The invention relates to a method for mechanical pretzel production, comprising the following characteristics: providing a pretzel-shaping and looping device (1), which is supplied with dough strand sections (8) via a supply device; detecting the central regions of the dough strand sections (8) with a shaping unit of the device (1), wherein the central region of the dough strand (8) is surrounded by a plurality of heigh-adjustable bolt-type shaping elements (2) of the shaping unit; detecting the ends (5) of the dough strand via at least one gripping unit (3) provided with grippers (4), and stretching the dough strand (8) by pulling the ends (5) of the dough strand, with the central region of the dough strand (8) being simultaneously fixed by the shaping unit; and shaping a pretzel knot via a mutual rotation of the grippers (4), wherein the shaping of the pretzel knot via the rotation of the grippers (4) is already commenced during the stretching of the dough strand (8).
