Pretzel-fy your pigs in a blanket and pair with our irresistibly smooth beer cheese dip for a gameday appetizer that will give fans something to cheer about.
Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper, set aside.
Roll out crescent dough, pressing together any perforations to prevent it from ripping. Cut into about 1-inch strips. Roll each lil' smokies up into a strip of dough.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add ¼ cup of baking soda. Working one or two at a time, drop each wrapped lil' smokie into the water and boil until it floats to the top, about 15 seconds. Remove from water and add directly to prepared pan.
Make egg wash by whisking together egg and milk, then brush onto the dough. Top each with a light sprinkle of course salt. Bake until puffed up and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
Beer Cheese Dip
In a medium sized saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic. Cook until softened, stirring occasionally.
Whisk in flour. Continue to whisk for 1 minute to cook flour. While whisking, add beer and continuously whisk to eliminate any lumps. Slowly add milk while whisking.
Cook and whisk frequently until mixture thickened and bubbles form. Whisk in mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
Add cream cheese and gradually add cheddar cheese. Stir until cheese has fully melted.
Add finished dip to crock pot set on low heat to keep warm for serving.Store in airtight container in refrigerator for 2-3 days. Heat up on low over stove or crock pot before serving.Adjust spice level to your taste by adding more or less cayenne pepper. Replace cayenne pepper with paprika if needed.