German Pretzel

Instructions

1. Prepare the dough
   In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the salt and softened butter. Mix in flour one cup at a time to form a dough. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
2. First rise
   Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3. Shape the pretzels
   Punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 20 inches long. Form each rope into a pretzel shape by making a U-shape, then crossing the ends over each other twice, and pressing the ends onto the bottom of the U.
4. Second rise
   Place the shaped pretzels on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for another 15 minutes.
5. Prepare the baking soda bath
   Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water and baking soda to a rolling boil. Using a slotted spatula, carefully place each pretzel into the boiling water for 30 seconds, flipping once. Return them to the baking sheet.
6. Glaze and salt
   Brush each pretzel with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt. Using a sharp knife, score the thickest part of each pretzel with a shallow cut.
7. Bake the pretzels
   Bake in the preheated oven until dark golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.