Ultimate Soft Pretzel with Deluxe Cooking Blender Nacho Sauce

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Reduced-fat cheese has fewer calories while maintaining flavor.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber and nutrients.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, while margarine is often cheaper.

jalapeños

🥗Healthier: bell peppers

💰Cheaper: canned jalapeños

Bell peppers are milder and lower in calories.

Start with the pampered chef pretzel baking kit, which includes a mat with steps, a pretzel form, and a basting brush.

Prepare the nacho cheese sauce in the deluxe cooking blender by adding 1 1/2 cups of milk, 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, 1 jalapeno (deveined and seeded), and 1 garlic clove.

Use the sauce feature on the blender and start it to cook the mixture.

Prepare a roux by microwaving 1/4 cup of flour and 3 tablespoons of sugar for about 1.5 minutes, stirring every 15 seconds to avoid a mess.

Once the sauce is warmed to 165 degrees, add the roux to the blender and mix.

For the pretzel dough, mix 1 cup of hot water with the pretzel mix and knead on a floured surface for about 5 minutes.

Place the kneaded dough in an oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise for about 30 minutes.

Prepare a baking soda bath with 4 cups of water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda.

Divide the dough into 8 balls using a pizza cutter.

Roll each ball into a 15-inch rope, using a twisting motion if desired, or let kids play with the dough.

Place the rolled dough onto the pretzel form, wrap it, and then dip it into the baking soda bath for a few seconds.

Use the basting brush to apply an egg wash made from 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water to the top of each pretzel.

Sprinkle coarse sea salt and everything but the bagel seasoning on top of the pretzels before baking.

Place the pretzels on a generously oiled large sheet pan and bake them in the oven.

For the pretzel bites, use the crimper to cut the dough into smaller pieces and dip them into the baking soda bath as well.

Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the pretzel bites before baking.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens