Jan's Pretzel Dogs

1 . Stage

Heat beer in a saucepan over low heat until it reaches 110 degrees F (45 degrees C); pour into a bowl. Add sugar and 2 teaspoons kosher salt; sprinkle yeast on top and let stand for 5 minutes until yeast begins to foam.

2 . Stage

Place bread flour and butter in a bread machine. Add yeast mixture; select Dough cycle.

3 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Beat egg yolk in a small bowl with 1 tablespoon water; set aside.

4 . Stage

Stir baking soda into 10 cups water in a large pot until dissolved; bring to a boil.

5 . Stage

Turn dough out onto a lightly-oiled surface; roll into a 10x20-inch rectangle. Slice dough into eighteen 1-inch wide strips; wrap each strip tightly around a hot dog in a spiral, pinching the edges to seal and leaving the ends open. About half an inch of hot dog should peek out of each end of the dough wrapper.

6 . Stage

Drop 2 or 3 dough-wrapped hot dogs into the boiling water for 30 seconds.

7 . Stage

Arrange boiled hot dogs on the prepared baking sheets. Brush each pretzel dog with egg yolk mixture; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup salt.

8 . Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.