are solid, store them in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. When ready to make them, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then, let them come to room temperature before boiling them in the boiling water and baking soda and baking them in the oven. To freeze after baking, let them come to room temperature. Then, freeze them solid before storing them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
How to Store Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket
After the pretzel pigs in a blanket have been baked, don’t let any leftovers go to waste. (But, I really do predict that you will run out of these within the first few minutes of serving them.) Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave, oven, or air fryer. You can also freeze the baked pretzel pigs in a blanket for a couple of months.
Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket
Ingredients
- 1 tube (13.8 ounces) pizza dough*
- 24 links cocktail-sized sausages
- 5 cups water
- ¼ cup (55 g) baking soda
- 1 large egg, room temperature, beaten
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- cheese sauce**, for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove pizza dough from the package and place it onto a cutting board. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle with a ¼-inch thickness. Using a pizza cutter, cut the rolled-out dough in half lengthwise. Then, cut each rectangle of dough into 12, 1-inch strips. You will need a total of 24 strips of dough.
- Place one sausage onto each strip of dough. Tightly roll the sausage link in the dough until it is completely wrapped.
- To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add water. Bring the water to a light boil. Add the baking soda and stir until dissolved.
- Working in batches of 3-4, add the pretzel dogs to the boiling water. Boil for 20-30 seconds and then use a slotted spoon to remove and place on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pretzel dogs.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the outside of each with the beaten egg. Sprinkle each evenly with salt.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown.
- Serve with cheese sauce for dipping.
Video
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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Do you have to refrigerate after cooking, or will they be okay on the counter?
I was looking for something different for our community pool opening party. I thought of pigs in a blanket but wanted something different. When I found your recipe and saw pretzel bread I was sold. I found garlic butter with sea salt and brushed that on in the end. Never thought pigs in a blanket would be such a big hit but these are absolutely delicious. And so easy to make. I will admit I’ve never put baking soda in boiling water so if someone else reads this and is like me, put your baking soda in VERY slowly. LOL Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Pretzels are always boiled in baking soda prior to baking, it helps gives them the crust and chewy texture.
Thank you for this delicious recipe. I’ve just love pretzels and I love pretzel dogs so I can’t wait to make it. Thank you for
Why is it necessary to boil them?
Why is it necessary to boil them?
That’s what makes this a “pretzel” pigs in a blanket.