The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (2024)

ByLori MurphyUpdated on

17 Comments

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Way before Dot’s Pretzels came to be, my family made these super easy seasoned pretzels recipe. Whether you consider them a Dot’s Pretzel copycat recipe or not, I think you’ll agree that this Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe is the real OG and the ultimate game day party snack alongside a big bowl of savory cereal mix.

The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (1)

If you live in the Midwest, you probably are familiar with Dot’s Seasoned Pretzels. They are a butter braid pretzel that is seasoned with so many good flavors and are incredibly addicting.

Well…back in the 80’s, my family used to make seasoned pretzels before Dot’s came to be.

Obviously, we missed an opportunity but I’m here to tell you that our Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe will not only save you a little money but will also become a new favorite at graduation parties, game day gatherings and daily noshings!

These easy pretzels (or a bowl of my husband’s cereal mix recipe) and a tray of Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars and you’re set for game night!

This post contains links to affiliate websites including Amazon. I make a small commission for any purchases made using these links. Thank you!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

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Homemade seasoned pretzels. That reason enough? If not, there’s more:

  • Bold flavor. A little salty, a little spice and a little citrusy zing. These easy snacking pretzels have got flavor galore!
  • Easy to make. If you can open a few bags of pretzels, toss some herbs and spices together in a bowl and shimmy and shake, you can make this snack.
  • Inexpensive. Yep! The “famous” brand commands a premium price…you can make your own for faaaaar less and end up with a whole lot more!
  • Unlimited serving ideas. Your partner invited some friends over at the last minute for cocktails? Meet the best bar snack! Got a group of teens hanging in the basement watching a movie? Popcorn step aside…

Ingredients You’ll Need

Get ready for one of the easiest snack recipes ever! Here’s all you’ll need:

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  • Butter braid pretzels. If you have Meijer in your area, their brand (clicking my heels because they were $1 a bag!) works perfect.
    • Can’t find a butter braid pretzel? A butter snap pretzel (which is a little like a waffle) is a great substitute.
  • Seasoning blend. A surprising combo of ingredients come together to make the best seasoned pretzels…lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic, ranch dressing mix and dill.

Beyond good.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED

2 brown paper bags from the grocery store

How to Make Seasoned Pretzels

Start with those 2 grocery bags (TIP: ask them to double bag your groceries the next time you go to the store use the outside ones for this recipe. Or buy a couple at Aldi.)

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Pour the pretzels into the clean double-lined grocery bag.

In a small bowl, mix all the seasoning ingredients together [1]. Pour the ingredients right over the pretzels [2].

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Hint: You can also put the seasoning blend in the bag first, gently shake the pretzels before the next step [1].

  • Slowly drizzle the oil over the seasoned pretzels [2].
  • Fold the bag closed and gently shake the pretzels to evenly coat them with the seasoning and oil. Trust me….it works!
  • Set the bag on a counter with a little plastic wrap underneath to catch any residual oil.

From Our Original Recipe

Break up large salted sourdough pretzels into pieces to substitute for butter braids. Adds such great texture!

Seasoned pro pretzel tips

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  • Do start with a less oil at first, shake the bag and then add more oil to coat the pretzels.
  • Don’t substitute for the brown paper bags. They offer absorbency allowing the seasoning to coat the pretzels perfectly.

Serving & Storage

  • Store in a bowl covered with plastic wrap until ready to serve and then transfer to a ziploc bag or sealed container.
  • Keeps for 5-7 days. We’ve been known to keep them longer 😊

Make ahead

This recipe is best made either the day before or the morning of the day you plan to serve it making it such an easy party snack recipe!

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Made this recipe?

I’d love it if you’d share your review and leave a star rating and comment!

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5 from 24 votes

The Original Seasoned Pretzels Recipe (Dot’s Copycat)

Print RATE PIN

Prep Time:5 minutes mins

Total Time:5 minutes mins

Servings 10

Equipment

  • 2 brown paper grocery bags

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Open the grocery bags and place one inside the other.

  • Pour the pretzels into the doubled up grocery bag

  • Mix all the herbs, seasoning and dressing pack in a small bowl and sprinkle over pretzels in bag.

  • Pour oil over top of pretzels in bag.

  • Shake bag to toss the seasonings over the pretzels.

  • Allow to sit for a couple of hours or overnight in the brown bag. Stir or shake gently so as to mix the seasoning from the bottom of the bag.

Notes

  • Store in ziploc bag for up to 5 days.
  • This recipe is best made either the day before or the morning of the day you plan to serve it making it such an easy party snack recipe!

Course: Appetizer, Snacks

Cuisine: American, Party Food

Author: Lori Murphy

Did you make this recipe? Tag @josieandnina or tag #josieandnina!

About Lori MurphyLori has over 30 years in the food industry as a marketing strategist, culinary instructor and chef for three kids with discerning palates. As the chief content creator at Josie + Nina, Lori is dedicated to helping home cooks create food memories through fresh ingredients and Italian flavors.Read more

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  1. I made these the other night. The only changes I made were omitting the salt and using a little less cayenne. I will definitely make these again! They were the hit of our Super Bowl party. Thank you!

    1. So glad you all enjoyed them! Perfect game day snack, right? Thanks for taking the time to share!😊

      Reply

  2. Oh my, made these yesterday and they are so good!! Thank you!!The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (10)

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much Vanessa!! I love them so much and if they’re in my house, I literally have to hide them! Appreciate your taking the time to share!😊

      Reply

  3. We love…love…love these! Made them for family when my Son had something to celebrate and everyone was around. My test batch on all of them. Then around Christmas mailed to Germany, where my Son was stationed, I added a tad more cayenne pepper. We are a bunch of ‘hot heads’. The news of how they went over? ‘Mom, they didn’t last more than 10 minutes before they were all gone.’ The troops thank you and I both! Thanks so much for this recipe, I couldn’t afford Dot’s and postage.The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (11)

    Reply

    1. This might be the best comment I have ever received, Stacey! I am honored that your son and his fellow servicemen enjoyed these pretzels and that you made them for them! Please thank him and them for their service…we are forever grateful! And I’m with you…shipping costs are crazy right and recipes that save us a little at the grocery story are always welcome 😊 Thank you again, Stacey!

      Reply

  4. Very good! I subbed 1/2 tsp. Slap Yo Mama seasoning instead of cayenne and omitted the kosher salt until tasted.The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (12)

    Reply

    1. Glad you enjoyed the recipe Linda and thanks for trying it! I’ll have to check out Slap Yo Mama seasoning!

      Reply

  5. Lori ! You’re a genius, these are SO good, my family and friends like them better then dot’s pretzels. We liked butter version, (added less salt) any pretzel works, if you can find braided sticks the bestest, but just a small detail in this bowl of yumminess.
    Thank you Lori ❤

    Reply

  6. These sound delicious! When you say, “2 bags” of pretzels, what size bags are we talking? Pound each?

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Lorissa! They are so addictively good! Yes -just a normal size bag of pretzels – I found mine at Meijer (their store brand) in the Chicago area. These days they might be a little smaller (12-13 oz). Let me know how you like them!

      Reply

  7. My East Coast family misses Dot’s pretzels—and they flipped out about this fantastic homemade version! YUM.The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (13)

    Reply

    1. Oh the Midwest misses YOU!! so glad you all liked them! Kicking myself we didn’t market these back in the day!😊

      Reply

  8. I have all the ingredients and so excited to make these. I check other recipes and they say to bake them for 20-30 minutes?

    Reply

    1. Hi Stacey! Thanks for your question! Nope – no baking…that’s one of the best parts of the recipe 😊. If you try it, pop back on and let me know what you think!

      Reply

  9. I can’t wait to make these!!! We love Dot’s Pretzels but they are SO expensive!The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (14)

    Reply

    1. I hope love them as much as we do! And yes…this recipe makes the wallet much happier!🤗

      Reply

The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe (15)

HEY THERE!

So happy you’re here! I'm Lori and Josie + Nina was named in honor of my two Italian grandmothers who made putting food on the table look easy every day. Through this site, I hope to help you do the same thing but with a fresh, modern perspective, lots of Midwestern hospitality, and flexibility for where you are in your life.

Welcome to my table…there’s always room for more!

About Lori

What can I help you find?

GAME DAY FAVORITES

Beef Tenderloin Sliders

JP’s Chex Party Mix

Four Cheese Baked Mac and Cheese with Garlic Breadcrumbs

Baked Reuben Dip Recipe with Everything Bagel Seasoning

Completely Steak Chili

The Original Seasoned Pretzel Recipe

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FAQs

What is the secret ingredient which makes a pretzel taste like a pretzel? ›

The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. It also gives them their unique and indelible “pretzel” flavor.

What do Dots original seasoned pretzels taste like? ›

Created by Dorothy "Dot" Henke, these aren't your run-of-the-mill pretzels. They're seasoned with a unique blend of spices that make them irresistibly tasty, with a blend of salty and savory flavors that deliver hints of vinegar, garlic, onion, and a satisfying crunch.

How much are Dot's pretzels worth? ›

What is this? It was big news when small town North Dakota woman Dot Henke sold her famous Dot's Pretzels business to Hershey's in 2021 — big, as in $1.2 billion big. So how did Henke, a farm gal from the tiny town of Velva, North Dakota, create such a recipe for success?

Did Dot's pretzels go out of business? ›

The Hershey Co. has announced closure of the Dot's Homestyle Pretzels facility in Velva, ND. The closure will impact 27 employees, who are being offered the chance to relocate to select plants in the Hershey manufacturing network or accept severance packages when the plant ceases operations Oct. 27, 2023.

What is the flavouring on pretzels? ›

Salt is the most common seasoning, or topping, for pretzels, complementing the washing soda or lye treatment that gives pretzels their traditional skin and flavor acquired through the Maillard reaction. Other toppings are mustard, cheeses, sugar, chocolate, cinnamon, sweet glazing, seeds, and nuts.

What is the lie for making pretzels? ›

Lye is primarily used to make pretzels, and it's the reason for their unmistakable shiny, mahogany color. To prepare, shaped pretzels are dipped in a lye bath, then baked in the oven. This method can also be used with rolls or buns. Once lye-dipped pretzels are baked, they're totally safe (and delicious!) to eat.

What seasoning is Dots original? ›

Dot's Homestyle Pretzels have a unique flavor that is described as a combination of salty, spicy, and tangy. The pretzels are coated with a special seasoning blend that includes garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and other spices, which gives them a bold and savory flavor.

Is Dot's pretzels owned by Hershey? ›

Before growing into a beloved, national brand, Dot's pretzels were first created as a special family snack in a home kitchen in Velva, North Dakota. They became part of the Hershey Company family in 2021.

What's so special about Dot's pretzels? ›

The magic is in the coating, loaded with a myriad of different spices and seasonings. It's hard to put your finger on their taste, sweet, salty, savory, and spiced but not spicy, but whatever it is, it makes the pretzels taste truly unique—and pretty hard to put down once you start.

What is the shelf life of DOT's pretzels? ›

Our pretzels have a 180-day shelf life.

Are Dot's pretzels baked or fried? ›

These are straight-line twists about three inches long, pre-coated with a butter flavoring. And then Dot's dots them with its own seasoning and re-bakes them, in a process familiar to anyone who has ever “made” Chex Mix out of cereal and nuts and a coating of spices.

Are Dots pretzels healthier than chips? ›

Nutritional Comparison

Pretzels have less calories than potato chips and less saturated fat. As we all know, excessive calories and saturated fat can ruin a diet. Nevertheless, they are both good sources of carbohydrates if you're looking for a little energy.

Why is Dots going out of business? ›

The Hershey Co

Due to the physical limitations of the building and cost associated with the Velva facility, it has led us to the hard decision to cease operations and close the facility,” a Hershey spokesperson said. The spokesperson told Just Drinks there are 27 employees at the site.

Are Dot's pretzels addictive? ›

Now you know what makes them so addicting… They are coated in MSG and artificial flavors that entice you to keep eating more than you should…so you can't stop! They also have 2 ingredients that can alter gut bacteria, which is so important to our health. If you love pretzels, try Hanover Organic Pretzels.

How much were Dot's pretzels sold for? ›

Hershey Completes $1.2B Buy of Dot's Pretzels | Food Manufacturing.

What makes a pretzel roll taste like a pretzel? ›

Lye-dipped pretzels, or in this case, pretzel buns, have a distinctive flavour that is both savoury and slightly bitter. The lye, a strong alkaline solution, is used to give the pretzels their characteristic dark brown colour and chewy exterior.

What is the flavor profile of pretzels? ›

Tasting Notes:

The typical pretzel has a pleasant cracker-like flavor, a crisp, brittle texture and a brown glossy surface color. Salt crystals are often sprinkled on its surface to make them taste more appealing. Pretzels have a moisture content of anywhere from 2-4% and therefore have a very long shelf life.

What is the secret solution for Auntie Anne's pretzels? ›

Experts at The Daily Meal (via Fox News) suspect the secret ingredient is sugar. This makes total sense, not because we're some sort of band of dough geniuses over here, but because sugar obviously makes everything better — and because Auntie Anne's pretzels are definitely sweeter than your average pretzel.

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