Giving kids dough that can be baked into animal shape pretzels takes the fun of working with play dough or clay and turns it into an edible craft project. If you have a child that likes working with clay they will love the idea that they are making creations that they can eat. Whether you are in a class or at home, you can do this craft and then have it as a snack.
Pretzel Recipe
This recipe makes 25 small pretzels or a dozen larger pretzels. Unless you are working with just one or two children, an adult will want to prepare the dough ahead of time.
- 1 ½ cups warm water (120 – 130 degrees Fahrenheit)
- 1 package of dry yeast
- 4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
- Coarse salt
How to Make Pretzels
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a large bowl.
- Mix in the flour, sugar, and salt in a second bowl.
- Use a large spoon to work the flour mixture into the yeast and water.
- Dust a clean countertop with flour. Turn the dough onto the counter.
- Knead the sticky mixture into a smooth dough. If the dough remains sticky, add a bit of flour; if the dough is crumbly, add a small amount of water. Always add less than you think you need; it is easier to add a bit than to end up with the opposite problem.
Edible Craft for Kids
- Divide the dough equally among the children. If you are doing this project with one or a few kids, divide the dough so the children can make several animal pretzels.
- Give each child a piece of waxed paper as a work surface. Allow the children to form their piece of dough into the animal of their choice. If they have been learning or reading about specific animals at home or at school, suggest that they form these animals. If you want to have books or pictures available for inspiration, open books to specific pages and wrap the books in plastic wrap. Pages printed from the Internet can be slid into page protectors.
- Place the animal pretzels on a greased cookie sheet.
- Brush the pretzels with the egg and water mixture, which will give the animals a golden brown. If desired, sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. If possible, read a story to your child that features the animal or give your child a coloring page printed from the Internet while they wait for their pretzel animals to bake.
Pretzel dough makes for a fun, edible craft project with kids of any age. Whether you do this as part of class time or with children at a sleepover party, birthday party, or on a rainy day, this is a quick and inexpensive craft.
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