Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of warm water
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 package of dry yeast
6 tablespoons of unsulted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt
4 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
vegetable oil (drizzle)
3/4 cup of baking soda
1 egg
Directions:
Combine water the warm water, brown sugar, yeast, and melted butter in a mixing bowl and mix until all ingredients are incorporated. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes. Then, add the salt and 4 cups of the flour (one cup at a time) and mix on low speed with a dough hook. Once all the flour is in, turn the speed up to medium. The dough will look a little wet, this is when you will add the other 1/2 cup (one tablespoon at a time) while the mixer is still running. Mix until the dough comes together and isn't sticking to the bowl. You may need to add more flour if the dough still appears to be wet. Knead the dough in a ball on a clean surface for 2-3 minutes and transfer dough to a clean bowl. Drizzle a bit of vegetable oil on the bottom of the bowl and then flip the dough over so that it gets evenly coated in the oil. Cover the bowl with the dough inside with a clean towel and let sit for an hour to rise. Once the dough has sat for an hour, preheat the oven to 425 and start a pot of boiling water (12 cups). Separate the dough in 16 equal balls. Roll the balls out into about 11-12 inch thin ropes. Take the right side of the rope and cross it over to the left side, cross right to left again and then flip up into a pretzel shape (it doesn't have to be a perfect shape- mine weren't and they still came out delicious). Do this for all 16 pieces. Once the 12 cups of water comes to a boil, add in the baking soda. Drop the pretzels into the boiling water 2 at a time for about 15-20 seconds each. Scoop out and transfer to a baking sheet (about 6 per baking sheet if using a large baking sheet). Prepare the egg wash mixture (1 beaten egg and 2 teaspoons of cold water) and brush over the tops of each pretzel. Sprinkle each pretzel with course salt, and bake for about 15-18 minutes or until golden-brown, and enjoy!