In a large bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir gently to dissolve and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, or until it becomes foamy and bubbly.
2. Make the Dough:
Add the flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Stir until combined, then knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can do this by hand on a floured surface or using a stand mixer with a dough hook.
Once the dough is smooth, form it into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
3. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Boiling Solution:
Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the baking soda. This will create the water bath for the pretzels, which helps give them their signature chewy crust.
4. Shape the Pretzels:
Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions (for larger pretzels) or 12 portions (for smaller pretzels).
Roll each portion into a long rope, about 18 inches in length, then form each rope into a pretzel shape by crossing the ends over each other and folding them back toward the center. Press the ends gently to seal them.
5. Boil the Pretzels:
Carefully lower one pretzel at a time into the boiling water, using a slotted spoon. Boil each pretzel for about 30 seconds, then remove it from the water and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat the process with the remaining pretzels.
6. Add Toppings and Bake:
Once all the pretzels are on the baking sheet, sprinkle them with coarse salt (or pretzel salt) while they’re still wet from the boiling water.
Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the pretzels are golden brown and have a slightly crisp crust.
7. Finish and Serve:
Once the pretzels are done, remove them from the oven and brush them with melted butter for a shiny finish and extra flavor (optional).
