Della Maffiola keeps watch as Sophia Szymanski, 5, Lilly Renick, 7, Adam Kwak, 6, Beau Brown, 8, and Cano Rogers, 8, take turns adding yeast to flour. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media

Della Maffiola shows children how to stir the dough for homemade soft pretzels. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media

Keegan Casella, 9, smells yeast as her and other children make homemade soft pretzels at Spring Avenue School. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media

Grace Berger, 10, decorated homemade soft pretzels during the Dough with Della afterschool class. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media

Beau Brown, 8, watches as Della Maffiola pours flour into a dish to make homemade soft pretzels during the Dough with Della afterschool class at Spring Avenue School. | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media

Della Maffiola's recipe for soft pretzels sits on a table as children make the pretzels during her Dough with Della class. | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media

Beau Brown, 8, scoops flour from a bag to make homemade soft pretzels. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media

Children gather around Della Maffiola before making homemade soft pretzels. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media

Lilly Renick, 7, twists dough into homemade soft pretzels. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media

Beau Brown, 8, watches as Adam Kwak, 6, scoops flour from a bag to make homemade soft pretzels during the Dough with Della afterschool class at Spring Avenue School. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media