Ingredients

• 6 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 cup lukewarm milk, divided
• 4 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted, or more as needed
• 4 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon white sugar, or as needed

Instructions

1. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup milk in a bowl; add 4 1/2 tablespoons sugar. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir yeast mixture and 2 1/4 cups flour together in a bowl until dough is dry and clumpy. Allow dough to rise for 15 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup milk, butter, egg, lemon zest, and salt to dough until evenly mixed.
3. Knead dough, adding more flour as needed, until dough is elastic. Cover bowl with a clean damp towel or plastic wrap and allow dough to rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 390 degrees F (199 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
5. Gently knead dough; roll into a long rope on the prepared baking sheet and twist into a pretzel shape. Cover dough with a clean towel or plastic wrap and allow to rise for 15 minutes more.
6. Brush egg yolk over dough and sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over egg yolk.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.