The Ultimate Guide to Making Delicious Bagels at Home

Who doesn’t love a warm, chewy bagel with a schmear of cream cheese or a savory sandwich filling? Making your own bagels may seem daunting, but with a little practice and patience, it’s a skill that can be mastered in no time. Whether you prefer plain, sesame, poppy seed, or everything, the process is essentially the same and can easily be adapted to suit your taste preferences.

To begin, you’ll need a few basic ingredients: flour, yeast, water, salt, and sugar. You can add toppings like seeds or spices for a flavorful twist, but these are optional. Making bagels requires a bit of planning, as you’ll need to allow time for the dough to rise, boil the bagels before baking, and wait for them to cool before slicing. However, the end result is well worth the effort and makes for a satisfying breakfast or snack any time of day.

Preparing the Dough

Ingredients

To make bagels from scratch, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups bread flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 ¼ cups warm water

Instructions

Now that you have all the ingredients for the dough, let’s dive into the instructions:

1. Combine Dry Ingredients

Start by whisking together the bread flour and salt in a large bowl. Add in the yeast and stir to combine.

2. Add the Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, mix the honey and warm water until the honey dissolves. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and mix until the dough comes together.

3. Knead the Dough

Sprinkle some flour on a clean surface and place the dough on top. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.

4. Let the Dough Rest

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rest for 1 hour.

5. Divide the Dough

After an hour, punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces.

6. Roll the Dough

Roll each piece of dough into a ball and then into a 3-inch disk.

7. Shape the Bagels

Using your index finger, poke a hole in the center of each disk and gently stretch the hole out to a diameter of 1 ½ inches to form a bagel shape.

8. Boil the Bagels

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add in the bagels, two at a time, and boil them on both sides for 1-2 minutes.

9. Bake the Bagels

Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Transfer the boiled bagels onto the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until they’re golden brown.

10. Cool the Bagels

Remove the bagels from the oven and cool them on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy your freshly baked bagels!

Ingredients for Making Bagel

Bagels are one of the most popular bakery items that people across the world love to gorge on. Bagels are a bread product that is shaped like a doughnut. It is believed that in the early 17th century, Jewish migrants introduced bagels to the world when they migrated to Poland. Bagels are made from simple ingredients that you can always find in your kitchen pantry, and you only require a few items to make them at home.

1. Flour: Choosing the Right Flour for Making Bagels

Flour is the base ingredient that you will require to make any dough-based recipe. For making bagels, you need a flour that is hard, high in protein, and glutenous. The best flour for making bagels is high-gluten flour, which has about 13-14% protein. You can get this flour easily at any grocery store, or you can blend bread flour mixed with vital wheat gluten.

2. Yeast: The Rising Agent in Bagels

Yeast is responsible for the rising of the bagel dough. You can use either active dry yeast or instant yeast to make bagels. If you are using active dry yeast, make sure you activate it with warm water and sugar before adding it to the dry ingredients. In contrast, instant yeast does not require activation, and you can add it directly to the flour mixture.

3. Water: The Essential Ingredient for Making Dough

Water serves as a binding agent for the dough and gives structure, and kneading helps in the development of the gluten structure. You will require about 300-350 ml of water to make bagel dough.

4. Salt: For Enhancing the Flavour

Salt is used to enhance the flavour of the bagels and also helps in the formation of gluten structure in the dough. You will need about 15 grams of salt to make bagels.

5. Sugar: For Sweetness and Browning of Bagels

Sugar adds sweetness to the bagel dough and also aids in the browning of the crust. You will need about 30-40 grams of sugar for making bagels.

6. Toppings: Enhancing the Bagel’s Appeal

Bagels are known for their toppings. You can add different toppings to the bagels after boiling them to give them a unique flavour. Some of the popular bagel toppings are sesame seeds, poppy seeds, chopped onions, garlic powder, and cheese.

7. Eggs: Adding Richness to Bagel Dough

Eggs can be added to the bagel dough to improve the richness and texture of the dough. You can use either whole eggs or egg yolks to make the perfect bagel dough.

8. Malt Syrup: For Adding Flavour to Bagels

Malt syrup is used to add a unique flavour to the bagels. It can also be used to enhance the browning of the bagel crust. You can use either malt syrup or malt powder to make perfect bagels.

9. Baking Soda: Used for Boiling the Bagels

Baking soda is used to boil the bagels before baking them. Boiling the bagels before baking gives them a chewy texture and forms a crusty exterior. You will need about 1 tablespoon of baking soda to boil the bagels.

10. Oil: Adding Moisture to the Bagel Crust

Oil can be used to brush the bagel dough before baking to add moisture to the crust of the bagel. You can use either vegetable oil or melted butter to brush the bagel dough.

Section 3: Baking the Bagels

Now that you have the dough for your bagels, it’s time to bake them! This section will go over the steps to ensure that your bagels come out perfectly crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.

1. Boiling the Bagels

Before baking, you need to boil your bagels. This step might seem strange, but it’s a crucial part of the process. Boiling the bagels gives them their signature chewy exterior and helps them keep their shape during baking.

To make the boiling solution, fill a large pot with water and mix in either honey, baking soda or barley malt syrup. Bring the water to a boil and carefully drop in the bagels. Boil for approximately one minute on each side. Once boiled, remove the bagels using a slotted spoon and transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

2. Baking the Bagels

Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Brush each bagel with an egg wash made from one beaten egg and a tablespoon or two of water. This will give them a shiny, golden crust. You can also add toppings like sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or dried onion flakes at this stage.

Bake the bagels for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown. Make sure to rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure even browning. Once they are done, remove the bagels from the oven and cool them on a wire rack.

3. Testing for Doneness

One way to test for doneness is the float test. Fill a bowl with water and drop a bagel in. If the bagel floats to the top, it’s ready to bake. If it sinks, let it rest for a few more minutes before testing again.

Another way to test if the bagels are done is to tap them on the bottom. If they sound hollow, they’re ready to come out of the oven.

4. Storing Your Bagels

Once your bagels are baked, they can be enjoyed right away or stored for later. They will stay fresh for up to 2-3 days at room temperature in an airtight container. You can also freeze them for up to 6 months. Just make sure to wrap them well in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before freezing.

5. Serving Suggestions

Bagels are a versatile food that can be served in a variety of ways. You can slice them in half and toast them with cream cheese or butter, or make them into sandwiches with your favorite toppings like lox, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. They’re also delicious with sweet toppings like jam or honey butter. The possibilities are endless, so get creative and enjoy your homemade bagels!

Thank You for Reading and Happy Bagel Making!

We hope you have enjoyed this article and found it helpful in your bagel-making journey. Making bagels can be a fun and rewarding experience, and we encourage you to experiment with different flavors and toppings to find the perfect combination for your taste buds. Don’t forget to add some cream cheese or your favorite spread for the ultimate bagel experience! Thanks again for reading, and please come back soon for more mouth-watering recipes and helpful tips.