Auntie Annies Pretzels (copy cat)

 Pretzel Dough
3 cup warm water
1 Tbls. yeast
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cup bread flour
6 cups regular flour
Water Bath
8 cups warm water
8 tablespoons baking soda
Toppings
coarse salt

melted sweet cream butter

In a mixing bowl add yeast, brown sugar, and salt.  Add in the warm water and let it bloom about 10 minutes.  Add in the flours while stirring until it forms a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Place back in the bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let rise for 1 hour.

While the dough is rising, prepare the water bath by mixing the warm water and baking soda. Stir well, bring to a boil.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet.

When the dough has risen, pinch off pieces of the dough and roll out into a long rope. Shape into a pretzel shapes. Dip the pretzel in the boiling baking soda solution about 20-30 seconds and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove the pretzels from the oven and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle the hot pretzels with the coarse salt, or sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix.