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    Home » Recipes » Graduation

    Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps

    Published: May 17, '21 · Modified: May 17, '21 · By: Beth · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps 

    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.

    Graduation Cap Soft Pretzels shaped like mortarboards.

    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 served with 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:

    Homemade Pillsbury Pizza Crust Soft Pretzels

    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

    Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe

    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.

    Homemade Soft Pretzel Graduation Caps

    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.

    Graduation pretzel snack recipe

    Bake.

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

    Graduation cap-shaped soft pretzels sprinkled with salt for a graduation party.

    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

    Soft pretzel graduation caps recipe image.
    Print
    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

    from Hungry Happenings

    Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Cap

    Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Caps 

     

    3D Candy Filled Graduation Cap Cookies

    Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps

     

    Chocolate Graduation Cap Boxes

    Graduation Pretzel Pops

    Honey Scented Modeling Chocolate and Fruit Leather Books

    More Shaped Soft Pretzels

    Soft Pretzel Footballs

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth
    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
    Beth
    Latest posts by Beth (see all)
    • Mini Basketball Cheeseburgers - February 15, 2023
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    About Beth

    Reader Interactions

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    1. www.worldtravelagency.com

      May 31, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      made up of pizza crust and served with mustard sauce... yumm yumm yummy! 🙂 loved it

      Reply
    2. Amy Stenehjem-Kelsch

      May 25, 2014 at 11:26 pm

      These are a ton of fun!!!!

      Reply
    3. Lauren Brown

      May 21, 2014 at 4:10 am

      Great idea! Love pretzels. Perfect for graduates. I'd be thrilled if you'd link up at this week's Off the Hook!

      Reply
    4. Bobbie Jones

      May 19, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      How cute is this? Very creative! And seems easy enough.

      Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • beth

        May 26, 2014 at 12:13 am

        Thanks, Bobbie. These pretzels really are easy to make and they look like you worked really hard!

        Reply
    5. beth

      May 19, 2014 at 4:04 pm

      I love to come up with savory edible crafts for holidays. People have really loved these pretzels. Have fun!

      Reply
    6. Cara

      May 19, 2014 at 3:50 pm

      Okay sister, is there anything that you can't do?? I think not! I am such a fan of your talent and have been following you for a long time now (my first comment, hooray!) I just had to tell you that I adore your work. The end 🙂 xo

      Reply
      • beth

        May 19, 2014 at 4:03 pm

        Thanks so much Cara. I am so happy you have been following my on this blogging journey and that you like my edible crafts and recipes:) I really appreciate you leaving a comment too!

        Reply
    7. The Partiologist

      May 17, 2014 at 9:59 pm

      I love pretzels any way shape or form, and so these grad cap pretzels look amazing to me!

      Reply
      • beth

        May 19, 2014 at 4:05 pm

        Me too. It has really been fun making pretzels into shapes.

        Reply

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    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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