Abstract: In a pretzel forming apparatus and method, dough strands are continuously conveyed at arbitrary distance from a receiving station via a knot forming station to a releaase station. Upon entering the receiving station, the ends of each dough strand are grasped by U-shaped grip belts which move the ends toward each other during transport of the dough strand from the receiving station to the knot forming station so as to form a bow-shaped loop with its center portion and side portions. In the knot forming station, opposing brush rolls turn the bow-shaped loop by 360.degree. to form a knot in vicinity of the ends of the dough strand. Thereafter, the bow-shaped loop is folded upwards until occupying a horizontal position. After being suitably moved apart by the grip belts during the transport from the knot forming station and the release station, the ends of the dough strand disengage from the grip belts and sink by virtue of their own weight onto the side sections.