Add butter, sugar, salt and egg to warm water. Add batter, then flour 1/2 cup at a time stirring after each addition. Reserve 1 1/2 cups flour.
Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead in the reserved flour to a stiff dough.
Place in a greased bowl turning once. Set in a warm place to rise for 2 hours. Break off pieces of dough and roll in palms of your hands until dough is approximately 18 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter.
Twist in the shape of a pretzel. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Do the remaining dough in this manner. Brush with egg yolk mixed with water. Sprinkle with coarse salt.
Set in a warm place and let rise for 25 minutes or until double in bulk. Bake at 400 degrees F. about 15 minutes or until done. Remove from baking sheets and cool on racks. Makes about 3 dozen pretzels.
