1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon table salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 packet active dry yeast
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil 
Large pot of water and 1/3 cup baking soda 

OK Sea Salt for finishing

Step 1

Mix 1 1/2  cups warm water with the table salt and sugar and add one packet active dry yeast. Let rest until yeast starts to foam (5 minutes).

Step 2

Add flour and olive oil (or your oil of choice). Mix thoroughly until a dough forms. Remove dough for a moment, drizzle about 1 tablespoon more oil into the bowl to prevent sticking. Cover bowl with a wet tea towel or plastic wrap and let rise in warm place for 1 hour.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 425 F

Cut dough into 12 pieces (cut dough in half over and over until you get 12). Roll into thin ropes (approximately 20-24 inches long) and form pretzel shapes by first laying it in a horseshoe shape. Cross the ends over each other once and then again. Take those ends and flip up to form a pretzel shape pressing gently to connect. (There are lots of helpful videos online demonstrating this technique.)

Step 4

Add 1/3 cup baking soda to a large pot of water. Bring to a boil on the stovetop. Gently lift each pretzel into the water and let it boil 30 seconds per side. I can fit three pretzels into the pot at a time. This is the step that results in a chewy pretzel with a nice bit of browning on the outside.

Step 5

Transfer pretzels to a baking sheet. Brush with an egg wash. I just use the yolk because it gives them a nice colour. 

Sprinkle with OK Sea Salt and bake for 8-12 minutes until browned.

Enjoy! 🥨