Make pretzels like a pro using these step by step instructions and detailed video on how to shape a pretzel! You will be devouring homemade soft pretzels in no time!
Has anyone walked around the mall and come across the display window at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels? Watching the employees stretching pretzel dough, shaping pretzels in a matter of seconds, and tossing them in the oven! All while it smells like a savory paradise. Well you can shape pretzels like a pro too. Here you can see exactly how to shape a pretzel!
Where did pretzels get their shape?
Pretzels were actually given their shape from a monk. Children were rewarded for their prayers with a pretzel. The shape was designed to resemble the crossed arms of praying children. Later on, German culture adopted the folded bread of a pretzel as a symbol of long life and prosperity.
Tips & Tricks
Pretzel dough tends to shrink after rolling. If your dough is shrinking when trying to shape it, let it rest for a couple minutes in between rolling it out and shaping.
Make the first dough rope twist ¾ way up the U shape of the dough. I have found that if the first twist is higher up, it makes the body of the pretzel have a nice, full shape.
Steps
- Shape your 20 inch long dough rope into a large U.
- Grab the ends of the dough rope and twist in the middle.
- Twist one more time.
- Grab the ends of the dough rope and swiftly flip downwards towards you.
That’s it! Repeat these steps with all of the dough ropes you have. Give a baking soda bath and then bake until golden. Although pretzel shaping might seem intimidating, it is easy to do if you follow these simple steps! You will be a pretzel shaping master before you know it!
To put this technique into action, try it with this soft pretzel with beer cheese sauce recipe.
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