• Dough:
• 1/8 cup hot water
• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 1 1/3 cups warm water
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• Baking soda bath:
• 4 cups water
• 4 tablespoons baking soda
• Cooking spray
• Melted butter
• Cinnamon sugar for topping

1. Prep your baking soda bath by adding ingredients to a 3-4 qt pan and letting it come to a gentle boil.
2. Prep another baking sheet with cooking spray, being sure it is fully greased.
3. Preheat your oven to 475 degrees.
4. In a large bowl, combine hot water & yeast. Stir until dissolved.
5. Add warm water, brown sugar, applesauce, honey and cinnamon. Stir until combined.
6. Slowly add 4 cups of whole wheat flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a dough that doesnt stick to the sides of the bowl.
7. Lightly flour counter or a large baking sheet and also your hands.
8. Knead the dough until it is stretch & smooth. Push dough down and away from you with the palms of your hands, turning the dough as you work.
9. Divide the dough into 8 equal sized balls. Using the following 4 steaps, shape each dough balls into a pretzel shape:
10. Roll the dough into a 14 inches long rope as thick as your thumb. Bend the dough into a U shape.
11. Cross one ends of the rope over the other one. The ropes should cross about 3 inches from the tips.
12. Twist the crossed ends, making a full turn. Fold ends back, towards the middle of the U.
13. Open the ends slightly to form a pretzel shape. Press ends into the dough firmly.
14. After you have made your pretzels, your baking soda bath will be ready.
15. Using a pancake turner/wide slotted spatula, immerse one pretzel into the water and allow it to come up to the surface. It will float when its ready - about 30-35 seconds.
16. Place pretzel onto your greased cookie sheet, shaking off excess water.
17. Spray the tops of your pretzels with cooking spray and bake for 8-10 minutes.
18. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.
19. Brush with melted butter and top with cinnamon sugar.

Here is my recipe for honey wheat apple cinnamon pretzels: