Soft Pretzel Bites

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine the water, melted butter, brown sugar, yeast, and salt. Mix on low speed until well combined. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to activate. (5 minutes)

With the mixer on low speed, gradually add 4 cups of flour, one cup at a time. If the dough appears sticky, add an additional 1/2 cup of flour, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 4-5 minutes. If the dough still seems a bit tacky, sprinkle in a little more flour. (5-7 minutes)

Lightly oil a large mixing bowl with vegetable oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. (60 minutes)

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. (10 minutes)

In a large saucepan, bring 3 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Gradually add the baking soda to the boiling water, being careful as it will foam up. Return the water to a boil. (10 minutes)

While the water is heating, remove the dough from the bowl and flatten it into a disc shape. Cut the disc into 8 equal wedges. Roll each wedge into a 24-inch rope. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces. (15 minutes)

Carefully drop batches of dough pieces into the boiling water for about 30-35 seconds each. Use a slotted spoon to remove the pretzels and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water to create an egg wash. Brush the tops of each boiled pretzel piece with the egg wash. Sprinkle with your desired toppings (coarse salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc.). Repeat with the remaining dough. (20 minutes)

Bake in the preheated oven until the pretzel bites are golden brown, about 14-16 minutes. (14-16 minutes)

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the baking sheet before serving with your favorite dipping sauce. (5-10 minutes)