Buttery Soft Pretzel Recipe

You know you're from Pennsylvania if you can bake your own pretzels.

I did so for the first time today using this recipe, and they turned out great!

It's sooo easy.  You'll love these...and your kids can help!

Here is the recipe for "Buttery Soft Pretzels" from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
•  
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 4 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.

Here are a few changes that I made to the recipe 

based on the comments of people who also tried it:

a.  I added way more water to the recipe to make it more doughy...like an extra cup.  (I also doubled the recipe).

b. I preheated the oven to 410 degrees and baked it for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

c. I brushed melted butter over pretzels about a minute before they were finished baking.

d. I made some into pretzel bites.