A pretzel is a type of basic bread native to Germany that is easily identified by its traditional twisted knot shape that resembles two crossed arms within an oval. In much of northern Europe, this shape is often used as a symbol to signify a bakery.rnrnPretzels are made from white flour and made into either a soft bread-like version or a hard, crisp variety. The soft pretzel is usually larger than the harder version and is often served with mustard or cheese and is eaten as a snack with beer. (A bread loaf made from the dough is actually known as "Pretzel Bread.") The hard pretzel is made by baking it immediately after it is shaped rather than allowing it to rise a final time. Both soft and hard pretzels are also formed into other shapes such as stick shapes of various lengths and wedge shapes. Pretzels are often topped with coarse salt before baking and occasionally other toppings are used, such as sesame seeds or poppy seeds, especially for the larger soft pretzel.
Food & Wines
Pretzel
