Try these Spicy Cheddar Pretzels, dipped in a homemade Spicy Mustard made with Dr. Pepper. This will be a game-day favorite for everyone.

    Spicy Cheddar Pretzels

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PassThePepper #CollectiveBias

Like our favorite sports teams, our family is pretty competitive. Often, my oldest son, Aiden, will cheer for the opposite team I cheer for, even if it’s our home team he’s rooted for the rest of the season. It’s only a matter of time after the first kickoff that bets and bragging begins. Now, food has entered into the mix, and the trash-talking has started days before the big game.
dr pepper game day challenge

Traditionally, we split our family of seven into two teams (usually boys vs girls), challenging each other to come up with the best game day snack or appetizer. With the girls undefeated, the boys challenged us to a foodie duel for one of this season’s biggest college football bowl games. Challenge accepted.

Try these Spicy Cheddar Pretzels, dipped in a homemade Spicy Mustard made with Dr. Pepper. This will be a game-day favorite for everyone.
There’s rarely a dinner we go out to that our kids don’t ask for pop, especially Dr. Pepper. So we decided to pick our favorite soda and incorporate it into another of our favorite snacks – pretzels.
I headed up to our local grocer, King Soopers, which is less than a mile away, grabbed the adorable 8 pack of 7.5-ounce cans of Dr. Pepper for the kids and an 8 pack of 12-ounce bottles of Diet Dr. Pepper just for me! I love King Soopers, literally everything is so easy to find with the isles clearly marked. And their customer service is hands down the best, they treat their customers like family. My kids even call one of their sweet cashiers “Grandma Carol”, she even buys them presents for every holiday. 

Try these Spicy Cheddar Pretzels, dipped in a homemade Spicy Mustard made with Dr. Pepper. This will be a game-day favorite for everyone.
We wanted to balance the sweetness of Dr. Pepper with a little spice. So, we reduced Dr. Pepper on the stovetop with a jalapeno, allowing the flavor and spice of both “peppers” to combine in a flavorful glaze. After baking the pretzel with a light egg wash, we glazed the pretzel with the Dr. Pepper reduction, using it as an additional flavor and as a means to make the cheddar cheese stick to the pretzel. A quick trip back in the oven resulted in a perfect cheddar pretzel with a slight spicy sweetness to it.

Try these Spicy Cheddar Pretzels, dipped in a homemade Spicy Mustard made with Dr. Pepper. This will be a game-day favorite for everyone.
Throw in spicy mustard made with Diet Dr. Pepper for those who don’t think it’s got enough bite, and you have a dish for everyone in the family from Dad to 4-year-old. I don’t know what recipe the boys are coming up with, but this will be our dish for this year’s A Dash of Sanity College Football Championship & Family Foodie Challenge – no doubt another winner for the girls.
And thanks to this year’s new championship bracket, we’ll have a few opportunities to beat the boys… again.

spicy cheddar pretzels with spicy mustard
What are your family’s plans for the gameday?
Enjoy! XOXO San

How do you make Dr. Pepper Spicy Cheddar Pretzels?

Spicy Glaze
  • In small saucepan add Dr. Pepper and sliced jalapeno, bring to a boil. Let it boil for 6-7 minutes. Remove from burner and set aside.

Spicy Cheddar Pretzels
  • Preheat oven to 425F degrees. Line two (2) baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a small bowl or measuring cup, dissolve yeast in the 1 1/2 cups of warm water. Gently stir the yeast into the water until most of the yeast is dissolved, about 1 minute. Add salt and sugar; stir until combined.

  • In a large bowl, add 1 cup of flour, slowly stir in the water & yeast mixture. Now, stir in 2 cups of flour, adding one cup at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon until dough is thick. Then, add 3/4 cup flour until the dough is no longer sticky. 

  • At this point, if you touch it, the dough should not stick to your fingers. If it is still sticky, add up to 1/4 – 1/2 cup of flour. If you poke the dough, it should bounce back – that means it is ready to knead.

  • Take the dough out. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for about 3 minutes. Shape the dough into roughly round ball. With a sharp knife, cut ball of dough into 1/8 sections, making 8 triangles. I cut this like I do a pie. You do not need to be exact, each pretzel will have their own look and will taste just the same.
  • Roll the dough into a rope, about 18-22 inches long, depending on how large you want your pretzels. Over the prepared pan grab one of the dough ropes and make a “U” shape and then bring the ends down toward the center of the “U” and cross them. You will immediately see the pretzel shape. Gently press the ends into the dough, or where the dough crosses. Repeat with remaining dough, making 8 pretzels, four (4) to each pan.
  • In a small bowl, beat the eggs and dunk each pretzel into the egg wash so that all sides are covered. Place back onto the baking sheet and sprinkle.
  • Place in the oven, and bake for 12 minutes, or until golden. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately brush with Spicy Glaze. Top each pretzel with ¼ cup grated shredded cheddar cheese. Place back in oven for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is crispy and a golden brown.
  • Once you remove them from the oven, immediately remove from the pan. If you are like my husband and want some heat, brush with the spicy glaze again. For me and the kids, we just like the hint, so I do not brush the second time for us. 

Spicy Mustard
  • Combine mustard powder, honey, Diet Dr. Pepper and 2 tablespoons of water in a small mixing bowl or 2-cup measuring cup and stir until well combined. Add additional water one (1) teaspoon at a time until you get the desired consistency.
  • Serve with pretzels immediately as they are best warm. Enjoy!

Check out these Easy Game Day Recipes That Will Score A Win for more delish appetizer ideas.

Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!

 Spicy Cheddar Pretzels pinterest image

Kids review: They loved the crunchy cheese. I only glazed their pretzels once with the Dr Pepper jalapeno glaze, this allowed for just a touch of spiciness and not a whole mouthful. They opted for no mustard, as did I.

Spicy Cheddar Pretzels

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 8 pretzels
Calories: 472 kcal
Try these Spicy Cheddar Pretzels, dipped in a homemade Spicy Mustard made with Dr. Pepper. This will be a game-day favorite for everyone.

Ingredients
 

Spicy Cheddar Pretzels

  • 1 1/2 cup warm water
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active instant yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour + ½ cup to roll out the dough
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese
  • 7.5 ounces Dr. Pepper
  • 1 jalapeno sliced

Spicy Mustard

  • 1/2 cup mustard powder
  • 3 tablespoons Dr. Pepper
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2-4 tablespoons water
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

Spicy Glaze

  • In small sauce pan add the Dr Pepper and sliced jalapeno, bring to a boil. Let it boil for 6-7 minutes. Remove from burner and set aside.

Spicy Cheddar Pretzels

  • Preheat oven to 425F degrees. Line two (2) baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a small bowl or measuring up, dissolve yeast in the 1 1/2 cups of warm water. Gently stir the yeast into the water until most of the yeast is dissolved, about 1 minute. Add salt and sugar; stir until combined.
  • In a large bowl, add 1 cup of flour, slowly stir in the water & yeast mixture. Now, stir in 2 cups of flour, adding one cup at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon until dough is thick. Then, add 3/4 cup flour until the dough is no longer sticky. 
  • At this point, if you touch it, the dough should not stick to your fingers. If it is still sticky, add up to 1/4 - 1/2 cup or flour. If you poke the dough, it should bounce back - that means it is ready to knead.
  • Take the dough out. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for about 3 minutes. Shape the dough into roughly round ball. With a sharp knife, cut ball of dough into 1/8 sections, making 8 triangles. I cut this like I do a pie. You do not need to be exact, each pretzel will have their own look and will taste just the same.
  • Roll the dough into a rope, about 18-22 inches long, depending on how large you want your pretzels. Over the prepared pan grab one of the dough ropes and make a “U” shape and then bring the ends down toward the center of the “U” and cross them. You will immediately see the pretzel shape. Gently press the ends into the dough, or where the dough crosses. Repeat with remaining dough, making 8 pretzels, four (4) to each pan.
  • In a small bowl, beat the eggs and dunk each pretzel into the egg wash so that all sides are covered. Place back onto the baking sheet and sprinkle.
  • Place in the oven, and bake for 12 minutes, or until golden. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately brush with Spicy Glaze. Top each pretzel with ¼ cup grated shredded cheddar cheese. Place back in oven for 3-5 minute or until the cheese is crispy and a golden brown.
  • Once you remove them from the oven, immediately remove from the pan. If you are like my husband and want some heat, brush with the spicy glaze again. For me and the kids, we just like the hint, so I do not brush the second time for us. 

Spicy Mustard

  • Combine mustard powder, honey, Diet Dr Pepper and 2 tablespoons of water in a small mixing bowl or 2-cup measuring cup and stir until well combined. Add additional water one (1) teaspoon at a time until you get the desired consistency.
  • Serve with pretzels immediately as they are best warm. Enjoy!

Notes

Calories: 472kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 19gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 494mgPotassium: 207mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 360IUVitamin C: 2.6mgCalcium: 243mgIron: 4.4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

king soopers Try these Spicy Cheddar Pretzels, dipped in a homemade Spicy Mustard made with Dr. Pepper. This will be a gameday favorite for everyone.

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14 Comments

  1. Yummy, that mustard sounds great! I cook with Dr Pepper a lot (mostly in desserts, like cola cake or caramel) but I’ll be trying your recipe for sure!

  2. These look delicious! Very creative use of the Dr. Pepper, too! I’m always looking for game day snacks that would be a hit – this one seems like it would be a great addition to my recipe box!

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