These are not going to be pretty.
And they certainly are not anywhere close to being healthy.
And if you are lactose intolerant, these might make you spontaneously combust.
And you will probably have to go buy bigger jeans after eating these. Or at least unbutton the ones you are wearing.
And after eating these, you will probably decide it is the last meal you want before you kick the bucket.
At least that’s what I’ve decided.
In Baltimore a few months ago, Ashley and I shared crab pretzels at a restaurant, along with that life-changing grilled caesar salad.
All I have to say is that I wish we didn’t share them. They were incredibly sinful.
I had debated on how to make crab pretzels for weeks. It was not going to be as simple as microwave-melted cheese and crabmeat. It was so much more than that.
I began with a roux and made a creamy, artery-clogging cheese sauce, just as I would with macaroni and cheese.
Best decision ever.
I also used hot pretzels from a box. I don’t have the time to make homemade hot pretzels, but I would encourage you to buy some freshly made ones and bring them home to use.
The boxed ones were still delicious. I mean, if you top anything with a buttery, rich cheese sauce, it is going to taste fabulous. I would possibly eat cardboard topped with cheese sauce. And I’m only half joking.
Crab Pretzels
6 soft pretzels
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated smoked cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated monterey jack cheese
4-6 ounces lump crab meat
sprinkle of nutmeg
salt & pepper to taste
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and whisk in flour to create a roux. Add heavy cream and milk, and stir in grated cheeses. Stir until melted and simmer until mixture thickens. Stir in nutmeg, and add salt and pepper if needed. Fold in crabmeat.
Prepare pretzels – making sure they are warm – and top with cheese and crab mixture.
So, you have a greasy, doughy soft pretzel topped with gooey cheese and crabmeat that melts in your mouth.
Does it get any better than this?
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
Oh no you didn’t!!! I swear, I might think it is worth being constipated for a week just to go off my gluten free diet and eat one of these! Thanks a lot!!!
Reply
Oh. OH. I think my stomach just turned… but with delight or horror, I don’t know. ;)
Reply
Oh Jess, you continually amaze all of us with these (I don’t even know what to call this??) dish/appetizer/life changing meal! I don’t think it does get any better than this!
Reply
Holy. Crap. Girl…
These remind me of Paula Dean’s Cheesy Shrimp on Grits Toasts. Ok so it’s pretzels and not grits and crab and not shrimp but still…
Reply
That is one mouth-watering dish! I will definitely try this!
Reply
YUM! Oh my gosh soft preztels are my favorite! When I was a kid and we would go to the fair I ALWAYS wanted a big soft preztel with the big salt granules and my brother always wanted a funnel cake. Personally…I think my choice was always WAY tastier!
Reply
Holy crap, those look amazing! I can’t wait to try this recipe :)
Reply
I think these are worth sacrificing my lactose intolerance for!
Reply
Are you kidding – these look beautiful to me!
Reply
…healthy according to whose standards?
Reply
When I was growing up, my mom used to make a dish similar to this, but served over English muffins. Your pretzels are a stroke of genius :-)
Reply
all i have to say is SOLD. i want them.
Reply
I think just looking at these makes me need to undo my top button on my jeans! These look sooo good!
Reply
these look fabulous. i want to make them TODAY. right now. I’m going shopping. :)
Reply
oh. my. word. there will be crab dip and pretzels at the pool party i’m going to tomorrow- that’s for sure:)
Reply
Bigger jeans?! You know I have Mom Jean issues and now I gotta go buy bigger ones! Hmph.
I’m totally drooling over these… :D
Reply
NO, it does NOT get any better than THAT! :shock: My husband would LOVE these! Soft pretzels rock, I have to try this. YUMMMMMMM
Jenn
Reply
LOVE this idea! I never would have thought of it myself. Sounds yummy and is totally cute too! I’m not very talented in the kitchen, but I think this is something I could do…thanks :)
http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
Reply
AHHHHH! I am from Baltimore and I must tell you that this is the first thing I want when I visit home. It is SO SUPER bad for you, and I just have to have one. For me, this is my bar food. If I am drinking beer at home, I am wanting a crab pretzel. After my wedding, my friends joined me and Ryan in Fells Point and I ordered 2 big ones for the table for everyone to share. I so need to make these here.
Reply
EVERYTHING you make looks soooooooooooooo good! Do you work out 3 hours a day to burn all that amazing stuff off (given that you’re a pretty little lady- or perhaps you have a to-die-for metabolism)? HAHA
Reply
These look delicious!! I go to Maryland a lot..and will ONLY get crab there now- lol! I used to get the k-krab…but not anymore. Once you have the REAL crab you never go back to the krab!! :)
Reply
This reminds me of a dish from a local New Orleans-style restaurant. They basically serve you a whole bowl of what you topped your pretzels with, along with lots of fluffy white bread. It’s so good that talking about it makes me feel dirty.
Reply
hope the weekend was good so far honey!
xo
Reply
Never heard of them prior to this moment. Am feeling slightly light headed thinking about how I can make them at home. Um. Wow. Love it all. :)
Reply
Oh I’ve never had anything like this – it looks goooood :)
Reply
Oh drool! I have never ever thought of combining two of my favorite flavors–I could definitely make splurge room for these! :-)
Reply
These look insanely delicious!!! I’m gonna have to put these into my rotation :)
Reply
You did a great job of capturing the ooey gooey deliciousness of these pretzels.
Reply
I think a bigger pair of jeans might almost be worth if for these, yummmmm!! :)
Reply
YOU DID IT! OMGGGGGGGG! they look absolutely amazing :) i need to make some pronto!! or just walk my booty over to Ryleighs and buy one. Why don’t you just come to bmore and we’ll get crab pretzels, grilled ceasars, and berger bomb piesssss ! XOXOXOX
Reply
These look absolutely AMAZING! I want these in my life! What a great recipe.
Reply
I would have needed those yesterday when I came home after the party weekend :)
Reply
Ooolala. I could eat my weight in those. I may never recover from it, but I have to say it seems like it would be worth it. Like eating twice your weight in food at thanksgiving, totally worth it…
Reply
These sound AMAZING! I love crab, and I love it even more with cheese!!!
Reply
Yum… These are one of our favorite foods to order at a local restaurant when we go out. After living in Baltimore, my hubby and I just LOVE crab meat!
Reply
OMG!! We have this awesome bar/restaurant near us (I live in southern PA 45 mins from Baltimore) that makes these amazing crab pretzels, I CAN NOT wait to try this recipe! yuuuumm
Reply
Oh my gawd! Yes I am going to try these. I had grilled pretzels at a festival in Portsmouth, VA some years back. They were just grilled & I smothered them with spicey German mustard. Oh ya they were worth every bit. Think these vendors were from Baltimore. Haven’t found them since so I guess I’ll make due with frozen ones.
Reply