Dot's Pretzels {Copycat Recipe} (2024)

This copycat version of Dot’s Pretzels is pretty indistinguishable from the real thing and is utterly irresistible and savoury. One of the keys to success is your choice of pretzels, and I’ll clue you in on what type to use and where to find them in a moment.

When I was out in Iowa visiting my friends at the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, we spent quite a lot of time in a bus heading from meeting to meeting. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but I am completely incapable of riding in a car for longer than 15 minutes without needing a snack.

My friends Shannon and Natalie must have known this. In what might go down as the understatement of the year, they popped open a bag of something they simply described as being “really, really good” and passed it back along the line of bloggers sitting in the bus. A hush fell.

Dot's Pretzels {Copycat Recipe} (1)

Guys. If you know any bloggers, you know hushes don’t fall easily. The silence was because we were all cramming Dot’s Pretzels in our mouth and marveling at how a SNACK FOOD could be THAT GOOD. And yes, all-caps yelling was in order there.

I’ve never in my life had a flavoured pretzel that good. The silence continued until that bag was empty and each of us had opened our phones and ordered two-packs from Amazon because the store locator indicated ZERO stores where I could buy it in driving distance from my home.

As soon as I ordered it, though, I realized -egads- I had just paid $17 for two one-pound bags of pretzels. It was going to be unrealistic to pony up $17 for a two-pack of pretzels as often as I was going to want those pretzels. Thank HEAVENS my husband doesn’t read my blog often.

They’re not JUST Ranch Pretzels

I admit I studied the ingredients list of the Dot’s Pretzels bag pretty carefully. The flavour of the pretzels had reminded me a lot of ranch dressing and the ingredients list seemed to bear it out. But there was more to it than just that as I found when I tried to make some with regular old pretzel sticks.

While the regular ranch pretzels were tasty, they lacked some of the magic of Dot’s Pretzels. I found that the key to the iconic Dot’s Pretzels flavour was to use a specific type of pretzel.

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What kind of pretzels make Dot’s Pretzels?

Butter Braids are the very best pretzel to use if you’re making copycat Dot’s Pretzels, and you can nab those at Target or Walmart just about anywhere in the country. If you can’t find them, use butter snap pretzels.

If you want some seriously amazing Dot’s Pretzels, try using these butter braided pretzels from Nuts.com. They’re about $5 per one pound bag, so they’re still a pretty good price compared to $17 for two pounds of Dot’s Pretzels.

I do not advice trying to make your ranch pretzels with honey wheat pretzel twists, though. I think the flavours compete a bit and it tastes a little off.

As for which ranch dressing mix to use, I prefer to use my homemade buttermilk ranch dressing mix, but I’ve also made it with the big brand of ranch dressing mix and the recipe tasted perfect.

Cayenne pepper is optional in this recipe. If you use it, there’s just a little background heat and kick that some folks find to be a more accurate match to the original Dot’s pretzels. We like it both with or without.

Dot’s Pretzels

  1. Preheat the oven to 250°F.
  2. Toss the pretzels with the melted butter to coat, then toss with the Ranch dressing mix and cayenne pepper if using to coat evenly.
  3. Arrange in a single layer on a rimmed half sheet pan.
  4. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes; just until the coating is set.

Use a half sheet pan, parchment paper, and tongs to make your Dot’s Pretzels.

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Pretzel Recipe

If you love these Dot’s Pretzels, you should try these garlic butter soft pretzel bites, best sourdough soft pretzels, pretzels, pretzel bread, and perfect soft pretzel rolls. You will be a very happy camper if you serve them with Hot Corn Dip, Chili Con Queso Dip, or Dill Pickle Dip.

And honestly, I love this Dot’s Pretzels copycat recipe by itself, but they make magical croutons on all sorts of salads like cheeseburger salad, Tex Mex Cobb Salad, and Pizza Salad.

Are you a big ranch fan? Try these homemade Cool Ranch Doritos, Cool ranch Baked Tortilla Salad Bowls, Chicken Bacon Ranch Cheese Balls Bites, and Cool Ranch Dorito Cheese Curds.

Dot's Pretzels

Rate Recipe

Rebecca Lindamood

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 pound butter braid pretzels or butter snaps
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted, preferably unsalted
  • 3 tablespoons ranch dressing mix
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, but delicious

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250°F.

  • In a bowl (or in the pretzel bag itself) toss the pretzels gently with the melted butter to coat evenly.

  • Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix and cayenne if using over the pretzels and again toss to coat evenly.

  • Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on a half sheet pan and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, or until the pretzels are dry to the touch and the seasoning is set on them.

  • Eat warm, or let cool completely to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container or bag for storage.

    These are good for about a week at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 187kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 793mgPotassium: 51mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 115IUCalcium: 8mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

did you make this recipe?

Make sure to tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and #hashtag it #foodiewithfamily so I can check it out!

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This post was originally published December 2, 2018 and republished January 13, 2021 with improved notes.

Dot's Pretzels {Copycat Recipe} (2024)

FAQs

What is the flavoring on Dot's pretzels? ›

If you've been craving the super savory Dot's pretzels—seasoned with buttermilk, butter, onion, garlic, and mustard—but can't find them near you, this recipe is a close second. We tried 4 different methods for replicating that buttery flavor and found starting with butter snaps pretzels is the best (and easiest!) way.

What is the coating on dots pretzels? ›

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.

What is 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.

Are they discontinuing dots pretzels? ›

Hershey to Close Dot's Pretzel Facility Hershey to Close Dot's Pretzel Facility. This is just two years after the acquisition of the pretzel company. The Hershey Co. has announced closure of the Dot's Homestyle Pretzels facility in Velva, ND.

Why are Dots pretzels so addictive? ›

Now you know what makes them so addicting! Dot's Pretzels are coated in MSG and artificial flavors that entice you to keep eating more than you should…so you can't stop!

Does Hershey own Dot's pretzels? ›

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 is the brown coating on pretzels? ›

Traditional Bavarian pretzels are dipped in a lye solution before they are baked. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is essentially the same stuff that's used to make soap and clean drains. It can even dissolve glass.

What is the big salt on pretzels called? ›

Pretzel salt is a type of coarse long-grained salt.

What is the drain cleaner in pretzels? ›

Then I dug a little deeper and started reading about soft pretzels, and I learned that the key to making them authentic is a little something called NaOH. Otherwise known as sodium hydroxide, and otherwise known as caustic soda, or lye, or highly poisonous chemicals that are used to clean out plugged-up drains.

Who is the owner of Dot's Pretzels? ›

Dot's Homestyle Pretzels is an American snack food. They are part of The Hershey Company.

How many states sell Dot's pretzels? ›

With raving reviews from them, Dot went to flag football games and stood next to a hot dog stand where the pretzels were once again so well-received that she took the next steps to start commercially. Years later, the pretzels are sold in – as far as she knows – 48 states.

Are pretzels healthy? ›

Take a Pass on Pretzels

Although pretzels are low-fat, they are also pretty paltry on the protein and fiber front, and they can be quite high in sodium and carbs. What's more, they rank high on the glycemic index, meaning they can quickly spike blood sugar levels.

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.

What is DOTS original pretzel flavor? ›

Dot's Homestyle Original Seasoned Pretzel Twists are braided and dusted with this original, top-secret seasoning blend. Each pretzel twist envelopes your taste buds in a delightful swirl of buttery, sweet and spicy tang.

Do DOTS pretzels expire? ›

Our pretzels have a 180-day shelf life.

What gives pretzels their distinctive flavor? ›

What Gives Pretzels Their Pretzel Flavor? You have baking soda to thank for that distinct pretzel flavor. Baking soda is highly alkaline and imparts that subtly metallic taste onto the dough before your pretzels go into the oven. Some recipes call for a lye bath, which does the same thing.

What does the southwest seasoned dots pretzels taste like? ›

Southwest Dot's Pretzels comes in fourth on our list. It's a tangy mix that incorporates an array of spices like dehydrated bell pepper, garlic powder, jalapeno powder, and lime juice.

What is the traditional dipping liquid for pretzels? ›

Traditional Bavarian pretzels are dipped in a lye solution before they are baked. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is essentially the same stuff that's used to make soap and clean drains. It can even dissolve glass.

What is the salt on soft pretzels called? ›

Pretzel salt is a type of coarse long-grained salt.

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