Pretzels (No-rise, soft)

Step 1

Lightly grease a baking sheet. Have ready a pot of boiling salted water.

Put 2 cups of flour into a large bow. Add the yeast, sugar, salt and warm water. Mix well for 3 minutes, until very smooth. Gradually add the remaining 2 - 2 1/2 cups flour, kneading in as much flour as needed to make a smooth soft dough.

Divide the dough evenly into 16 pieces. Roll each piece between your hands to make a foot-long rope, and twist it into a pretzel shape.

Drop the pretzels a few at a time into the pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes, turning over once. Lift them out on a slotted spoon or spatula and set on a wire rack to drain, then transfer to the baking sheet.

Mix together the egg yolk and 1 T. of water, and brush onto each pretzel. Sprinkle with coarse salt if desired.

Bake at 400 for 18-20 minutes, until golden brown.