Did You Know – New Year’s Pretzel History & Recipe
My mom always bought New Year’s Pretzels. We had a wonderful bakery that made them but they have closed. Popular in German-American communities like Pittsburgh and Sandusky, Ohio.
ORIGINS & MEANING
GERMAN ROOTS: The tradition comes from German immigrants, linking to the pretzels historical ties to religious observance and blessings.
SYMBOLISM: The pretzels twisted shape signifies arms folded in prayer, representing blessings, peace, and good fortune.
GOOD LUCK: Eating it is believed to bring prosperity, health, and protection from misfortune.
COMMUNAL ASPECT: Breaking and sharing the pretzel symbolizes unity and sharing good fortune with family and community.
AMERICAN TRADITIONS
Sandusky, OH: A strong German
community started this tradition in the early 1900s, with large, glazed, egg-dough pretzels eaten for breakfast, sometimes hung from chandeliers.
Pittsburgh, PA: A similar tradition thrives, with bakeries making festive pretzels sometimes topped with icing and fruit.
VARIATIONS: While some are sweet and cake-like, others are closer to traditional soft pretzels, with regional differences in dough and toppings.
HOW IT’S CELEBRATED
When: At midnight on New Year’s Eve or as the first food on New Year’s Day.
What: Large, often sweet pretzels made from special dough.
How: Shared among family, often by breaking off pieces; some traditions hide a lucky coin within.
Below is the New Year’s Pretzel recipe I make, with glaze and no frosting. Mine aren’t as fancy as the picture above, just a regular pretzel shape and delicious. If you don’t like mace, leave it out. I find it has a unique flavor that I love.
New Year’s Pretzel Recipe (Elmer Grahl’s Recipe)
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
INGREDIENTS
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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2 tsp salt
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1 tsp. mace
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2 pkg. dry yeast
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1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
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1/3 cup warm water
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1 cup milk, at room temperature
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1/2 stick butter, do not use margarine
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3 eggs, beaten slightly with a fork
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4-1/2 cups all purpose flour
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Mix 1/2 cup sugar, salt, and mace in a large bowl; set aside.
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Dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in 1/3 cup warm water, 110º-115º.
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In a small saucepan, mix milk and butter. Heat until butter melts. Add milk/butter mixture to dry ingredients and stir.
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Add yeast mixture and beaten eggs, then stir.
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Stir in the flour and cover with a towel. Set in a warm spot until doubled (1-2 hours). I find a heating pad on low works for mine.
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Place the entire ball of dough onto a floured surface. Knead for several minutes until dough is smooth. Divide dough in half, this recipe makes two pretzels. Roll each half into a strip 36 inches long by 1-1/2 inches wide.
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Place on a greased cookie sheet or oven safe parchment paper lined baking sheet with smooth side of the dough up and form a pretzel.
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Cover and put in a warm place until it doubles in size again.
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Bake in a preheated 350º oven for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. As soon as the pretzels are taken from the oven, brush tops with glaze made of 1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch and 1/2 cup water boiled together until clear. Let cool or eat warm.
Image: http://www.haegelesbakery.com
Source: Google
Recipe by Elmer Grahl
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Did You Know, Dough, Holiday, Pretzels
Sounds delicious! Reminds me of Challah bread.
Similar but for me it is the mace in it that sets it aside from other breads. Thank you!
Interesting history and symbolism
Thank you Derrick!
Will make a not of this recipe. Never tried making Pretzels before. Hope you all had a happy Christmas Diane and wishing you all the best for a very happy New Year and 2026 🙂
This is a little different from the small pretzels they sell at the mall. The small ones get dipped in water mixed with baking soda. My recipe doesn’t but otherwise similar. I love this pretzel! It was a wonderful Christmas and New Year Paul, I hope yours was just as good!
That’s great, thanks for the info. We had a great Christmas time thanks Diane, with family visiting as well, so busy but all good fun. 🙂
Thank you Ned!
I can smell the pretzel from the photo! 😆 So interesting to learn about its origins of why it’s shaped the way that it is. Very cool. Hope you have a nice new years ahead!
Thank you Ab and you three have a wonderful new year too!
Thanks for sharing the charming history of the beloved pretzel!
You are very welcome Mary! It is one of my favorite traditions.
I wasn’t familiar with this tradition. Very interesting and it looks delicious. (I don’t think I have ever used mace in a recipe.)
I think mace is a love it or leave it out spice. I love it but my bread loving husband would leave it out. If you ever get the chance to try it, let me know what you think of the mace.
Wow! Those are beautiful. Maybe too beautiful to eat!!
That wasn’t my pretzel, it was too early to post for New Year’s Day. I wanted to post it early in case somebody wanted to make it for New Year’s Day but thank you.
Looks like an interesting thing to make. They must be big pretzels.
Yes about 12” round. They are like a cross between a regular small pretzel and unique bread. Thank you Katelon and I hope you have a Happy New Year!
That’s a fun tradition Diane! I liked reading about your past and pretzels and the symbolism for the pretzels. I have to admit I’ve not had a hot pretzel in years, probably at the “Hot Sams” stand at Southland Mall. I have heard of people in the South eating black-eyed peas for prosperity. We didn’t have any New Year’s Eve/Day traditions. Marge used to hide a dollar bill under a rock outside her house on New Year’s Eve, then you removed the rock and took that dollar bill and bought a lottery ticket with it. We did it for a few years, but never won a penny!
I love that tradition of the rock. Did she leave it sticking out or did you have to find the right rock? Traditions are so much fun.
No, she and we always used the same rock. I have some big rocks along the side of the house, which was between our houses. I loved that tradition too! She also left her housekey under the same rock on a key ring as I had river rocks there and the key would have slid down and embedded into the rocks. We had her key also so I could get into the house to feed the cat or whatever other pets she had at the time, but she wanted it there under the rocks in case she lost her key late at night so not to bother us.
Nice to have neighbors you can trust!
Yes, she had our key too. But then her daughter moved in and Marge said the key was lost. Given the daughter’s past, my mom got a locksmith to come and change the locks and didn’t exchange the key after that. We never mentioned it to Marge even though the van had the name of the company on it.
I don’t blame you, I would have done the same thing.
Yes, we had to unfortunately.
Oh how I would like to make this recipe and pair it with a nice beer cheese and mustard! I love homemade pretzels!
You would love this then! I could make this all year long but it is special having it on New Year’s Day.
This pretzel recipe looks great, Diane. I would love these any day, but it does sound like a very cool New Year’s tradition…and…Happy New Year to you!
They are a fun tradition and I look forward to them every year. Thank you and Happy New Year to you also!
I will attempt ones using my sourdough wish me luck 🙂
Good luck!
Loved this post! Such a fun tradition, and the pretzel looks absolutely delicious can’t wait to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!”
Thank you! Let me know how you like it. My husband doesn’t like the mace in it but that’s how the bakery made it. It is still good without the mace but better with it.
I love a nice soft pretzel! I’m not sure I’ll ever be brave enough to try and make my own.
Regular pretzels are dipped in water and baking soda and more difficult than this pretzel I feel, this recipe is more like making bread.