Homemade Bagels

These were so great! They were a little bit of work, but I'd say definitely worth it. I read on a few blogs about homemade bagels, but they all used the same source recipe -- this one from Baking Bites. I loved her step by step pictures. I did not take such detailed and lovely pictures, so please go to her site and check them out.


I really enjoyed making these and love the finished product. I think I baked mine a touch too short though. I am always afraid of my oven burning things beyond recognition, so I tend to take things out earlier than I should. Next time I will wait until they are all golden brown. That being said, after being toasted the texture is just perfect -- crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Yum! I made these the same day as the soft pretzels because they had similar cooking methods -- knead dough, let it rise, shape, boil, bake. It worked out pretty well and now we are stocked with yummy carbs for quite a bit!

Homemade Bagels

Baking Bites

1 tbsp active dry yeast

1 tbsp sugar

1 3/4 cups water, warm (100-110F)

4 cups bread flour (not all purpose)

1 tbsp salt

1 egg, for egg wash

Directions:

• In a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) combine yeast, sugar and water. Let stand for 5 minutes, then stir in flour and salt. Mix dough thoroughly until it comes together in a large ball, pulling away from the sides of the bowl. Add an additional tablespoon of flour or water, if needed.
• If kneading by hand, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until very smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. If using a stand mixer, knead dough with the dough hook until elastic, about 8 minutes on a low speed. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• When dough has risen, turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces (first quarters, then thirds). Shape each piece into a tight ball, pinching the corners together at the bottom of the piece of dough. When all the balls are shaped, let the dough rest for 30 minutes covered with a clean dish towel.
• Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil and preheat the oven to 400F.
• Once dough balls have rested, the bagel shape can be formed. Using your fingers, poke a hole through the center of each dough ball. Stretch out the dough into a ring with your fingers and be sure to make the hole a little larger than you want the finished bagel to have, as it will shrink slightly while the bagel is expanding during the baking process. Let bagels rest for about 10 minutes.
• Working three to four at a time, drop the bagels carefully into the boiling water. Boil for 2 minutes on the first side, then flip and boil for an additional minute. Using a slotted spoon or strainer, transfer bagels to a clean towel to drain for a moment, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining bagels.
• Brush boiled bagels with lightly beaten egg and bake for 20-24 minutes, until golden brown.Cool completely on a wire rack.