Soft, golden pretzels with a chewy inside and salty crust, perfect for cozy snacking or sharing with friends.
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F)
02 - 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
03 - 1 tbsp granulated sugar
04 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1 tsp fine sea salt
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
→ Boiling & Topping
07 - 10 cups water
08 - ⅔ cup baking soda
09 - 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp water
10 - Coarse sea salt for sprinkling
# How-To Steps:
01 - Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add flour, salt, and melted butter; stir with a wooden spoon until dough becomes shaggy.
03 - Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
05 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Bring water and baking soda to a boil in a large pot.
07 - Punch down dough, divide into 8 equal pieces, and roll each into a 20-inch rope. Form each rope into a pretzel shape by creating a U, twisting ends twice, then folding ends onto bottom of U.
08 - Dip each pretzel into the boiling baking soda solution for 30 seconds, then transfer with a slotted spatula onto prepared baking sheets.
09 - Brush pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt.
10 - Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until deep golden brown.
11 - Allow pretzels to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
