Soft Homemade Pretzels

Ingredients

• 2 packages active dry yeast , .25 ounce
• 1 cup warm water , 110 degrees F (43 degrees C
• 3.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon shortening , melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon water
• coarse salt , or to taste

Instructions

1. 1

   Stir yeast into 1 cup warm water in a large bowl; beat in flour, sugar, shortening, and salt to make a dough. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.

2. 2

   Place dough into a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal-size pieces. Roll each piece into a rope 18 to 20 inches long.

3. 3

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.

4. 4

   Shape each rope of dough into a pretzel on the prepared baking sheet; let pretzels rest for 5 minutes. Beat egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl and brush yolk mixture over each pretzel; sprinkle each with coarse salt.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until pretzels are golden brown, about 15 minutes.