Published: Modified: by Emma Essence This post may contain affiliate links.
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 (1) How to Shape a Pretzel (1)](https://i0.wp.com/essenceeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Soft-Pretzels-with-Beer-Cheese-Sauce-686x1024.jpg)
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.
![How to Shape a Pretzel (2) How to Shape a Pretzel (2)](https://i0.wp.com/essenceeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-02-at-2.21.18-PM.png)
![How to Shape a Pretzel (3) How to Shape a Pretzel (3)](https://i0.wp.com/essenceeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-02-at-2.21.46-PM.png)
![How to Shape a Pretzel (4) How to Shape a Pretzel (4)](https://i0.wp.com/essenceeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-02-at-2.22.08-PM.png)
![How to Shape a Pretzel (5) How to Shape a Pretzel (5)](https://i0.wp.com/essenceeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-02-at-2.22.51-PM.png)
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.