Pizza Pretzels

My 3 year old is picky.

I mean SUPER picky.  At times, he will refuse to eat mac & cheese, or chicken nuggets, or even pizza. 

I don’t pretend to know what is going on in that fascinating little mind, but I am ever trying to find foods that he will like.  Usually I am sneaking vegetables into his food, but this time, I just wanted a fun, easy meal.  So, I found a recipe for pizza pretzels.  These were pretty quick and easy to make, though pulling the dough over the filling can be tricky (read: frustrating) at times, but it is worth the effort. 

The whole family enjoyed these Pizza Pretzels, especially my 3 year old who adamantly ignored the sauce! 

Pizza Pretzels

Adapted slightly from Multiply Delicious

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp cornmeal

1 tbsp flour

1 tube of refrigerated pizza dough (I used Pillsbury)

44 pieces of turkey pepperoni (approximately)

8 pieces of mozzarella string cheese

1 tbsp parmesan cheese

1 cup of pizza sauce, heated

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Brush a large cookie sheet with1/2 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with cornmeal.

Unroll pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.  Starting in the center, use a floured rolling pin to roll dough into a 16x10 inch rectangle.  Using a pizza cutter, cut dough into four 2 ½ inch strips.

Evenly place about 11 pepperonis on each dough strip, leaving 1 inch on each end uncovered.

Cut each string cheese in four pieces, cutting in half the long way and then the short way.  Place 8 cheese quarters on top of the pepperoni on each cheese strip, overlapping where necessary.

Bring the sides of each dough strip together over the pepperoni and cheese, stretching to cover the fillings and tightly pinch together.  Use some of the excess dough from the ends to patch, if needed.  Pinch ends to seal.  Lightly roll and shape into logs.

To make the pretzel shape, form each log into a U-shape, then cross the ends and press.  Place pretzels on the prepared cookie sheet.  Brush pretzels with the remaining ½ tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Bake 13-17 minutes or until pretzels are golden brown.  Serve with warmed pizza sauce for dipping.

Makes 4 pretzels

Enjoy!

Amy