Dissolve your yeast in your warm water in a large bowl. Stir together for about 1 minute until mostly combined.
Add in your salt, sugar and butter and stir everything together.
Add in your flour, 1 cup at a time until dough is thick and no longer sticky. Add more flour 1 TBS at a time if needed to make sure dough isn't sticky. (Poke dough with your finger, and dough should bounce back - then it is ready)
Lightly flour a flat surface.
Knead your dough for 3 minutes and form into a ball.
Oil a large bowl with nonstick spray and place dough in. Cover bowl with a towel and place in a warm area.
Allow to rest in warm area for about 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
Bring 9 cups of water with 1/2 cup of baking soda to boil.
Cut your dough ball into 6 sections.
Roll each section into long ropes about 20-22 inches long.
Cut each rope into about 10-12 1.5 inch pieces.
Drop one rope worth of pretzel bites into your baking soda bath and let sit for 20-30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone liner.
Beat 1 large egg and water in a small bowl.
Brush egg wash over each pretzel bite.
Sprinkle the tops with coarse sea salt.
Bake each tray for 15 minutes or until pretzels are golden brown and some of the tops have cracked
Remove from oven.
Serve hot with your choice of yummy dip or plain