Soft Pretzels

Directions

1. 1
   -Combine first 4 ingredients; allow to rest for 5 minutes.
2. 2
   -Stir flour to mixture and knead for 5 minutes.
3. 3
   -Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
4. 4
   -Divide dough into 8-12 equal-size pieces; roll each piece into a rope; shape each rope into a pretzel.
5. 5
   -In a shallow dish, stir baking soda into warm water; dip pretzels into mixture (or brush mixture over pretzels); lay coated pretzel onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
6. 6
   -Bake in a 550 degree oven for 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
7. 7
   -Brush melted butter onto hot pretzels.
8. 8
   Notes: For salted pretzels, sprinkle with pretzel salt or Kosher salt. For cinnamon-sugar pretzels, stir 2 Tbls. honey into the melted butter before brushing on pretzels, then sprinkle with a mixture of 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon. For Parmesan pretzels, sprinkle with a mixture of 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1 tsp. garlic salt; serve with marinara sauce.