20+ Best Dips for Pretzels
Are you hosting friends or getting ready for a game night and looking for an alternative to chips and dip? Pretzels and dip are the perfect combination that your guests will love. Whether you want soft pretzels or pretzel sticks, sweet or savory dip, read on to find out about pretzels and dips that will suit any tastebuds.
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Types of pretzels
Originally from Germany, pretzels are pastries made of baked dough that can be soft, hard, sweet, salty, or coated. They come in various shapes such as the original twist that they are known for, as well as sticks, rods, and bites. They also come in different sizes – soft pretzels are usually larger, whereas smaller snack pretzels are hard and crispy.
If you plan to serve soft pretzels, decide if you want to make homemade pretzels or go with store-bought pretzels.
Sally’s Baking Addiction will help you make delicious homemade soft pretzels. It includes a baking soda bath that gives it its distinctive flavor and texture, so be sure not to skip it!
You can also purchase soft pretzels in the freezer aisle and cook them at home in the microwave, over, or air fryer. The smaller hard pretzels can be easily purchased at any grocery store too.
Types of dips
Pretzels are a great option as a snack or a dessert. Offering a variety dips and toppings allows your guests can make their own custom pretzel to enjoy.
Sweet dips are not just to be paired with sweet pretzels. Salty pretzels with sweet toppings create the perfect mix of savory and sweet to rival popcorn.
Take a look at these delicious dips for both sweet and savory pretzels.
Salt – Keep the pretzel classic by adding a dusting of coarse salt to it. If you want a bit more flavor, spice it with pepper, garlic, chili, or Italian seasoning to add something extra to an otherwise plain pretzel.
Cheese – Pretzels served with a hot cheesy dip are a classic combination. There are many kinds of cheeses that go well with pretzels – cheddar cheese, cream cheese, smoked cheese, brie, camembert, and beer cheese dip.
Mustard – Mustard and pretzels are another classic pairing. The tanginess and sometimes spiciness of a good mustard dip pairs perfectly with pretzels. Choose any kind of mustard: American, English, French, or Dijon. You can even serve a mustard cheese dip to combine the two most classic dips into one.
Cinnamon – The combination of cinnamon and sugar is another classic. Pretzels coated in this have the sweet sensation of churros. Yum! Make it a creamy dip with cream cheese or keep it a dry light dip for a more traditional flavor.
Artichoke – Artichoke dip is another popular choice and for good reason. It’s delicious! Most recipes are for spinach and artichoke dip, but you can find variations that will suit you.
Chocolate – Chocolate goes surprisingly well with salty pretzels, as the savory and sweet mix complement each other. There are various chocolate options you can choose such as white chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and dark chocolate. It even tastes good with a chocolate hazelnut dip such as Nutella.
Peanut butter – Peanut butter adds a creamy or crunchy richness and nutty flavor that takes pretzels to the next level.
Caramel sauce – Caramel, salted caramel, and toffee are perfect for dessert pretzels. Salted caramel also adds that saltiness to combat the sweet and gives your dessert an extra kick.
Jellies and jams – Berries, apricots, grape, rhubarb – the list of sweet jams is endless. The tartness of the fruit is balanced by the sugar of a dessert pretzel. Add peanut butter and jelly for a classic!
Yogurt – You can purchase yogurt dipped pretzels, but you can also make your own. Plain or flavored yogurt will work for a healthier dessert pretzel, but you can add sweet extras such as chocolate chips or sprinkles, which stick to the pretzel when mixed with the yogurt.
Cream – Whipped cream, heavy cream, or best of all – ice cream. Warm up your pretzel and serve it with a scoop on the side to melt in that sweetness.
Frosting – Buttercream, fondant, icing sugar – there are many options to drizzle or dip to make the ultimate cupcake pretzel!
Sugar – Keep it simple by dipping your pretzel in some powdered sugar. Think of it as a twisted pastry donut!
Hummus – For a healthier dip, turn to this chickpea-based option. Hummus comes in various flavors such as roasted red pepper, black bean, lemon, garlic, and more.
Sour cream – Sour cream is great not just as a mild, creamy, tangy dip on its own but can also be paired with chives, horseradish, or green onions to make other appetizing dip options. It’s also a great way to cool down your palette if you’ve had something spicy!
Guacamole – Fresh avocado, lime juice, and a sprinkle of salt – what more could you look for in a nutritious and fresh dip? The mildness of guacamole goes great with other pairings such as salsa.
Salsa – Fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, and chilies make this vibrant, fresh dip. Salsa is not only for chips. It goes well with pretzels and other dips such as sour cream and guacamole. You can make it milder or add more chilies such as jalapenos to spice it up.
Marinara – Pizza pretzel, anyone? Marinara sauce is made of fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs. This Italian sauce goes well with any dough. Pretzels are no exception. Add some mozzarella or a drizzle of cheese dip for a pretzel that tastes like pizza.
Pesto – Pine nuts, basil, and parmesan make up this fresh and vibrant dip that pairs well with a salty pretzel. You can eat pesto with pasta, pizza, pies, and tarts. Pesto pretzels are no exception!
Buffalo – For the heat lovers, get a kick from a buffalo pretzel stick! Buffalo sauce adds that spiciness that many people love and crave.
Ranch – Ranch has the flavors of onion, chives, parsley, dill, and garlic. These flavors can take a plain pretzel and elevate them to have a host of flavorings.
French onion – The sour cream and caramelized onion in French onion dip add a mild but tangy flavor to bring out the saltiness of pretzels.
Frequently asked questions
How do you keep hard pretzels fresh?
Once you open a package of hard pretzels, store the pretzels in an airtight container to keep them as fresh as possible. Even a few days of being left out exposed to the air will cause them to lose that nice crispiness that they once had.
How do you store soft pretzels?
Soft pretzels can be stored in plastic wrap or plastic storage bags on the counter for up to 2 days, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, and in the freezer for up to 2 months. Store them once they’ve cooled down to room temperature to reduce humidification in the plastic. Note that you can also store pretzels in paper bags or in a breadbox on the counter to reduce humidification but they will dry out faster so should be eaten sooner or have care taken in reheating them. You should eat pretzels sooner rather than later for optimal taste and texture.
How do you store soft pretzels in the freezer?
Place pretzels in a freezer-safe container for the best keeping. If you don’t have that available, double wrap pretzels in plastic warp to ward off freezer burn.
How do you reheat a soft pretzel?
Reheat soft pretzels in the microwave or oven. To reheat in the microwave, place the pretzel on a microwave-safe dish, place a wet paper towel on top of the pretzel, and heat it in 15-second increments until it is your desired temperature. To reheat in the oven or toaster over, place the pretzel on an oven-safe pan or aluminum foil. Place a few dribbles of water on the pretzel, and let it reheat at 350 for 5 minutes or until it reaches your desired temperature.
Reheating in the oven will usually result in a tastier and more evenly heated pretzel than reheating in the microwave, but the microwave is faster.
What are some alternatives to pretzels?
Many other foods are delicious when eaten with dip, so don’t worry if you run out of pretzels. Try serving tortilla chips, potato chips, pita chips, bagel or pretzel crisps, trail mix, or even fresh veggies.
Wrap up
Pretzels are a favorite snack in my house. We can’t get enough of them! They make the perfect appetizer and can even be a meal or dessert. They’re perfect when craving something sweet or salty, and they’re even better with a favorite dip. With so many choices of dips, everyone is sure to find the best dip for them.
What’s your favorite pretzel dip?