• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water until dissolved
• Once the mixture becomes frothy, add 1 tbsp. of melted butter and salt
• Add flour - 1 cup at a time and knead on the lowest setting until the dough forms and is no longer sticky
• If you push the dough down with your finger and it bounces back, then it is ready to knead
• Knead the dough for five minutes
• Form the dough into a ball
• Lightly grease the mixing bowl and place the ball of dough to rest.
• Cover it with a damp towel and let it rest for 15 minutes.
• In a medium-sized pot, boil 2 cups of water and baking soda until it is dissolved.
• Remove the baking soda mixture and pour it into a shallow dish
• Allow the mixture to cool off

Shaping

• Place dough on a work surface, flatten the rested dough into a circle
• Cut the dough into eight triangles, like a pie or pizza.
• Roll each triangle into a long tube that is about twelve inches long. Cut those in half.
• Place them into the baking soda bath for two minutes
• Take pretzel dough out and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet
• Using your thumb and index finger, squeeze the pretzel dough tubes at the front and the back to make indentations
• Slightly push an almond into the fingertip
• Make small cuts at the top of the finger with a sharp knife to make finger creases at the front and the back.
• Sprinkle course salt onto the pretzel dough while it is still wet

Bake

• Bake for 8-9 minutes
• Brush with melted butter