Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps

Need an original homemade recipe idea for your kid's graduation party?

Make these Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps and wow your party guests with your creativity.

Each soft pretzel is easy to make and shape into a mortarboard.

Homemade soft pretzels don't have to be made into twists, they can be shaped into just about anything like these Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps.

A few months ago when I made Soft Pretzel Footballs, I discovered that all you need to do to make shaped pretzels, is cut pieces of dough, boil them in a baking soda water bath, then stick them together on a baking sheet.

Using this technique, the possibilities for fun pretzel shapes are endless.

To make this graduation party snack even easier, I used Pillsbury Classic Pizza dough instead of making my own homemade dough.

It's a cheat, I know, but it really makes pretzel making at home a snap and the end results are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, so I'm happy using this shortcut.

When you make pretzels at home, you can add cinnamon sugar, sweet glaze, cayenne pepper, sesame seeds, poppy sees, colored sugar, or even chopped nuts.

Around here, we just enjoy our pretzels with a bit of salt and some mustard.

Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps (mortarboards)

Ingredients:

Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust - Store-bought pizza dough makes quick and easy soft pretzels. You can use homemade soft pretzel dough if you prefer.
water and baking soda - You will soak your pretzel dough in a solution of water and baking soda to give the pretzels the crispy exterior and classic pretzel flavor.
pretzel salt (or any other pretzel topping you prefer) -The grains of pretzel salt are much larger than table salt or even kosher salt. You can use any other pretzel topping that you like including butter and cinnamon sugar, everything bagel topping, cheese, etc.

Supplies Needed:

cutting board
pizza wheel or knife
skillet or saucepan
silicone baking mat or non-stick tin foil
baking pans

Instructions:

Cut the pretzel dough.

1. Open the can of Pillsbury Classic Pizza dough and unroll it on a cutting board. Cut ¾ inch strips across the length of the pizza dough.
2. Cut those strips into pieces to make the graduation cap.
   • 2 pieces about 6 inches long are used to create the top of the mortarboard (a flat diamond)
   • 2 pieces about 2 inches long are attached below to create the sides of the cap
   • 1 piece about 4 inches long gets attached to the two short side pieces to finish the cap
   • 1 piece about 6 inches long it rolled into a tube then rolled up at one end for the tassel

Boil the pretzel dough in a baking soda solution.

1. Pour water into a skillet and stir in the baking soda.
2. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and allow water to simmer.
3. Place the pieces of one graduation cap in the hot water for about a minute, flipping over midway through.
4. Remove from water and set on a baking pan lined with silicone baking mat or a piece of non-stick tin foil.

Shape the pretzels.

1. Line a cookie sheet with non-stick tin foil or regular tin foil sprayed with non-stick baking spray.
2. Arrange the soft pretzel dough pieces into the shape of a graduation cap.
3. Then sprinkle on your salt or other pretzel toppings.

Bake.

• Bake in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven 9-11 minutes until deep golden brown.

These soft pretzels will be best made on the day of graduation.

I know that might be impossible, so you can make them, freeze them, then re-heat them in a 350-degree oven until warmed through.

I didn't actually do this, as all our pretzels were gobbled up the day they were made, so I'm not sure exactly how long they will take for frozen pretzels to warm through, but am guessing about 10 minutes. Sorry, that isn't more exact.

Printable Recipe

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Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps (mortarboards)

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

 

Bake soft pretzels shaped like graduation caps (mortarboards) for your graduation party or just to celebrate the special day.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: graduation, graduation cap, soft pretzel

Servings: 3

Calories: 320 kcal

Author: Beth

Ingredients

• 1 tube Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust
• 5 cups water
• ⅓ cup baking soda
• pretzel salt, or any other pretzel topping you prefer

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Open the can of Pillsbury Classic Pizza dough and unroll it on a cutting board.

3. Cut ¾ inch strips across the length of the pizza dough. Cut those strips into pieces to make the graduation cap.

4. 2 pieces about 6 inches long are used to create the top of the mortarboard (a flat diamond).
5. 2 pieces about 2 inches long are attached below to create the sides of the cap.
6. 1 piece about 4 inches long gets attached to the two short side pieces to finish the cap.
7. 1 piece about 6 inches long is rolled into a tube then rolled up at one end for the tassel.
8. Pour water into a skillet and stir in the baking soda.
9. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and allow water to simmer.
10. Place the pieces of one graduation cap in the hot water for about a minute, flipping over midway through.
11. Remove from water and set on a baking pan lined with silicone baking mat or a piece of non-stick tin foil.
12. Line a cookie sheet with non-stick tin foil or regular tin foil sprayed with non-stick baking spray.
13. Arrange the soft pretzel dough pieces into the shape of a graduation cap.
14. Then sprinkle on your salt or other pretzel toppings.
15. Bake in oven 9-11 minutes until deep golden brown.

Recipe Notes

These soft pretzels are best served the day they are made but can be baked, frozen, and reheated in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through.

This recipe was originally published on May 17, 2014.

More Graduation Party Food Ideas

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More Shaped Soft Pretzels

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• Author
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Beth

Hi, I'm Beth Jackson Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com

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