Bagels, with their chewy texture, crispy crust, and endless topping possibilities, have become a beloved breakfast staple and a popular grab-and-go lunch option. Originating from Jewish communities in the 17th century, these ring-shaped bread have found a special place in the hearts of people worldwide.
Our comprehensive guide to bagels introduces you to the art of crafting these delectable treats in the comfort of your own kitchen. We'll take you through the process step-by-step, providing detailed instructions, expert tips, and troubleshooting advice. From creating the perfect dough to boiling and topping your bagels, we've got you covered.
Along with our classic bagel recipe, we offer variations to cater to diverse preferences. Whether you're looking for a gluten-free option, a vegan alternative, or a bagel infused with unique flavors like sun-dried tomatoes or jalapeños, we've got a recipe for you.
So, get ready to embark on a bagel-making adventure. With our comprehensive guide and a little practice, you'll be able to impress your family and friends with homemade bagels that rival those from your favorite bakery.
REAL HOMEMADE BAGELS
A recipe for that authentic bagel flavor and texture.
Provided by PLAWHON
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Bagel Recipes
Time 3h20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Combine 1 1/4 cup water, flour, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, vegetable oil, and yeast in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed using the dough hook until well-developed, about 8 minutes. To ensure the gluten has developed fully, cut off a walnut-sized piece of dough. Flour your fingers, and then stretch the dough: if it tears immediately, the dough needs more kneading. Fully developed dough should form a thin translucent "windowpane."
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and let rise for 2 hours.
- Punch the dough down, place it on a lightly floured work surface, and use a knife or dough scraper to divide the dough into 6 pieces (or more, for smaller bagels). Roll each piece of dough into a sausage shape about 6 inches long. Join the ends to form a circle. Repeat with the remaining dough, and let the bagels rest for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange small plates with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and onion flakes next to the baking sheet.
- Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add honey, if desired (see Editor's Note). Boil the bagels, three at a time, until they rise to the surface of the pot, about 1 minute per side. Remove the bagels with a slotted spoon and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Dip the tops of the wet bagels into the toppings and arrange them, seeds up, on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven until the bagels begin to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 278.2 calories, Carbohydrate 55.9 g, Fat 7.4 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 2.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 1372.4 mg, Sugar 53.5 g
EASY HOMEMADE BAGELS
Bypass the bagel shop and get ready for The Complete Guide to Easy Homemade Bagels, including 5 toppings and 3 flavors of cream cheese.
Provided by Kelly Senyei
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, stir together the warm water and sugar until the sugar is dissolved then add the yeast and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until it is foamy.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine the flour and salt. With the mixer on LOW speed, pour in the yeast mixture then allow the stand mixer to knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it comes together into a cohesive ball.
- Grease a large bowl with vegetable oil then add the dough to the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Place the dough in a warm, dark location for 90 minutes or until it has doubled in size.
- Lightly flour your work surface then turn the dough out and punch it down.
- Divide the dough into 8 portions then flatten each piece into a 4-to- 5-inch disk. Using your thumb, poke a whole through the center of each disk to form the bagels, stretching them slightly.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large stockpot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil then stir in the honey. Arrange the bagel toppings in small bowls ("everything" seasoning, poppy seeds or sesame seeds; See Notes for jalapeño-cheddar).
- Boil the bagels, two or three at a time, for 1 minute and then gently flip them over once and boil them an additional 1 minute.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the bagels from the boiling water and arrange them on the baking sheet.
- Brush the tops of the bagels with egg wash then press them into your preferred toppings.
- Bake the bagels for about 25 minutes or until they are golden brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool before serving.
- The toppings listed are enough to make two "everything" bagels, two poppy seed bagels, two sesame bagels and two jalapeño-cheddar bagels.
- To make the jalapeño-cheddar bagel, top each baked bagel with a few slices of jalapeño then lay a cheese slice on top. Broil the bagel for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- After baking and cooling, the bagels can be frozen for up to three months. Wrap them securely in plastic wrap and store them in sealable plastic bags in the freezer.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 333 kcal, Carbohydrate 60 g, Protein 11 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 636 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 13 g, ServingSize 1 serving
BAGELS 101 (USING A STAND MIXER)
This is a great recipe for a 'bagel party' where everyone can choose and prep their bagel filling and topping choices. This recipe can easily be halved or doubled. We tweaked this very detailed recipe from the book 'The Best Bagels are Made at Home' by Dona Z. Meilach. We took the stand-mixer version and simplified the instructions as well as made some other adjustments as we went along to perfect it and keep it simple. Choices for different types of flavors are listed at the beginning. Selections for different types of toppings are listed at the bottom of the recipe. NOTE: It's recommended to print, read, and understand the instructions completely before beginning. Onion Bagels: Add 2 tablespoons of dehydrated minced onion, and replace salt with onion salt. Italian Herb Bagels: Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, and replace salt with onion salt.
Provided by 2Bleu
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- CHOOSE YOUR FLAVOR (if other than plain). This is for the dough portion ONLY: WHOLE WHEAT BAGELS: Follow basic recipe, omitting sugar. Use 3 Tbsp honey instead. In place of flour, use 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup wheat germ, and about 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour, blended together. Knead with white flour. PUMPERNICKEL BAGELS: Follow basic recipe, omitting sugar. Use 3 Tbsp dark molasses in place of sugar. In place of flour use 2 cups rye, 2 cups whole wheat, 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour blended together. Knead with white flour. ONION BAGELS: Add 1/2 cup dried onion or 1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix to the wet mixture before adding flour. (See 'THE BAKE' if you only want some of the bagels to be onion flavor).
- THE DOUGH: Using your KitchenAid with the dough hook attachement, combine the water (125F.), sugar, salt, and yeast. Add 3 cups of the flour and then the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until a ball forms. Knead (by hand or with the dough hook) for about 3 minutes, adding more flour a little at a time if necessary. When dough appears near desired consistency, knead in any additions for 1 minute or until incorporated. (NOTE: You can also knead till almost ready, remove the dough from your KitchenAid, and divide dough into individual (or a few each) bagels and add different ingredients to each bagel so you get a varied batch of bagels from one recipe). SUGGESTIONS: dried fruits (such as raisins, apples, cranberries), nuts, seeds, spices (such as dried minced onion or garlic), chocolate morsels or shavings, or any combination of flavorings. Knead in the ingredients until just combined, about 1 minute. Place into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel and let rise (1st RISE) for 20 minutes.
- THE SHAPE: Punch down dough and place on a floured work surface. Use a food scale if you want consistency, and separate dough into balls; for 8 large, 12 regular, or 16 (mini bagels). Choose a shaping method and begin: 1) THE FINGER IN THE MIDDLE METHOD: Roll each piece of dough into a ball, poke a floured finger through the center to form the hole, and then shape top and smooth sides. With the bagel on the floured counter, place your finger in the hole with the tip of your index finger touching the counter, and make small fast circles with your finger to hula-hoop the bagel around it, to widen the hole. 2) THE ROPE METHOD: Roll each piece of dough into a rope by rolling it on the bread board or between your hands. Wrap the rope around four fingers, overlap and join the ends, and turn the circle inside out. Until you get this hand movement down pat, you may have to moisten the ends to hold them together. Initially the length may be lumpy and the joint will show. It takes practice. NOTE: Keep in mind that bagels do not rise very much, so you want them to be puffy when you shape them. Don't flatten them down.
- THE 2nd RISE: During the 2nd rising, the bagels will puff up slightly. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover them with a plastic wrap that has been sprayed on one side with nonstick vegetable spray. Place them in a draft free location and let them rise at room temperature until puffy, about 20 minutes. NOTE: Bagels can be refrigerated at this point, should you decide to boil and bake them later, or the next morning. Leave them covered so they do not dry out. Remove from the refrigerator and allow to warm slightly while you boil water and preheat the oven.
- THE BOIL: Fill a 5 quart soup pot with water 4 inches deep (you can add 2 tablespoons honey or sugar for a sweeter bagel). Drop bagels one at a time into the boiling water. Boil about 3-4 at a time or only so many that they float freely, and are not crowded. Simmer for 30 seconds (15 seconds on each side), turning with a slotted spatula. NOTE: Put the top side of the bagel down into water first, and then turn over. When you remove them, the bagels will be top side up and slide off your spatula for draining and adding toppings. Remove and place them gently on a lightly greased cooling rack (that has been placed on top of a clean dish towel) for a few minutes to drain.
- THE GLAZE: Choose your glaze and brush tops before placing them in the oven: 1) WATER GLAZE: Spray bagels at the beginning of the baking (using a mist bottle makes this easy), again 5 minutes after placing them in the oven and again near the end of baking. A spray (or brushing) with room-temperature tap water will yield a subtle glaze. 2) NONSTICK COOKING SPRAY GLAZE: Spray before placing in the oven and again about 5 minutes before baking time is completed. Nonstick cooking spray goes on more evenly than using a brush and yields an even glaze. 3) EGG GLAZE: Mix together 1 egg with 1 tbs. water, milk, or cream. Brush it on the bagels before they are put into the oven. 4) CORNSTARCH GLAZE: Dissolve 2 tbs. cornstarch in 1/4 cup cold water. Bring 1 cup water to a boil and whisk the dissolved solution into the boiling water until it thickens. Brush it on the bagel tops at the beginning of the baking and again as soon as you remove the bagels from the oven for a very high shine.
- THE TOPPINGS: A variety of toppings can be added to the bagel before baking, either directly to the dough after settling, or after the bagel is glazed. Use as much or as little topping as you like. To brush the toppings on, use a ratio of 2-1 dry ingredients/1 water or oil. VARIATIONS: ONION- Use dehydrated onion flakes or packaged onion soup mix. 3) SEEDED- Sprinkle boiled bagels with sesame seed, poppy seed, or caraway seed (especially good on rye bagels) after using glaze and prior to baking. Poppy, caraway, sesame and celery seeds can be used directly from the jar. Just dip the bagels into a dish of seeds or sprinkle seeds on top. 4) TOASTED NUTS: Using them on (and in) bagels enhances their flavor. Walnuts, almonds, pecans or hazelnuts can be used on bagels as toppings and also added to the dough at the beginning or before they are shaped and rise the second time. 5) OATS/GRAINS: Sprinkle with rolled oats or multigrain cereal, which will brown while baking.
- THE BAKE: Preheat the oven to 400°F Choose your baking surface then continue on to the steaming. 1) BAKING SHEET: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (as it eliminates the use of oil and cornmeal and cleaning pans). Place bagels on the shelf just below the middle in the oven. 2) BAKING STONE: Place the stone on the lowest rack in your oven while preheating the oven (with stone inside). Sprinkle cornmeal on the stone. Transfer un-baked bagels to the hot surface using a wooden peel (a long-handled wooden paddle used in baking), or any flat instrument with a long handle so you don't burn yourself; wear heavy padded gloves (NOTE: you can also place parchment paper on your peel and slide it off onto the stone with the bagels right onto the peel). NOW FOR STEAMING (Optional): Place a heavy pan in the very bottom of your oven (under the bottom rack) while it is preheating. Place the bagels in the oven and then pour cold water or half a dozen ice cubes into the pan and spray the sides of the (preheated) oven with water from a spray mist bottle when you place the bagels inside (This gives the bagel tops a crisp crust and extra shine by creating steam during the first few seconds of the baking). Bake for 20-40 minutes (depending on their size) until the tops are a light golden brown.
- STORING BAGELS: Bagels are best when they're eaten fresh from the oven while still warm. Once cooled, keep them in a brown paper bag for up to 12 hours. Any longer, and freezing is recommended. Slice them horizontally before freezing. Place the halves in a ziploc freezer bag and place in freezer. Thaw bagels on the kitchen counter in a plastic bag for about 15 minutes or toast directly from the freezer. What if a few bagels get stale? Put them into your blender or food processor and grind them into bread crumbs. None of the tasty bread need ever go to waste!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 336.9, Fat 1, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 876.5, Carbohydrate 71, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 5, Protein 9.6
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best possible bagels.
- Make sure the water is not too hot or too cold when mixing the dough.
- Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size.
- Shape the dough into bagels and place them on a greased baking sheet.
- Boil the bagels in water for a few minutes before baking them.
- Bake the bagels until they are golden brown and crusty.
Conclusion:
Bagels are a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are also a popular choice for sandwiches and snacks. With a little practice, you can make delicious bagels at home using a stand mixer. Just follow the tips and recipes in this article and you'll be enjoying homemade bagels in no time.
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