Pretzel Bites

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl, combine water, sugar, salt, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes or until foamy.
2. Add the melted butter and stir in 3 ½ cups of flour a bit at a time. Continue adding flour - up to 4 cups to create a dough that is slightly tacky but not sticky.
3. Mix with a dough hook for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. If you don't have a stand mixer, knead by hand for about 10 minutes.
4. Place the dough in a large greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes or doubled in size.
5. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. In a large pot, bring the water and baking soda to a rolling boil over medium high heat.
7. Divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll each piece into a 24-inch rope. Cut each rope into 2-inch pieces.
8. In small batches, drop the dough pieces into boiling water for about 10 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and allow water to drip away.
9. Place the dough on the prepared pan. Brush each piece of dough with egg yolk and sprinkle with salt to taste.
10. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.