I Swear I Made Them Myself Homemade Everything Bagels

Keeferop's Note:

Inspired by Emeril's Homemade Bagel recipe with some tweaks. My recipe makes six bagels, but doubling or tripling it will work just as well! Most of prep time includes time for the dough to rise.

• Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 6.0 Bagels

• 1 cup warm water
• 1/4 ounce active dry yeast (1/4 oz package envelope)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
• 1 egg yolk, Beaten
• toasted chopped onion
• poppy seed
• sesame seeds
• kosher salt

Directions:

1. Combine the warm water, yeast, and the 1.5 Tablespoons of granulated sugar in a mixer with a dough hook. Let stand 5 minutes until the yeast activates and the mixture becomes foamy.
2. Gradually add 2 cups of the flour and the salt and mix with dough hook until combined.
3. Slowly add the additional 1/2 cup flour while working with your hands. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and continue to knead until smooth and no longer sticky (add up to 1/2 cup more flour if necessary).
4. Grease a large bowl with 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil and roll the dough ball to cover all sides. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for about an hour (or until almost double in size).
5. After an hour, punch the dough down and divide into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 6" log and combine the ends with a little moisture (make sure they are joined or you will end up with cresents).
6. Place the bagels on a greased cookie sheet, cover, and let rise again for 20 to 30 minutes (no longer).
7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
8. Bring a large pot of water, flavored with the 1.5 teaspoon of sugar, to a boil. Drop the bagels into the water and boil for 30 seconds to 1 minute, turning.
9. Upon removal from the boiling water, place the bagels onto an oiled baking sheet covered in cornmeal. Place into a preheated 400 degree fahrenheit oven.
10. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove and brush with an egg yolk. Top with desired toppings and put back into the oven for 28 to 32 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn oven down to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Remove when golden brown and hollow sounding.
11. Cool on a wire rack.

Reviews

[rtd212]

The dough recipe is standard, and it's good in texture. Though I would recommend boiling them for one minute per side. I am not quite sure why this recipe has received such high ratings, but I imagine it is because most of these are first-time bagel bakers. I have made bagels in the past using different recipes, and I have to say this is my least favorite. It's not bad. Again, as a recipe for bagel dough, it's perfect. But the topping situation doesn't work. The egg wash turns a dark brown and doesn't look (or taste) very appetizing. Not to mention, I found that because the bagels were hot from the oven, the egg wash dried almost immediately and none of the toppings would stick. Then when I toasted the bagels, the egg wash chipped off with all the toppings. I'd recommend another method for toppings, which is to have a bowl with all the toppings in it, and when you take the bagel from the boiling water, immediately drop them in the bowl, then take them out. It works much better. I also prefer to set the wet bagels on a drying rack before putting them on the cookie sheet, but it's probably not necessary. Overall, this recipe is good, but with modifications.

[lantonio04]

Extraordinary! These were the best bagels i'd ever had. I added garlic to the dough and followed the other instructions. The topping did flake off and get a bit toastier then i liked. I'm making them again right now with chocolate chips and coconut flakes.

[LEGConn88]

Made the bagels this morning and nixed the egg wash like many of the other reviewers. I also included minced garlic and did not toast the onion prior to baking. The bagels came out great with lots of good flavor. Will definitely be doing again and will experiment with different flavors! :)