Recipe For Pretzel ABC’s
This is an especially fun activity for preschoolers, but kids of all ages get in the spirit when it comes to making homemade pretzels! I clipped this recipe from a Family Fun magazine years ago, and made it with the kids in our homeschool co-op while teaching a food pyramid unit on grains. It was a hit! Also, it’s a no-rise dough, so kids don’t have to wait long to taste their handiwork!
I made them again today for my niece’s 18th birthday party–she loves pretzels and her mom threw a birthday party complete with many appetizers and our family’s favorite cake, the sensational Chocolate Cream Roll.
Homemade Pretzels
Heat oven to 425*F, and line two cookie sheets with foil. I prefer airbake cookie sheets for this recipe, because the bottoms darken fast on any other kind.
- 1 envelope (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 5 TB sugar (divided)
- 4 1/4 cups flour
- 4 TB butter, melted
- 1 TB cinnamon
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water. Add the salt, honey, and 1 TB of the sugar and stir well. With an electric mixer, thoroughly blend in the flour at low, then medium speed.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it until it’s smooth for about 5 minutes (I just switch out the beater for the dough hook on my Kitchen Aid). Divide the dough into 16 roughly equal pieces, then roll each into a 10-12 inch-long rope. On the foil-lined baking sheets, shape each rope into a letter, number or other design (when making your patterns, remember that the dough will expand a little when it’s cooked). It’s fun to let the kids spell their names, or whatever letters/phonograms they’re learning in school.
Bake the dough shapes for 15-20 minutes, until lightly browned. In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon and remaining 4 TB sugar. Now, leaving the pretzels on the foil, brush them with the melted butter and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top, or you can brush with butter and sprinkle with coarse salt instead. Store any leftovers in an airtight container and reheat them before eating. Makes 16 pretzels.
Comment by Colleen
September 10, 2007 @ 6:07 am
Love these big pretzels!
Comment by Amy
September 11, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
oooh this is neat! My two younger ones love pretzels, we could make them ourselves for a fun baking day
Comment by Mary
September 11, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Big, fresh from the oven…I agree, Colleen, yum!
I hope you do, Amy!
Comment by Elizabeth
September 13, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Can’t wait to try this. Sounds yummy and I’m a pretzel fanatic! Thanks.
Comment by Mary
September 14, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
You’re welcome, Elizabeth! They were a hit with my 18 yo niece who is also a pretzel fanatic!
Comment by Geri
November 9, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
I just made these for our Church Bake Sale this weekend. I had to taste-test them just to make sure I didn’t mess up (hehe) and they tasted WONDERFUL!! So perfect for the Christmas season I think with the cinnamon sugar. Thank you!
Comment by Mary
November 9, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
Wow! You’re so welcome, Geri, glad to hear you tried them and loved them!
And guess what? Thanks to you reviving the Pizza Pocket post, I got the urge to make them…that’s what we’re having tonight if dh ever sends his drop-in saddle customers on their way…
:S
Comment by Geri
November 9, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
That’s great! I made them and they smell wonderful…haven’t eaten them yet though (they’re still cooling down). I am so excited though! My husband is so mad that he can’t eat any of the pretzels! I told him they are for the Church Bake Sale and poor guy can’t keep his eyes off them.
Comment by Mary
November 10, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Now he’s going to resent the church, Geri…you better make him his own batch!
These are best, imo, fresh out of the oven! Yum!
Comment by Geri
November 10, 2007 @ 8:21 am
LOL yeah and he isn’t religious (he has been coming to Church with me lately which shocks me but he doesn’t always go) so I had better make him something to not resent it!! Luckily though his strict diet is keeping him from nabbing any of them. He just kept staring at the pretzels all night though like they were going to bite him!
Comment by Mary
November 10, 2007 @ 10:44 am
My husband’s worst nightmare is that he might develop a food allergy. His mom is gluten-intolerant and his dad can’t have dairy foods. And they have sooo many other food issues. So, I think my poor dh is in for it. Me too, because I love to spoil him with baking…
All that to say, I’m so sorry for your hubby, but glad he has you to figure out ways around the diet!
Comment by Geri
November 10, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Thanks! I think I might be in for it in the future since I love my sweets and both my Grandpa’s have diabetes…I have to say I agree with your husband about it being a nightmare though! I can’t imagine not being able to have baking!
Comment by Mary
November 10, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Groan…I know! My mom has diabetes. So not fun.