Vegan Pretzels – Salt Substitute

Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted
Optional: ¼ cup baking soda (for boiling)
For the topping:
Vegan butter, melted (for brushing)
Alternative seasonings such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried herbs, nutritional yeast, or a combination of these.
Instructions:
In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy.
Add the salt and flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until the dough comes together, then transfer it to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a long rope shape, then shape each rope into a pretzel by forming a U-shape, crossing the ends over each other, and pressing them onto the bottom curve of the U to form the traditional pretzel shape.
Optional: In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add baking soda. Boil each pretzel for about 30 seconds, then transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
Brush each pretzel with melted vegan butter and sprinkle your alternative seasoning on top. You can use a combination of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried herbs, nutritional yeast, or any other seasoning you prefer.
Bake the pretzels in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes until they turn golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your homemade pretzels with the alternative