Making soft pretzels is simplified with a few convenience foods found at the local supermarket. Turn pizza dough, frozen bread dough, and Pillsbury plain breadsticks into mouth watering pretzels.
Preparing the Pretzel Dough
- Divide the dough into approximately 8-12 pieces depending on the amount of dough. Division of the dough is dependent on the size of the pretzels.
- Roll each piece of dough into a ball.
- Cover the pretzel dough with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with a non stick spray and place in the fridge.
- After the pretzel dough has been prepared it is time to create unique shapes with kids for the dough.
Making Pretzel Shapes
Before creating the shapes with the dough, it is best for child and parent to make shapes with a piece of string. Cut a piece of string approximately 20 cm in length. Play around with the string making different shapes. Once a unique shape is created, it is best to sketch the shape on a piece of paper.
For beginners, pretzel shapes should be created with one piece of dough. It is difficult to attach dough for the less experienced and can become frustrating for all the bakers. As well, if it is not connected properly, it will not adhere during the cooking process.
Pretzel Shape Instructions
- Roll out the dough into long strips. Push the dough back and forth with the palm of the hand on a floured surface. Continue to roll until the strips are about 1 cm in diameter.
- Place the dough strip on a cookie pan. Cookie pan can be lightly sprayed with cooking oil or be covered with parchment paper.
- With minimum handling, create the desired shape on the cookie sheet. Less movement of the dough makes for a lighter pretzel.
- Some pretzel shapes need little movement like the letter’s’ while others will require pinching to keep the shape in place.
- A typical pretzel shape requires the end pieces to be pinched together. Pinching is simply joining the two pieces and making them one.
- Bake the pretzels at 375 F for about 15 minutes depending on the oven. Check with the light rather than opening the door as it lets out the heat and increases the baking time.
- Brush with melted butter and add savoury toppings. Popcorn flavours are wonderful to sprinkle on the cooked pretzels.
- Cool and eat.
Baking soft pretzels with children is a wonderful activity to do together.Older children may wish to make pretzel dough from scratch but for the younger ones, the best part is in creating the designs. Bake and create unique pretzel shapes and then enjoy one with the kids.
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