Easy Homemade Bagels
Homemade bagels can be easier to make than you might think and homemade bagels are often preferred for their superior taste, texture, and freshness compared to store-bought options. You have the ability to control ingredients and baking methods for a golden-brown crust and a chewy, dense interior that is hard to replicate commercially. Not only that, baking your own bagels can be a rewarding experience, offering bragging rights and a satisfying sense of achievement. It took us a while to find the simplest combination of ingredients, boil mixture and boil time to get the results we like and here it is for you without any guess work.
Equipment
- 1 medium bowl
- 1 set measuring cups and spoons
- 1 Large Pot
- 1 slotted spoon
- 1 9"x13" baking pan
- 1 cooling rack
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tbsp molasses
- 1/2 gallon water
- 1 egg to be used as a wash before baking
- toppings if desired such as poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning, etc.
Instructions
- Mix all-purpose flour, sugar, olive oil, salt and 1 cup of warm water in a bowl until a rough dough is formed then kneed by hand until smooth (about 5 minutes) or put all the ingredients into a food processor with a dough blade on low for 2 ½ minutes
- Turn dough out onto working area, smooth into a ball and put into a greased bowl and cover to hold in moisture
- Allow to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size (Can be put in your oven with just the oven light on and the door closed)
- Punch down the dough and divide into eight equal balls
- Mix the molasses and 1/2 gallon of water in a large pot and bring to a boil
- Preheat your oven to 420º F
- Using your thumbs and middle fingers, pinch a hole in the center of each dough ball, stretching and shaping into a doughnut shape
- Place 2 - 4 bagels (depending on the size of your pot) into the boiling molasses water for 30 seconds then flip with the slotted spoon for an additional 30 seconds
- After 1 minute total time in the boiling molasses water, remove with the slotted spoon and place them onto your greased baking sheet
- Continue until all of the bagels have been boiled for 1 minute and placed onto the baking sheet
- Wisk the egg with 2 tbsp. of water and brush it onto the top of all 8 bagels on the baking sheet
- OPTIONAL: If you're planning on adding topping such as poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning etc., this would be the time to add them by sprinkling them onto the egg wash
- Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown
- Remove from pan onto cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before storing.
Notes
Be sure to check out our Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning Mix