Homemade Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 package active dry yeast

4 cups flour

4 tablespoons butter, melted

Vegetable oil, for pan

10 cups water

2/3 cup baking soda

1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Pretzel salt

Combine the water, sugar, and salt in a bowl, and sprinkle the yeast on top.

Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam.

Add the flour and butter and mix until combined. 

Knead the dough until it's smooth and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.

Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl, and oil it well with vegetable oil.

Return the dough to the bowl, and cover with plastic wrap.

Let the dough sit in a warm place for ~1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450° F.

Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper, and 

lightly brush them with vegetable oil.

Bring 10 cups of water and baking soda to a rolling boil in a saucepan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface, and

divide into 8 equal pieces.

Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope.

Make a U-shape with the rope, cross the ends over each other two times, and 

fold them back onto the curved portion of the dough to make the pretzel shape.

Place onto the parchment-lined sheet pan.

Place the pretzels into the boiling water, one by one, for 30 seconds.

Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula.

Return them to the sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the

egg yolk and water mixture, and sprinkle with pretzel salt.

Bake until dark golden brown in color, ~12 to 14 minutes.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes, and enjoy!