Cheesy Pesto Pretzel Crisps Recipes

GIANT CHEESE-STUFFED PRETZEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Unroll the sheets of pizza dough and stack them one on top of the other. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to a 36-by-5-inch plank. Lay the cheese down the length of the plank so all the dough it covered. Sprinkle a line of jalapenos down the center of the cheese. Fold the dough in half lengthwise and pinch the edges together to secure the filling. Roll and stretch the dough with your hands to make a 5-foot rope.
• Form the rope into a giant pretzel shape and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the dough is almost completely cooked through and golden brown all over, about 30 minutes.
• Dissolve the baking soda in 1/2 cup hot water. Brush the pretzel all over with the soda water and continue baking until dark golden brown and crisp, about 10 minutes more. Brush with the butter and sprinkle with salt. Let cool 5 minutes, then serve warm.

CHEESY PRETZEL DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack to the top third position and preheat to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Press and stretch the dough into an 11-by-16-inch rectangle. Cut the rectangle into twenty-four 2 1/2-inch squares.
• Put a piece of cheese in the center of a square. Pinch two opposing corners of the dough together over the cheese. Do the same with the other two corners to create a bundle. Pinch the folded sides together to secure the cheese. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese.
• Heat 6 cups water in a medium saucepan and over high heat. Whisk in the baking soda and bring to a boil. Working in batches, boil the dumplings 30 seconds. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheet seam-side up and quickly sprinkle with salt.
• Bake the dumplings, rotating halfway through, until dark brown, about 10 minutes. Serve with spicy mustard.

PESTO PRETZELS

Steps:

• Mix 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F), the yeast and agave in a bowl. Set aside 5 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with the dough blade, pulse the whole-wheat flour, 2 cups all-purpose flour and the sea salt. Add 1 egg and the yeast mixture and pulse in 10-second intervals until the dough comes together, about 3 pulses. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead 10 to 12 times, adding up to 3/4 cup more flour if the dough is too sticky. Cut the dough into 4 equal portions; cover with a clean towel.
• On a floured board, roll out one piece of dough into a 14-by-11-inch rectangle, 1/4 inch thick, with a shorter side facing you. Spread 2 1/2 tablespoons cream cheese across the middle of the dough; fold the bottom third of the dough over the cheese, then spread another 2 1/2 tablespoons cream cheese and 2 tablespoons pesto over the folded part. Fold the top third of the dough over the pesto. Reroll the dough into a 14-by-11-inch rectangle. Cut into seven 11-by-2-inch strips.
• One at a time, pinch the cut long edges of each strip together and roll into a 12-inch rope with your hands. Transfer the rope to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Grab the ends and bring them toward each other, forming a U shape, then cross the left end over the right end to make a pretzel shape. Cross the left end over the right again to make a twist in the middle.
• Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of dough and the remaining cream cheese and pesto, spacing the pretzels 3 inches apart. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes; preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Beat the remaining egg in a bowl. Brush the pretzels with the egg; sprinkle with coarse sea salt and dried basil. Bake until browned, 16 to 18 minutes, checking on the pretzels every 5 minutes to avoid overbaking.

CHEESY PESTO ROLL WREATH (CHRISTMAS WREATH APPETIZER)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw a 5-inch circle on the center of the parchment paper.
• Open both cans of dough and separate crescents into 16 triangles. Arrange the triangles on the prepared baking sheet the flat edges lined up and overlapping along the 5-inch circle and the points facing outward; it will resemble a sunburst.
• Combine cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and 6 tablespoons pesto in a bowl. Mix until well combined, then spread around the center of the ring of crescent dough.
• Wrap each dough triangle up over filling and tucking it under the bottom to secure. Repeat around the entire ring. Brush remaining 2 tablespoons pesto on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the dough is golden brown and cooked, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• Slice into individually portioned rings, but keep all the rings in place in the shape of a wreath. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and cherry tomatoes.

CHEESY PRETZELS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease cookie sheet. Mix all ingredients except egg and coarse salt in medium bowl with fork until soft dough forms. Smooth dough gently into ball on floured board. Knead 10 times. Divide dough in half.
• Roll half of dough into 12x8-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle lengthwise into eight 1-inch strips. Fold each strip lengthwise in half into 12x1/2-inch strip; pinch edges to seal. Twist each strip into pretzel shape. Place seam down on cookie sheet.
• Beat egg in small bowl with fork until blended. Brush pretzels with egg. Sprinkle lightly with coarse salt.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Repeat with remaining half of dough.

CHEESE AND HERB BITES

Steps:

• In a small bowl mix together mascarpone, one tablespoon herbs and pepper till well blended.
• Combine the cheddar, Havarti and Parmesan in a separate bowl. Top Pretzel Crisps® with a dollop of mascarpone mixture and then sprinkle with cheese blend and remaining herbs.