Add pretzel dough ingredients to a bread machine.
Set to dough cycle (mine runs 1 hr 10 mins).
If you do not have a Bread Machine, use a Cake Mixer with a dough hook to make the dough.Remove the dough from the Cake Mixer and cover it to let it rise Take dough out from the Bread Machine and divide equally into 8 equal parts.
Roll each dough into a long thin rope. The longer the better because it will be easier to twist to shape.
Twist the dough into a pretzel shape and let it rise.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.
The next process is a very important step which differentiate pretzels from bagels or ordinary bread. If you skip this step, you will end with just a twisted bread.
Dissolve baking soda in very hot water and mix thoroughly.
Dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution on both sides.
Place soaked pretzels on a baking sheet.
Bake in a preheated oven until lightly browned (about 5 - 7 mins).
Remove pretzels from the oven and spread melted butter on the top of each pretzel.
Sprinkle with coarse sea salt, cinnamon/sugar mix, grated cheese or whatever you like.
Bake again for another 2 - 3 mins.
Remove from the baking sheet and cool on a rack.