Pretzel

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 10 cups water
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp water
• Coarse salt, for sprinkling

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and kosher salt. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Add the flour and melted butter to the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
5. Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
6. In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil. Add the baking soda and stir until it dissolves.
7. Divide the dough into 12-16 equal pieces and roll each piece into a long rope. Shape the rope into a pretzel shape and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. Dip each pretzel in the boiling water solution for 30 seconds and place back on the baking sheet. Repeat with all pretzels.
9. Brush each pretzel with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt.
10. Bake the pretzels in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
11. Serve warm and enjoy!

Note: You can also experiment with adding different toppings or dipping sauces to your pretzels, such as cinnamon sugar, garlic butter, or mustard.