Preparation / Directions:
1. Combine the first 3 ingredients in a large bowl, cover loosely and allow to stand in a warm place at least 8 hours. 2. When ready to make the pretzels, dissolve the butter, sugar and salt in the hot water and cool to lukewarm. When the water is cool enough, add it to the starter mixture and gradually beat in 4 cups of flour. 3. When the dough is stiff and well-mixed, turn it out onto a floured board and knead in more flour until you have a very stiff dough. This will be easier to do if you let it rest a few minutes covered with a damp cloth before you begin kneading. Put the dough in a greased bowl, turn once to grease the dough and cover with a damp cloth. Put the bowl in a warm place and allow dough to rise for 2 hours. 4. Shape pieces of dough into long ropes, then twist the ropes into pretzel shapes on a greased cookie sheet. Brush the pretzels with a mixture of the beaten egg yolk and cream. Cover with a damp cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. Brush with the egg mixture again, sprinkle with coarse salt and bake about 15 minutes in a preheated 425F oven.
Cool the pretzels before serving becasue they'll be gummy when they're
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