Step 1: Add the vegan butter and hot water to your mixing bowl or mixing stand bowl. Stir and let butter melt.
Step 2: After the butter has melted and the water is at an approximate temperature of 110°F, sprinkle in the brown sugar and the yeast. Stir lightly and let sit for 5-7 minutes as the yeast blooms.
Step 3: Make the dough by mixing together the flour with the wet mixture and salt until it looks like a shaggy rough dough like this.
Step 4: Place the mini pretzel dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl and cover to let rise for an hour.
Step 5: Punch the dough down, and turn onto a very lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into six equal pieces and cover five of them with your tea towel so they don’t dry out.
Step 6: Roll each piece of pretzel dough into long snake-like pieces of approximately 1/2 - 3/4 inch diameter.
Step 7: Taking a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut the pretzel dough “snake” into equal size pieces of about 1.5-2 inches. Let sit for another 20 minutes.
Step 8: In the meantime, heat 6-8 cups of water in a large pot until just boiling. Stir in baking soda and keep at a very low boil. Gently drop each pretzel bite into boiling liquid.
Step 9: Cook for 40 seconds. Remove using a slotted spatula or spoon and place them back on the baking sheet.
Step 10: Sprinkle the mini pretzels with course sea salt and bake at 400F for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.