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    Home » How To

    How to Shape a Pretzel

    Mar 2, 2022 · Leave a Comment

    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!

    How to Shape a Pretzel

    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.
    U Shape Pretzel
    Twist Shape Pretzel
    Second Twist Pretzel
    Shaped Soft Pretzel

    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.

    How-To Video

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