Every single person in this house loves soft pretzels. Soft, warm bread with a dark golden crust, lightly crusted with salt, who could resist? I’m a ham and cheese lover, as is my husband. To combine a soft pretzel and a ham and cheese sandwich just sounded too good to be true. It’s a sandwich and a pretzel all rolled up into one neat package, ready for eating! These would be fabulous at Super Bowl time and great for when there’s a bunch of teenagers at your house.
I found this recipe on Peggy’s blog, My Fiance Likes It So It Must Be Good. I’ll be honest, there were so many great sounding recipes, I wasn’t sure what to pick! After browsing for well over an hour, I narrowed it down to SIXTEEN recipes. Umm. Yeah. There’s this Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, these Korean Flank Steaks, and this Potato and Red Pepper Hash just to name a few!
I’ve made soft pretzels before. A few years ago my daughter and I made Homemade German Pretzels for her German class assignment, and these Bretzel Rolls I made around the same time. They are actually called Bavarian Pretzel Sandwich Rolls, shortened to Bretzel Rolls. So when I saw Peggy’s post on these Ham & Cheese Stuffed Pretzel Rolls I knew that’s exactly what I needed to make.
I did adapt Peggy’s recipe a bit and added a full cup more flour to my dough. I also used different cheese and changed the method a little to match the other pretzel recipes I’ve made in the past. I found this amazing cheese that I shared on Twitter via Instagram at my favorite market. There were quite a few flavors, but I chose these two to come home with me.
After these had cooled a bit I cut one in half and tried it. Mmmmmm! Another bite… another. Before I knew it I had eaten two sandwiches just standing there!
I made some with ham and cheese, and some with just cheese. The kids liked the ones with just cheese better as they aren’t much for ham like hubby and I. My daughter even took one to school for lunch the next day. I will definitely be making these again, especially during football season!
Here’s some tips. Whenever you work with yeast, always proof it first. That mean mixing it will a little sugar for the yeast to “eat” and some warm liquid, usually water or milk. When things begin to bubble and foam, you know your yeast is active. In this recipe you’ll mix some brown sugar with warm milk, and mix that and most of the flour to the yeast mixture and mix it up. You’ll add more flour if needed to develop a nice kneadable dough.
After splitting the dough into equal pieces, roll out each one and line with 1-2 slices of ham and some thin sliced or shredded cheese. Then roll it up. They’ll rest a bit then be dropped into a pot of boiling water that’s had baking soda added to it. The baking soda bath creates an alkaline environment on the outside of the pretzel dough, thus allowing the dough to brown faster during baking, without over baking the inside.
Note: A few of mine swelled a bit and burst, but nothing tragic. Just make sure your dough is rolled to an even thickness.
Thanks so much for the recipe Peggy, these were truly wonderful and I will be making them again. :)
Ham & Cheese Pretzel Roll Sandwiches
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Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons SAF instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
- ½ cup warm water
- 1 cup warm 1% milk
- 3 ½ cups flour
- Deli or packaged ham thin sliced
- Shredded or thin sliced cheese
- 6 cups water
- 4 teaspoons baking soda
- kosher salt to top
Instructions
- In large mixing bowl combine yeast, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and warm water. Stir together and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir together remaining brown sugar and milk, mixing until sugar is dissolved.
- Reserve one cup of the flour and set aside. Add remaining 2 1/2 cups flour and milk mixture to yeast mixture. Mix on low with dough hook (or by hand with wooden spoon). Add reserved flour as needed to make a soft dough.
- Gently knead dough into a smooth ball on a floured surface, Then place in clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature for about 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the dough into 4 separate pieces, then divide those pieces in half. Roll out each piece to desired length and flatten with rolling pin. Place 1-2 slices of ham and either thin sliced or shredded cheese on each rolled out piece of dough. Roll up the dough and seal the edges using warm water. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Standing back a little so as not to be splashed, add baking soda. Adding the baking soda will cause the water to react momentarily and bubble up.
- Slide 1-2 rolls into the boiling water and boil for no more then 30 seconds, turning once. Carefully remove with slotted spoon and hold above pot and let drain. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat with the remaining rolls. Bake the rolls until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
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Amanda Davis
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Sheila says
I am soooo making these! I was happy to see you advertise Michigan cheese! Most people don’t know that Michigan makes great cheese. I make regular trips to Pinconning to by “boat loads” of cheese LOL. Thanks for the great recipe!
Sheila (Saginaw)
Amanda Formaro says
Yes they do make great cheese!
Andi Vanvuren says
Everyone loved these! They were a bit messy and I probably needed a bit more flour but they were super tasty and devoured in record time!
Amanda Formaro says
Hooray! So glad you guys loved them! It’s been quite a while since I made these, you have inspired me to add them in to the rotation again :)
Kristy says
I’m curious if you have tried freezing these. I’m really starting to get into freezer meals/once-a-month cooking and this sounds like a recipe that would work great in the freezer.
Amanda Formaro says
I haven’t tried freezing them. Would love to hear how they do if you should try it!
Kara says
These look A-mazing. Can’t wait to try them this weekend. I moved to Australia a decade ago and they just don’t do pretzels (of any kind!!) here. I miss them. I have high hopes for these :)
Amanda says
I really hop you like them Kara!
Maphy says
Hi! can i fry this instead of baking or do you have the deep fried version of it? thanks.
Amanda says
I don’t have a deep fried version, sorry!
The Omnivore says
These look phenomenal! I’d substitute some Yves Canadian Bacon for the ham. I’m a little scared of yeast, but I think the idea of fresh, homemade pretzels could inspire me to conquer that fear!
Erin @ Making Memories says
WOW! Look at those! Amazing!
Lisa~~ says
Gorgeous, I want these!!
If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my SRC recipe this month: Fruit, Nut & Poppy Seed Chicken Salad.
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
Margaret says
What a great Idea. And handy!! These look like a great way to eat a sandwich. Good choice.
Deb says
These look yummy! Going to have to try. Which market do you get your cheese from?
Amanda says
This was at Woodman’s in Kenosha, WI :)
Debbie says
I’d love to know which market you get your cheese from? These look fantastic and am going to have to try them!
Amanda says
Woodman’s in Kenosha, WI :)
Deb says
Ooohh I LOVE woodmans! I do major major damage in that store and then of course I usually hit target on my way back home! I’ll have to check out the cheese section more often. I love their fresh Cheese curds! oh yum..
Jo says
I keep telling myself I need to try making pretzels, your roll up are making me think I need to do it this weekend, they look fantastic!
Veronica says
What a neat idea! Love the sandwich filling inside pretzel rolls. Sounds SO good.