Homemade Sweet Pretzels

I made Homemade Pretzels for the family. I thought I would give it a try and see if thhy are better then the expensive boxed ones.
Personally I think the box pretzels are like plastic and just not worth the money and taste no where near the kind you can buy in the mall.

Here is the recipe I used to make mine:

1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour
2 cups Warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda
to taste coarse salt
4 tablespoons butter (melted)

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 Tbsp baking soda. Be certain to stir often. After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope* (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again. Bake in 450 oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter. I used Sweet Cream butter. This gives it the sweet tatse. If you really want a great taste, dip the whole pretzel into butter and then let it drip on a cooling rack.
Top with Kosher Salt and or Cinnimon for a different taste.