Photo credit to Colleen Kennedy
Pretzel making at Julius Sturgis
So back to those pretzels… don’t get me wrong… we LOVE Easter Egg Hunts, so much that last year we bounced from one egg hunt to two others in a single afternoon. And it was worth it with the crafts, snacks and egg hunt not to mention the cutest photo ops. But after awhile, a parents gotta think “enough with the candy!!” and the Easter Bunny hasn’t even arrived yet.
So here’s where my suggestion comes in…and just so we’re clear, we’re not bagging the whole Easter Egg Hunt thing…but instead supplement with a family tour of a pretzel factory. Pretzels make for a wonderful alternative to all the sugary candy sweets this season and with it being the food symbol of Lent, it is perfect for all things Easter. So why are pretzels linked to Easter and Lent? The pretzel, which ingredients are flour, water and salt, was made to comply with strict Lenten fasting guidelines in Roman times. The shape of the pretzel is significant too – in that the traditional pretzel shape is formed to represent arms folding in prayer, once again reminding us of the Lent is a time for prayer.
In the Pennsylvania area there are several factories available for touring.
Pretzel Twisting at Auntie Anne’s
The Intercourse Pretzel Factory offers free tours and a brief hands on opportunity to try your hand at pretzel twisting. The Synder’s of Hanover factory offers a 30 minute walking tour of their baking facility. And our favorite pretzel spot is the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery in Litiz, PA close to Lancaster. This was the first commercial pretzel baking establishment in America (1861) and we love the old historic feel of their existing factory, not to mention the hands-on pretzel twisting opportunity.
Making our own pretzels
Pretzels can be fun to make at home too. Click here for a pretzel recipe on a former article we’ve written. Or follow our example this year with the Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Kit. You only need nonstick cooking spray, a small amount of flour for dusting and butter…everything else is included in the kit and they turn out amazing!!
We love the Easter season… pastel colors, an airy feel to the house, picnics and egg hunts… and everything pretzels. Now on to that giveaway and other #AllThingsEaster ideas:
Prize Pack 1: One of you will win this a-mazing Signature Spice Box Set from the Spice House (wait till you try the Vulcan’s Fire Salt!) as well as this incredibly gorgeous John Boos Maple Cutting Board with handles…it has handles! Swoon!
Prize Pack 1
Prize Pack 2: And one of you will win a delicious Bakers Spice Box from The Spice House (the Chicago Sugar will change your life!), this gorgeous set of decadent chocolates from Divine Chocolate (chocolates!!) this beautiful Flutes & Pearls Egg Tray from Wilton Armetale (they have such pretty pieces) and an awesome Tree Hut Duo of Shea Sugar Scrub and Body Lotion – (time to pamper yourself)!
Prize Pack 2
Ideas for Leftover Easter Eggs
Giant Deviled Egg | Souffle Bombay
Easter Breakfast Recipe Ideas
Easter Breakfast Casserole | How I Pinch A Penny
Lemon Blueberry French Toast Bake with Lemon Mint Cream | O’Boy! Organic
Dutch Baby | The Naughty Mommy
Easter Dinner Recipe Ideas
Scallion & Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes | Musings of a Housewife
Baked Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Casserole | We’re Parents!?
Cheesy Potato Casserole | Coupon Cutting Mom
Easter Dessert Recipe Ideas
Peanut Butter Eggs | Real: The Kitchen & Beyond
Toasted Angel Food Cake Parfait | What the Heck’s a Bonbon?
Easter Lemon Cookies {Allergy Friendly} | Chockababy
Individual Lemon Meringues | Pandora’s Deals
Peeps in the Pond Trifle | Opera Singer in the Kitchen
Rice Krispie Pops/Chocolate Covered Pretzels | A Grande Life
Easter Cocktail Recipe Ideas
Raspberry Beer Float | Teaspoon of Spice
The Peter Cottontail Cocktail | Can’t Google Everything
Bunnytail-tini | Mommy Snapped
Easter Decorating Ideas
Easter Printable | Diapered Daze and Knights
Easter Centerpiece | The Vintage Mom
Jellybean Tree Centerpiece | Look What Mom Found
Easter Gift Ideas
Allergy Friendly Non-Toxic Easter Basket | Mom-Blog
Naturally Dyed Wooden Easter Eggs | Inspired Family
Sugar Free Easter Basket Ideas | philly fun 4 kids
Easter Fun
5 Easter Activities for Kids | Mama Teaches
Taking Great Easter Photos | Life with Kaishon
Frugal Easter Basket Ideas & Menu
Easter Egg Pass | A Life in Balance
5 Frugal Easter Ideas | The Centsible Life
We would like to give a huge thank you to the companies that made this give away possible. Thank you to John Boos for the beautiful maple cutting board, The Spice House for their spice and baking gift sets, Divine Chocolate for their luxuriously rich Fair Trade Chocolate gift basket, Wilton Armetale for the elegant egg plate, and Tree Hut for the body scrub and lotion.
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Awesome idea!
What a cool idea! And Lititz is so close to me. Have to check it out. Thanks!
We love visiting Callie’s Pretzel Factory up in the Poconos when we visit my sister! If you ever have the chance, it’s a cute little place with a candy store just down the road as well.
Thanks Cindy, that sounds awesome!! We love candy stores too.
I went on a tour – I think at Snyders – in middle school and it was a ton of fun. Would like to take the kids someday.
I need to go on that tour! Looks like fun! YUM!
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We love the Julius Sturgis factory tour! I lvoe hard pretzels too. Thanks for posting.
I’m a big time pretzel fan and somehow have never toured a pretzel factory even though they are barely an hour away – need to put this on the experience list 🙂