Ingredients
1 ½ cups warm water
1 tbs sugar
2 tsp kosher salt, plus more for topping
1 (¼-ounce) package active dry yeast
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
4 tbs unsalted butter, melted
Olive oil
11 cups water
⅔ cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk with 1 tbs water
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, sugar, and salt. Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow it to sit for 5 minutes or until it begins to foam.
Using the hook attachment on the stand mixer, add the flour and butter to the yeast mixture and mix on a low setting until all the ingredients are combined. Increase the speed to medium and knead the dough until it is smooth and completely pulls away from the side of the bowl. This is about 4 minutes or so.
Remove the dough from the bowl. Grease the bowl with a light coat of olive oil and place the dough back in the bowl. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and place in a warm area to proof for an hour.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly oil the paper. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
In a large pot add the 11 cups of water and baking soda. Be sure to stir the baking soda and set the water to a roaring boil.
While the water comes to a boil, turn the dough onto the countertop. Gently shape the dough into a log shape and divide it into 12 pieces. Because this dough is smooth and not sticky, there is no need to flour the surface. Take each piece and roll it out into a 10-inch strand. Take the strand and loop it into a U shape. Take the ends and twist twice and press the ends onto the U shape.
Once the water has come to a roaring boil, take the pretzels and using a slotted spoon, place them in the water each for 30 seconds. Be sure to do one at a time to avoid over boiling some of the pretzels.
Once boiled, take the pretzels and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the pretzels with the egg wash and sprinkle some kosher salt on top. Place the pretzels in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until they are a dark, golden brown. Brush the pretzels with a light coat of melted butter to give them a nice shine. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy with some melted butter or a homemade cheese sauce.
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