Methods to Make the Finest Bagels

Methods to Make the Finest Bagels


A recipe and ideas for making essentially the most superb selfmade bagels. They’re chewy, dense and flavorful, with the proper, shiny, golden brown crust!

Vegan bagels on platter, one cut in half with a schmear of vegan cream cheese.

This is a complete information to creating essentially the most excellent bagels you’ll ever eat. Better of all they’re really easy to make — beginner-level straightforward, actually. They usually have every little thing you search for in a bagel: a chewy, dense however delicate crumb, a deliciously shiny and pleasantly stiff crust, and unimaginable taste!

Desk of Contents

Why you’ll love this bagel recipe

  • Excellent bagels every time! Observe the directions, particularly on boiling and proofing occasions, and you’ll be having fun with superb bagels very quickly!
  • Straightforward recipe. One may think a specialised bread could be tedious to make, and time-consuming, however the course of of constructing bagels is moderately straightforward. This was one of many first bread recipes I shared with you on Holy Cow Vegan, and so they got here out completely the primary time I made them. Even shaping the bagels with that attribute gap within the heart is simpler than, say, shaping a pretzel could be.
  • Naturally vegan. Bagels are often dairy-free and eggless and most bakers don’t use non-vegan elements, so there are not any compromises concerned in making these vegan bagels!
  • Loaded with taste. The bagels are half entire grain, which not solely makes them extra nutritious than a store-bought bagel, it additionally makes them extra flavorful. Including the seed topping takes the style of those yummy bagels up one other notch.

What makes a bagel completely different from different breads

Other than its distinctive texture and form, what units a bagel other than different breads is the method of constructing it. Not like different breads a bagel is proofed, then boiled and eventually baked. Whereas most new bakers may balk on the concept of dropping these completely proofed, attractive bagels in an enormous pot of boiling water, relaxation assured that this may solely improve the bagels and make them even higher.

Why are bagels boiled?

Bagels are boiled with a purpose to obtain that attribute texture. Dropping the proofed bagels into boiling water helps set the starches on the crust and provides the completed bagel that shiny, barely robust crust you like.

Often a little bit of barley malt syrup or sugar or honey is added to the boiling water tub with a purpose to add extra gloss. Some bakers add baking soda to the water to advertise browning. On this recipe we are going to add a little bit of maple syrup or sugar for a similar impact.

Vegan bagels on platter, one open with a schmear of vegan cream cheese.

Are all bagels vegan?

This is the wonderful thing about bagels: bagel dough doesn’t require milk, eggs or butter, so most bagels you’re more likely to encounter in shops and bakeries are very probably vegan. However as all the time, ask if you happen to aren’t positive and skim labels earlier than shopping for. Letting companies know you’re looking particularly for vegan meals can encourage them to inventory extra cruelty-free merchandise, which is a win-win for us as vegans, the planet and, most significantly, the animals.

Components

  • Yeast: Both energetic dry yeast or immediate yeast works for this recipe. If utilizing energetic dry yeast wait a few minutes for it to bloom after including the water and maple syrup/sugar.
  • Flours: entire wheat flour and bread flour.
  • Maple syrup or sugar. Both works for this recipe. Or use one other sweetener like agave nectar.
  • Oil for coating the bowl. You do not want any oil within the bagel dough.

For bagel seasoning (optionally available)

  • Sesame seeds
  • Poppy seeds
  • Nigella seeds (optionally available, however very good)
  • Onion flakes
  • Powdered garlic or garlic flakes
  • Salt.

Variations

  • For cinnamon raisin bagels, add ¼ cup sugar and ½ cup raisins to the dough.
  • For chocolate chip bagels, add ¼ cup sugar and ½ cup chocolate chips to the dough.
  • For blueberry bagels, add ¼ cup sugar and 1 cup contemporary blueberries to the dough. Minimize down the water to 1 cup and add extra flour if wanted as a result of the blueberry will specific some juices.

Methods to make bagels

Yeast, water and sugar in large bowl.

Place heat water, yeast and maple syrup or sugar in a big bowl.

Flour added to bowl with yeast and water.

Add one cup of entire wheat flour and two cups of bread flour to the bowl. Use a wood spoon or your fingers to combine till a dough types. End up the dough on an unfloured floor and knead. If the dough appears too delicate and sticky, add flour to it. You may want as much as half cup extra flour, however add solely a tablespoon or two at a time.

Bagel dough before rising in bowl.

After six to seven minutes of kneading the dough ought to be easy and supple and never sticky. Kind right into a easy ball and place into an oiled bowl, ensuring to grease the highest of the dough.

Bagel dough after rising.

Cowl the bowl with a lid or cling wrap and place in a heat spot for an hour or till it has doubled.

Bagel dough divided into eight pieces.

End up the dough combination on an unfloured floor, knead frivolously, type right into a disc and reduce into eight equal-sized items.

Bagel round with hole in center.

Roll one of many items right into a easy ball. To do that tuck the seams of the dough beneath and roll the ball of dough on the floor utilizing the palm of your hand. Flatten barely, then use your forefinger or a wood ladle to make a gap within the heart.

Bagel hole being shaped by hand.

Hook each thumbs inside the outlet and pull the edges outward till the outlet expands to about 2-3 inches. It’ll look slightly humorous at this stage, however relaxation assured the dough will pull again and rise sufficient so you find yourself with a handsome bagel.

Shaped bagels before rising.

Place the bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat sheet, cowl loosely with a kitchen towel and put aside in a heat spot or on the countertop on a heat day.

Risen bagels on black background.

After 45 minutes to an hour the bagels ought to have doubled in measurement and turn out to be very puffy. About 20 minutes earlier than the bagels are completed rising, carry a big pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or sugar to the water. Additionally preheat the oven to 425 levels Fahrenheit/220 levels Celsius.

Four bagels in water bath.

Gently carry the bagels and drop them into the water, ensuring you do not overcrowd them. Instantly after placing them within the water set your timer to 45 seconds. After 45 seconds flip the bagels over and set the timer once more for 45 seconds. As quickly because the time goes off, take away the boiled bagels to a rack. Place seasoning in a bowl and instantly roll every bagel within the seasoning to coat. Alternatively you’ll be able to brush slightly extra water on the bagels and sprinkle the seasoning on high. Place the bagels on a parchment- or silpat-lined baking sheet no less than an inch aside.

Bagels on parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake within the preheated oven for 25 minutes, turning the sheet round as soon as midway by baking. Let the baked bagels cool on a rack earlier than serving heat or at room temperature.

Useful ideas

  • You may want solely two cups of the all function flour otherwise you may want extra with a purpose to get a easy, delicate, supple dough that does not stick. I’ve wanted all 2 ½ cups at occasions, and at others I’ve wanted simply 2 cups and perhaps one tablespoon extra. Add extra flour only a tablespoon or two at a time and watch out to not make a stiff dough.
  • Knead the dough till it is very easy and supple, which ought to take 6-7 minutes. A smoother dough will aid you higher form the bagels and also will lead to better-looking bagels.
  • Equally, after dividing the dough, ensure you form the person balls of dough as easy as you’ll be able to, taking care to tuck any ends beneath and sealing any open edges. It will guarantee better-looking bagels. When you do not do it, and the bagels look a bit extra, ahem, rustic, do not fret. They’re going to nonetheless look nice after you’ve got lined them with the seasoning and baked them.
  • If the holes within the bagels look smaller than you need them to be after the bagels have risen, wait till the bagels have come out of the water tub. Then, earlier than rolling the bagels within the seasoning, use your fingers to widen them slightly bit.
  • You probably have leftover bagels, toast them the subsequent day for a crunchy, crispy, pleasant texture.

Recipe FAQs and troubleshooting

Can I take advantage of all function flour as a substitute of bread flour to make bagels?

Bagels want bread flour for a chewier texture. You should use all function flour however that can lead to a bagel with a lighter, airier crumb, extra like bread than a bagel.

I simply received the bagels out of the water tub and so they look pruney. Did I do one thing improper?

No, don’t fret. The bagels will look slightly humorous after a flip within the water tub, however they may look puff up and look lovely once more after you bake them.

Why did my bagels come out flat after baking?

The explanation bagels may find yourself flattening an excessive amount of is since you allow them to swim within the boiling water for too lengthy. Between 30 seconds and 1 minutes every on both facet is all they want. Any longer and also you threat over-proofing the bagels, which can lead to flatter bagels. That mentioned, in the event that they flatten just a bit after popping out of the water tub that’s okay–they will puff up once more within the oven.
The opposite motive why the bagels may find yourself flatter is that if your dough was too delicate. It will make the bagels unfold out so they’re wider and never as excessive, however the bagels ought to nonetheless style nice and will have an incredible texture.

Can I skip the seasoning for the bagels?

Sure, completely. These bagels are scrumptious on their very own and they’ll look lovely with their shiny brown tops. You too can use simply one of many seeds if you would like to–sesame seeds or poppy seeds are great seasonings on their very own.

Vegan topping concepts for bagels

  • Vegan cream cheese. Bagels are superb with a schmear of cream cheese! You possibly can serve the cream cheese plain or make your individual flavored cream cheese by mixing in salt, garlic and herbs of your selection. Or, for a candy tooth, add cinnamon and sugar or maple syrup.
  • Hummus. Serve with wholesome hummus, like this yummy , or .
  • Butter. Bagels are divine with a pat of . Or make a bagel sandwich with peanut butter and jelly.
  • or scrambled tofu eggs.
  • Thinly sliced greens, like sliced cucumber, sliced tomatoes, sliced avocados, sliced radishes and sliced onions. Serve these atop the cream cheese.
  • Pickled or fermented greens, together with.

Storage directions

  • Refrigerate: Bagels are greatest eaten contemporary, however you’ll be able to refrigerate them for as much as per week.
  • Freeze: Freeze bagels in a freezer-safe bag for as much as a month.
  • Reheat: Reheat bagels in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven till warmed by. These bagels additionally toast superbly.

Extra yummy vegan bread recipes

When you love this bagels recipe, take a look at extra on Holy Cow Vegan!

Homemade bagels on a white platter.
Bagels on white platter, one cut open with vegan cream cheese.

Bagels Recipe

Recipe and ideas for making essentially the most superb selfmade bagels. These bagels have a chewy texture and are dense and flavorful, with the proper, shiny crust!

Course: Bread

Delicacies: American

Weight-reduction plan: Vegan, Vegetarian

Complete Time: 3 hrs 35 minutes

Servings: 8 bagels

Energy: 235kcal

Writer:

Components 

For optionally available bagel seasoning

Stop your display screen from going darkish

Directions

  • Combine all seasoning elements collectively in a bowl and put aside.

  • Place lukewarm water, yeast and maple syrup or sugar in a big bowl.

  • Add one cup of entire wheat flour and two cups of bread flour to the bowl with the salt. Use a wood spoon or your fingers to combine till a dough types. End up the dough on an unfloured floor and knead. If the dough appears too delicate and sticky, add flour to it. You may want as much as half cup extra flour, however add solely a tablespoon or two at a time.

  • After six to seven minutes of kneading the dough ought to be easy and supple and never sticky. Kind right into a easy ball and place into an oiled bowl, ensuring to grease the highest of the dough.

  • Cowl the bowl with a lid or cling wrap and place in a heat spot for an hour or till it has doubled.

  • End up the dough on an unfloured floor, knead frivolously, type right into a disc and reduce into eight equal-sized items.

  • Roll one of many items right into a easy ball. To do that tuck the seams of the dough beneath and roll the ball of dough on the floor utilizing the palm of your hand. Flatten barely, then use your forefinger or a wood ladle to make a gap within the heart.

  • Hook each thumbs inside the outlet and pull the edges outward till the outlet expands to about 2-3 inches. It’ll look slightly humorous at this stage, however relaxation assured the dough will pull again and rise sufficient so you find yourself with a handsome bagel.

  • Place the bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silpat sheet, cowl loosely with a kitchen towel and put aside in a heat spot or on the countertop on a heat day.

  • After 45 minutes to an hour the bagels ought to have doubled in measurement and turn out to be very puffy.

  • About 20 minutes earlier than the bagels are completed rising, carry a big pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or sugar to the water. Preheat the oven to 425 levels Fahrenheit/220 levels Celsius.

  • Gently carry the bagels and drop them into the water tub, ensuring you do not overcrowd them. Instantly after placing them within the water set your timer to 45 seconds. After 45 seconds flip the bagels over and set the timer once more for 45 seconds. As quickly because the time goes off, take away the boiled bagels to a rack. Roll every bagel within the seasoning to coat. The water nonetheless clinging to the bagel will assist the seeds adhere to the bagel. Place the bagels on a parchment- or silpat-lined baking sheet no less than an inch aside.

  • Bake the bagels within the preheated oven for 25 minutes, turning the sheet round as soon as midway by baking. Let the baked bagels cool on a rack earlier than serving heat or at room temperature.

Recipe notes

Useful ideas
  • You may want solely two cups of the all function flour otherwise you may want extra with a purpose to get a easy, delicate, supple dough that does not stick. I’ve wanted all 2 ½ cups at occasions, and at others I’ve wanted simply 2 cups and perhaps one tablespoon extra. Add extra flour only a tablespoon or two at a time and watch out to not make a stiff dough.
  • Knead the dough till it is very easy and supple, which ought to take 6-7 minutes. A smoother dough will aid you higher form the bagels and also will lead to better-looking bagels.
  • Equally, after dividing the dough, ensure you form the person balls of dough as easy as you’ll be able to, taking care to tuck any ends beneath and sealing any open edges. It will guarantee better-looking bagels. When you do not do it, and the bagels look a bit extra, ahem, rustic, do not fret. They’re going to nonetheless look nice after you’ve got lined them with the seasoning and baked them.
  • If the holes within the bagels look smaller than you need them to be after the bagels have risen, wait till the bagels have come out of the water tub. Then, earlier than rolling the bagels within the seasoning, use your fingers to widen them slightly bit.
  • You probably have leftover bagels, toast them the subsequent day for a crunchy, crispy, pleasant texture.
Variations
  • For cinnamon raisin bagels, add ¼ cup sugar and ½ cup raisins to the dough.
  • For chocolate chip bagels, add ¼ cup sugar and ½ cup chocolate chips to the dough.
  • For blueberry bagels, add ¼ cup sugar and 1 cup contemporary blueberries to the dough. Minimize down the water to 1 cup and add extra flour if wanted as a result of the blueberry will specific some juices.
Storage directions
  • Refrigerate: Bagels are greatest eaten contemporary, however you’ll be able to refrigerate them for as much as per week.
  • Freeze: Freeze bagels in a freezer-safe bag for as much as a month.
  • Reheat: Reheat bagels in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven till warmed by. These bagels additionally toast superbly.

 

Diet

Serving: 1bagel | Energy: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 8g | Fats: 3g | Saturated Fats: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1g | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg

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