In a large mixing bowl, or mixing bowl connected to a stand mixer, add the lukewarm water and dry active yeast and stir together.

Then add the salt, sugar, melted butter and flour, add flour a cup at a time, add and mix until a soft and slightly sticky dough forms.

Knead dough for about 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic feeling. (You can do the window pane test if you want to, that is where you stretch dough between hands and see if you can see the sunlight through it to know it is ready, definitely an optional step)

Cover dough in the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a room temperature or warm place for roughly 30-45 minutes or until dough is doubled in size.

On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into 6 segments and roll into roughly 3 inch balls or desired size of buns you are wanting to make. If making hot dogs buns then shape into rectangle logs or desired shape of buns you want.

Smooth dough balls in your hands, pinch dough at the bottom to form a smooth ball, then to smooth out the seam at the bottom of the dough ball, you can slide it gently across the surface you roll it out on. This will make for a seamless bun.

Place dough buns on a parchment paper lined or slightly greased baking pan. You can lightly score them on the top with a sharp knife if you want a design. Then lightly cover with plastic wrap and allow them to rise again in warm place for roughly another 30-45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Prepare the baking soda water bath to boil the pretzels in, by adding baking soda to water and bringing to a boil.

Add the pretzel buns into the water.

Let them cook for about 30 seconds then flip them over and boil them for another 30 seconds.

Remove with a slotted spoon or frying spatula and place back onto your parchment paper lined or greased cookie sheet.

Prepare the egg wash by mixing together the egg and water in a small bowl.

Brush the tops of the pretzel bites with the egg wash then sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

Bake for ~20 minutes or until the pretzel bites turn golden brown. To get them beautifully pretzel brown, turn oven onto broil during the last 2-3 minutes of baking.

Once removed from the oven, you can brush tops with melted butter and add more sea salt if desired.

Let them cool slightly before slicing in half and using for your hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches or whatever you are using them for.

Store leftovers in a airtight container for up to 5 days.