Who should take care when choosing?

Hosts looking for wholegrain and fibre

You want to check the wholegrain ingredients and fibre content, rather than relying on a dark colour or sprinkled seeds as proof.

Hosts planning an oven-baked buffet

You want to serve warm pretzels, so you need to fit the defrosting time, baking time and oven space around the start of the party.

Hosts considering allergens

You’re buying for guests with different needs and need to check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific pretzels in advance – including loose ones.

What should you look for when shopping?

First decide whether you want the pretzels to be a crunchy addition or a warm buffet snack. Then check the wholegrain ingredients, quantity and allergens for each product you’re considering.

Packaged crunchy pretzels

A good choice if: You want to add a bowl of pretzels to the buffet and clearly listed wholegrain ingredients matter to you.

Consider: A small pack won’t necessarily provide enough warm individual pretzels for a large group.

Warm pretzels

A good choice if: Warm pretzels are the centrepiece and you can plan the oven and serving times.

Consider: You can’t tell the wholegrain content from the fact that the pretzels are served warm; you’ll need to check the information for the specific product.

What matters What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholegrain and fibre Named wholemeal flour or wholegrain meal in the ingredients list; fibre per 100 g in the nutrition information. If I want to offer wholegrain crunchy pretzels, I need information that lets me compare different packs. For around 42% of consumers, this is the main consideration when shopping.
Warm buffet and quantity Pack size, preparation instructions, defrosting and baking times, and oven space. If the pretzels need to be served warm at the same time, I have to match the preparation to the number of guests. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Ingredients and allergen information for the specific product; ask before buying loose pretzels. If any guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to assume the product follows a standard recipe. Around 25% of consumers would check the ingredients and allergens first.

Common planning mistakes

  • Assuming dark or seed-topped pretzels are wholegrain

    Colour and decoration don’t tell you whether wholemeal flour has been used. According to the guidelines published by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs, wholegrain products contain all the parts of the cleaned grain, including the germ.

    Look for named wholemeal flour or wholegrain meal in the ingredients list. For packaged products, compare the fibre per 100 g.

  • Relying on a small snack pack to cater for a buffet

    The Freche Freunde pack described by REWE contains 75 g. That’s a different serving format from warm individual pretzels.

    Decide whether the crunchy pretzels are just an addition to a snack bowl or the main snack, then plan the number of packs accordingly.

  • Leaving oven time until just before the party

    REWE and EDEKA both give a baking time of around 15 to 16 minutes for the pretzels they describe; EDEKA recommends thawing them for around 10 minutes first. These timings apply to the specific products and preparation conditions.

    Plan your trays around the oven capacity and allow time for serving after preparation. Also check whether the salt is supplied separately.

  • Not asking about allergens in loose pretzels

    Unpackaged pretzels can also contain ingredients that matter to individual guests. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs explains that allergen information must also be available for unpackaged food in Germany.

    Ask at the counter for information about the specific pretzel rather than assuming it’s suitable based on a typical recipe.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Freche Freunde

Packaged pretzel snacks to add to a bowl of nibbles.

  • According to REWE, the 75 g chickpea version contains 27% wholegrain spelt flour, 11% chickpea flour and 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The product information lists wheat and possible traces of sesame. Make sure the small pack is suitable for the number of guests you’re expecting.

Ditsch

Pretzels in formats that can be thawed or heated as part of your warm buffet plans.

  • Ditsch recommends heating its 150 g retail pretzel in a fan oven at 180 °C for 4 to 6 minutes, or thawing it at room temperature for 60 minutes.
  • For its separately described classic 160 g pretzel, Ditsch lists 4.7 g of fibre per 100 g. This figure alone doesn’t make it a clearly labelled wholegrain pretzel.

REWE Beste Wahl

Frozen pretzels for a buffet where you can plan the baking time in advance.

  • The 770 g pack described by REWE contains pretzels with a recommended baking time of around 15 to 16 minutes; timings may vary depending on your oven.
  • If wholegrain content matters, check the ingredients for this version rather than assuming it based on the frozen party format.

EDEKA

Frozen pretzels with preparation instructions to help you plan your timings.

  • For the product listed, EDEKA recommends thawing for around 10 minutes, then baking for 15 to 16 minutes.
  • Check the wholegrain ingredients and allergen information for the specific pack you want to buy.

Pretzels for your snack bowl at Joybuy

These packaged 125 g pretzels could be a good addition to a snack bowl. If you’re planning a warm pretzel buffet, plan the quantities and preparation separately; the word ‘spelt’ on its own doesn’t confirm wholegrain content.

Alnatura organic wholegrain salted pretzels, 125 g

Alnatura organic wholegrain salted pretzels, 125 g

A packaged wholegrain pretzel option for your snack bowl. The pack contains 125 g; choose the number of packs to suit your guest list and check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.

View at Joybuy
Alnatura organic spelt pretzels with sesame, 125 g

Alnatura organic spelt pretzels with sesame, 125 g

Spelt pretzels with sesame for an extra snack option. The pack contains 125 g; if you’re looking for wholegrain, check the specific ingredients list, and bear the sesame in mind when choosing for your guests.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a pretzel is wholegrain when I’m shopping?

Check the ingredients list for an explicit reference to wholemeal flour or wholegrain meal. According to the guidelines published by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs, wholegrain products contain all the parts of the cleaned grain, including the germ. A dark colour or sprinkled seeds aren’t enough to identify them.

Are spelt pretzels automatically wholegrain?

No. The type of grain alone doesn’t tell you whether wholemeal flour has been used. Check the ingredients list for the specific spelt pretzel.

How far in advance should I prepare pretzels for a warm buffet?

This depends on the product you choose and your oven. REWE and EDEKA give a baking time of around 15 to 16 minutes for the pretzels they describe; EDEKA recommends thawing them for around 10 minutes first. For its 150 g retail pretzel, Ditsch gives the option of thawing it for 60 minutes or heating it in a fan oven at 180 °C for 4 to 6 minutes.

How can I find out which allergens are in loose pretzels?

Ask the seller for allergen information about the specific pretzel. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs explains that this information must also be available for unpackaged food in Germany. Don’t assume what the ingredients are from the pretzel’s appearance or name alone.