Sweetest Hobby

Indulge in bagel-making with this foolproof recipe for delectable, handcrafted bagels at home. Elevate your baking skills with these New York-style gems, which promise a delectable, chewy interior and a perfectly crisp exterior.

Prepare and shape your dough effortlessly, allowing it to rest overnight in the refrigerator for enhanced flavor development. A brief 45-minute rest at room temperature before the Boiling Water Bath ensures your bagels achieve the ideal texture and taste in the morning.

With clear, step-by-step instructions and expert tips included, mastering the art of creating these artisanal treats has never been easier. Treat yourself and your loved ones to the delight of freshly baked, Super Easy, and Super Delicious Handcrafted Bagels that rival those from your favorite bakery. Experience the satisfaction of biting into a warm, perfectly made bagel that will elevate your breakfast or snack time to a whole new level.

Ingredients:

For the bagels: 

• 4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups of water
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 2 teaspoons of salt
• 2 teaspoons of instant dry yeast

For the boiling water bath (as shown in the video):

• 12 cups of water (3 quarts)
• 2 tablespoons of demerara sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda

Get ready to create your perfect bagel with an endless array of toppings! From everything bagels to sesame seeds, coarse salt, herbs, and much more, you can customize it to your preference. The sky’s the limit!

Making bagels is a traditional process that involves some steps. I will explain in detail, but watching the video with the recipe in hand always makes it easier.

Instructions:

1. Preparing the Dough:

• Mix the lukewarm water, yeast, flour, honey, and salt in a bowl.
• Using a stand mixer (using the dough hook attachment) or by hand, knead until you have a homogeneous and elastic dough. It takes approximately 12 to 15 minutes in the mixer or slightly longer kneading by hand.
• Let the dough rest for about 1 hour, covered with a damp cloth, until it doubles in size. I usually place it in a turned-off oven.

2. Shaping the Bagels:

• Divide the dough into pieces of the desired size and shape them into bagels. (as shown in the video) You can create a hole in the center and shape the dough with your hands.
• Let the bagels rest for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Tip: You can prepare the bagels in advance (as shown in the video) up to Step 2 of shaping. After shaping the bagels, let them rest overnight in the refrigerator. Allow them to rest for 45 minutes at room temperature in the morning before proceeding to the Boiling Water Bath.

3. Boiling Water Bath:

• Add sugar and baking soda to a large pot of water to a simmer.
• Boil the bagels in water for about 1 minute on each side. This helps give the characteristic texture to the bagels.

4. Toppings for Bagels:

• You can add the desired toppings to the wet bagels before baking. Right after boiling, sprinkle sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or anything else on the bagels.

5. Baking:

•  Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
•  After boiling, bake the bagels for approximately 20 minutes until golden.

Don’t miss out on our next recipe! See you soon.

From my kitchen to yours,

Ana Raquel