What you will need for the pretzel dough:

- 3 3/4 cups organic white or whole wheat flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons organic active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons organic salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted organic butter, softened
- organic coarse salt
- stand mixer with dough hook
- baking sheets

What you will need for boiling and baking the pretzels:

- 8 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- medium sized sauce pan
- tongs
- cooling rack

Yields 8 hot delicious pretzels

Step 1: Mix

Add the flour, warm water, salt, butter and yeast to the stand mixer bowl with dough hook. Knead on medium speed until the dough is completely mixed. Then, increase the speed to high until the dough forms a ball around the hook.

Step 2: Divide

Remove the dough ball from the stand mixer, cover and let rest for about 5 minutes. Then, divide the ball into 8 smaller dough balls and let rest for another 5 minutes.

Step 3: Roll

Roll each dough ball out into a 16-inch long rope.

Step 4: Twist

Form the long rope into a “U” shape. Cross the ends twice to make a twist. Bring the ends to the bottom of the “U,” and press ends into place.

Step 5: Rest & Rise

Place the pretzels on cookie sheets lined with eco-friendly parchment paper. Let rest in a warm spot for 45 minutes, then place in the refrigerator overnight.

Step 6: Boil

Preheat the oven to 400º. Add 8 cups of water to a medium saucepan and bring to a rapid boil. Adults Only: Carefully and slowly (or it will boil over!) add the 1/2 cup of baking soda to the water. Place each pretzel (one at a time) in the boiling water for 30 seconds and then remove, allowing each to drip dry on a cooling rack.

Step 7: Bake

Place all of the pretzels on a lightly greased cookie sheet and sprinkle organic coarse salt over the tops of the pretzels. Bake the pretzels on the middle rack in your oven for 13 minutes or until golden brown all over.

Step 8: Enjoy!

Remove from the oven and enjoy while they are hot and fresh. These pretzels are delicious with a yummy organic mustard or hot cheese. If you want to bake these in batches to freeze, do not bake them with the salt. Instead, bake them plain and then add the salt after you reheat them.