We’re excited to partner with Kroger and The Coca-Cola Company to bring you this delicious idea.
A delicious soft pretzel is a perfect homemade snack for game day — especially when served with ice-cold Coca-Cola.
These large, chewy, baked soft pretzels are so easy to make and even better to eat!
A basic dough is baked to create a buttery soft pretzel with a hint of salt and garlic. Served with a homemade cheese dip, everyone will be asking for your soft pretzel recipe. It’s the best!
Our March Madness guests go crazy for this tasty recipe — the texture and flavor is incredible. They’re even better when served with cans of Orange Vanilla Coca-Cola. You’re going to crave this amazing recipe!
Growing up, basketball always had a big place in our home.
My dad was a former coach and even years after he’d stepped off the court, one of our main bonding activities together revolved around the sport.
Some of my earliest memories are being curled up on my dad’s lap, safely cocooned in dad’s arms, watching basketball on TV together.
As I got older, he would explain plays and rules to me.
Then we started attending games together.
Now, I’m an adult, with my own family, and I still love when basketball season rolls around.
Our whole clan heads to the local high school gym to cheer on our team.
Other evenings are spent at home, tucked in front of the fireplace, with homemade snacks and appetizers, while we yell for our favorite teams to score and rebound.
By the time March Madness rolls around, we are in full swing.
Brackets are prepared, snacks are ready to serve and the whole gang is here.
One of the most requested appetizers I make are these incredible soft pretzels.
Trust me when I say they are completely, totally mouth watering and you need to make them immediately.
To start, I head to Kroger for everything we need. It’s my one-stop shop for all party needs when it’s tournament time. They’ve got the very best food and beverage options that we all love.
One of the items I was really excited about picking up on my last trip was the brand new Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla.
The flavor is so crisp, refreshing, and delicious. It reminds me of having orange creamsicles as a kid.
And it’s certainly the perfect compliment to the appetizers on our snack table for game day — especially the homemade soft pretzels I’m sharing with you today.
Once you’ve grabbed your supplies from Kroger, let’s get started baking them!
Soft Pretzel Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (approximately 80 degrees)
- 1 package rapid rise yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 ½-3 ½ cups of flour
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 1 egg for egg wash
- coarse sea salt for pretzels
Homemade Cheese Dip Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 ¼ cups warm milk
- 1-8 ounce block of extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
How to Make Soft Pretzels
In a measuring cup, measure one cup of water and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. Check temperature to makes sure it does not exceed 80 degrees. If it’s too warm it will kill the yeast and won’t work. Meaning you’ll need to start over. 😉
Next, you’ll stir in one tablespoon of sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Give it a gentle stir and let sit for five minutes.
Once the yeast is nice and frothy, pour into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the two cups of flour, butter and sea salt.
Now, using your dough hook turn on low and mix until the dough comes together. Then slowly add the remaining half cup of flour.
Turn on medium speed and mix until the flour is incorporated to the dough. If the dough is still sticking to the bottom of the bowl as it mixes, slowly add more flour, but not too much. You don’t want it to be too dry.
Once your dough comes together, turn the mixer on high and knead the dough for one minute.
Finally, cover the bowl and let sit for 30-45 minutes.
How to Form a Soft Pretzel
After it’s set, remove the dough from the bowl and turn out onto a floured surface.
For 5-inch pretzels, as you see in the photos, divide the dough into 8 pieces.
For larger pretzels, divide the dough into 6ths or even 4ths. You can even make pretzels balls, just divide each 8th in half and roll into balls.
Roll each section into a 20-inch long rope. Bring the two ends together and cross, then bring them down to the bottom to form the pretzel shape.
Lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Once all the pretzels are formed, gently place them one at a time into a pot of boiling water. Allow to boil for 30-60 seconds.
Remove from the water and place back on the baking sheet. Repeat until all the pretzels have been boiled.
Make an egg wash by gently beating one egg in a small bowl.
Once you’re rolled and formed all of the pretzels, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
How to Bake Soft Pretzels
Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 15-17 minutes.
How to Make Homemade Cheese Dip
While the pretzels are baking, make the cheese sauce.
Pour milk into a measuring cup and microwave for 45-60 seconds. This is because warm milk incorporates better than cold milk.
In a medium pan over medium-high heat, melt butter and whisk in flour.
Slowly pour in the milk, whisking as you add.
Once the milk has all been added, whisk until the mixture starts to thicken. If you can’t get rid of the lumps, throw it in the blender real quick, blend and return to pan.
Reduce the heat to low and add the shredded cheese and seasonings. Stir until cheese has completely melted.
Once you pull your soft pretzels from the oven, they’ll be ready to serve.
I’ll warn you: you’ll be drooling. Your house will smell intoxicating.
And nothing goes better with a jumbo soft pretzel than a little homemade cheese dip and a cold Orange Vanilla Coca-Cola.
Are you looking for a little more game day inspiration? Visit www.TasteoftheTournament.com for more game day ready recipes.
You can share your favorite recipes on social media now with the hashtag #TasteoftheTournament. Don’t keep the goodness to yourself!
More Recipes You Will Love
Homemade Soft Pretzels with Cheese Dip
Ingredients
For the soft pretzels:
- 1 cup warm water approximately 80 degrees
- 1 package rapid rise yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter softened
- 2 ½-3 ½ cups of flour
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 1 egg for egg wash
- coarse sea salt for pretzels
For cheese dip:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 ¼ cups warm milk
- 1-8 ounce block of extra sharp cheddar cheese grated
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
- In a measuring cup, measure one cup of water and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. Check temperature to makes sure it does not exceed 80 degrees. If it’s too warm it’ll kill the yeast.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Give it a gentle stir and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Once the yeast is nice and frothy, pour into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add 2 cups of flour, butter and sea salt.
- Using your dough hook turn on low and mix until the dough comes together. Then slowly add the remaining half cup of flour. Turn on medium speed and mix until the flour is incorporated to the dough. If the dough is still sticking to the bottom of the bowl as it mixes, slowly add more flour, but not too much. You don’t want it to be too dry.
- Once your dough comes together, turn the mixer on high and knead the dough for 1 minute.
- Cover the bowl and let sit for 30-45 minutes.
- Remove dough from bowl and turn out onto a floured surface. For 5-inch pretzels, as you see in the photos, divide the dough into 8 pieces. For larger pretzels, divide the dough into 6ths or even 4ths. (You can even make pretzels balls, just divide each 8th in half and roll into balls).
- Roll each section into a 20-inch long rope. Bring the two ends together and cross, then bring them down to the bottom to form the pretzel shape.
- Lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Make an egg wash by gently beating one egg in a small bowl.
- Once you’re rolled and formed all of the pretzels, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 15-17 minutes.
- While the pretzels are baking, make the cheese sauce. Pour milk into a measuring cup and microwave for 45-60 seconds (warm milk incorporates better than cold milk). In a medium pan over medium-high heat, melt butter and whisk in flour. slowly pour milk, whisking as you add. Once the milk has all been added, whisk until the mixture starts to thicken. (If you can’t get rid of the lumps, throw it in the blender real quick, blend and return to pan). Reduce the heat to low and add the shredded cheese and seasonings. Stir until cheese has completely melted.
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Nutrition
Just love the cheese sauce & so easy to make, goes well with other foods too.