maker monday

Maker Monday: Soft Pretzels

This week’s Maker Monday project — Soft Pretzels — involves large and small muscle skills, creativity, and the math aptitude required for measuring. And when it’s all finished, kids are left with a delicious homemade treat.

A grownup is needed for supervising and handling the hot stuff. But kids can do the rest.

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Supplies:

1 package dry yeast

1/3 cup brown sugar

4-5 cups flour

Coarse kosher salt

Baking soda

Water

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In a large bowl, mix the yeast with 1/8 cup of hot — not boiling — water until dissolved. Stir in the brown sugar and 1 1/3 cups warm water. Slowly add flour, one cup at a time, to the mixture. As it thickens, mixing will need to be done by hand, working it in. Kids love this part!

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Keep mixing until the dough is smooth and no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl.

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Knead the dough on a floured surface. Depending on how many kids are involved, break the dough up so everybody has a piece to work. Keep pounding and turning until the dough is stretchy and smooth.

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Break the dough into about 20 pieces to be worked and formed into pretzels — or letters or bite-size pretzel balls.

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Once the pretzels are formed, grease two cookie sheets and sprinkle with the coarse kosher salt.

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Heat a pan of water, mixing in 1 tablespoon baking soda for each cup of water. Lower pretzels with a slotted spoon or spatula in the gently boiling water and let cook for 30 seconds. It will take multiple batches to get to all the pretzels.

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As you lift the pretzels from the baking soda bath, place on the cookie sheets. Sprinkle the tops with more salt.

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Bake in a preheated oven at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown.

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For more Maker Monday projects and other fun stuff for kids, visit the Kidsburgh Activities page.