Fall is probably my favorite season. Things start to calm down and we get in more family time while just relaxing. Of course, our favorite part of fall is Football Season! We're Ravens fans (of course) in our house.
For today's tailgating recipe I'm bringing some Maryland to your house! You need to make these Crab Pretzels for your next football game. They're on the menu at bars and restaurants throughout the state and usually cost about $10 a piece. Make your own and enjoy in front of your own TV!
Thanks to Wedding Crashers, everyone knows “That's what Maryland does. Crab Cakes and football.” Well, Maryland also does Crab Pretzels! This is how Maryland does crabs. We picked some last week when my sister was here from Kentucky.
Please try to use fresh lump crab meat and not that canned crap. It's really not the same at all. If you want to skimp on this recipe, do it for the pretzels and just buy some frozen ones instead of making your own (although it's not very difficult).
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 Tbsp mayo
- 1 Tbsp sour cream
- 1 tsp Old Bay
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Worcestershire
- ¼ tsp lemon juice
- 8 oz Jumbo lump crab meat
- shredded cheddar
- sliced green onions for topping
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- Dissolve yeast into warm water.
- Add salt and sugar, stirring to combine.
- Stir in flour, one cup at a time.
- If dough is still sticky, add a little more flour (no more than ½ cup). Dough should bounce back when poked.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 3 minutes.
- Separate into even portions. (I made 10, but you could do more or less depending on the size you want.)
- You can make regular shaped pretzels if you want. I made mine into twisty pretzel logs.
- Boil 9 cups of water with ½ cup baking soda.
- Dip pretzels using a slotted spoon into the boiling baking soda water for 30 seconds.
- Drain excess water off of pretzels.
- Place on baking sheet lined with silicone baking mat.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Mix first seven ingredients.
- Stir in crab meat. (Please use real lump crab meat, not canned stuff.)
- Spread crab mix over baked pretzels and don't be stingy with it.
- Top with shredded cheese.
- Broil for about 5 minutes.
- Top with sliced green onions and more Old Bay if desired.
With the official start of football season around the corner, it’s time to tailgate! In celebration, I’ve joined a group of bloggers from all over the country — all of whom are big football fans! — to bring you 64 tailgating recipe ideas for a terrific football party. Click on their links below to join in!
Spicy Mexican Cheese Dip by 2 Cookin Mamas
Salsa Verde by A Dish of Daily Life
Slow Cooker Sausage Corn Dip by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Sausage, Peppers + Onions Pigs in a Blanket by A Little Gathering
Grilled Jalapeno Poppers by A Mind Full Mom
Beer & Brats Bake by A Simpler Grace
Black Bottom Maple Pecan Pie Bars by An Oregon Cottage
Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings by And She Cooks
Blackberry BBQ Sticky Wings by Around My Family Table
Cheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread by Beer Girl Cooks
Black Bean & Corn Salsa by Body Rebooted
Roasted Garlic BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe by Bread Booze Bacon
Smoky Jalapeno Poppers by Brunch-n-Bites
Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos by Bucket List Tummy
Deconstructed Smoked Chicken Chile Relleno by Cafe Terra
Chicken Spinach & Artichoke Dip French Bread by Cake ‘n Knife
Cuban Sandwich Quesadillas by Casa de Crews
Grilled Asparagus Spears by Celebrating Family
Sweet and Salty Blueberry Popcorn by Club Narwhal
Buffalo Chicken Poppers by Coffee Love Travel
Sea Bass Skewers + Blackbeard Cocktails by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Buffalo Chicken Poppers by Dash of Herbs
Easy Chicken Roll Ups with Cream Cheese and Veggies by Family Food on the Table
Bottled Tailgate Cocktails by Feast + West
Smoked Brisket Texas Style by Foodal
Loaded Guacamole by foodbyjonister
Cincinnati Nachos by Foodtastic Mom
Cajun Red Beans and Andouille Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms by For the Love of Food
Grilled Shrimp Pizza by Glisten and Grace
Mini Bell Pepper Nachos by Hello Little Home
Slow Cooker Sweet Spicy Meatballs by Honey & Birch
BBQ Chicken Wontons by Lauren's Kitchen
Loaded Tailgate Tots by Life's Ambrosia
Ricotta & Fig Bites by Living Well Kitchen
Tailgate Tacos by Lizzy is Dizzy
Nashville Hot Chicken Wings by Loaves & Dishes
Cincinnati Chili Dip by Love & Flour
{Slow Cooker} BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches by Love Bakes Good Cakes
Tailgate Bloody Marys by Loves Food, Loves to Eat
Sweet Korean Chicken Wings by Macheesmo
Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots by Me and My Pink Mixer
Beer Sangria by Mixplorology
Crab Pretzels by Mom's Messy Miracles
Hot Bacon Dip by Nik Snacks
Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar by Off the Eaten Path
Chowder Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers by Order in the Kitchen
Old Fashioned Sweet by Peanut Blossom
Baked Mac and Cheese Cups by Polka Dotted Blue Jay
Texas Toothpicks with Buttermilk Ranch by See Aimee Cook
Pretzel Turkey Meatballs (GF, DF, SF) by Shaws Simple Swaps
Hearty Vegetable Chili by Simple and Savory
Focaccia Pizza by Simplify, Live, Love
Sweet Potato Skins Stuffed with BBQ Ranch Pulled Pork by Sustaining the Powers
Bacon-Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites by The BakerMama
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad by The Creative Bite
German Potato Skins by The Crumby Cupcake
Old Bay Trail Mix by The Culinary Compass
Meat Lover's Pizza Bites by The Life Jolie
Raspberry Chipotle Black Bean Dip by The Mexitalian
Grilled Asian Chicken Wings & Shishito Peppers by The Secret Ingredient Is
Blackened Shrimp Tacos by The Speckled Palate
Honeydew Melon Refresher by Two Places at Once
Grilled Sauerkraut Stuffed Brats by West via Midwest
Sausage Apple and Sage Hand Pies by What A Girl Eats
Note: This post is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by the National Football League (NFL) or any of its teams. All opinions and views expressed on our blogs are our own, not that of the NFL and/or any of its 32 teams. Any team names, logos or other symbols referenced are properties of their respective organizations. We are just big fans — and we want to share our love for our teams, the game and the food that brings us all together on game day.
Alyssa says
You had me at crab. This recipe blows my mind, what a combination! I can’t wait to try it.