Preheat oven to 475 degrees and line a large baking sheet or two baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil

Combine yeast with warm water and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with hook attachment. Wait for the mixture to look foamy, if it doesn't after 10min your yeast Is probably dead. Check expiration date and make sure water wasnt too hot! Stir in salt and 1 tbs of melted butter. Add flour 1 cup at a time until a dough forms and is no longer sticky. You may need more or less depending on temperature differences.

Knead dough for 5 more minutes until smooth and pliable. Form dough into a ball and place it back into the bowl to rest for 15 minutes. During this time, prepare baking soda bath.

In a medium sized pot, boil 2 cups of water with 4 tbs of baking soda. Once the baking soda is mostly dissolved, lower heat

At this time, 15 minutes of dough resting time should be up. Take dough out of the bowl and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Cut dough into 8 sections (like a pizza). Roll each triangle into a long rope, about 19-20 inches long. Apply even pressure so the ends dont taper

Shape dough into pretzel shape and place in baking soda bath for 1 minute. If the whole pretzel isn't covered by the water, spoon it on top of the areas is doesn't reach. Once the 2 minutes is up, carefully pick pretzel up with the help of a fork or spatula and place on prepared baking sheet. You may have to re-shape slightly. Blot dry with a paper towel

Brush each pretzel with egg wash and then top with desired toppings

Bake for 8-9 minutes until golden brown. Brush with melted butter as soon as they are out of the oven. Butter is optional, but I mean its butter why not?! Enjoy!