Easy Homemade Bagels Recipe

Quick & Fluffy Easy Homemade Bagels Recipe For Breakfast Lovers

Crafting delectable homemade bagels can become your weekend culinary adventure with this simple recipe.

Morning baking sessions bring unexpected joy to kitchens everywhere.

Dense, chewy circles of dough emerge from careful preparation and love.

Authentic flavors burst through each hand-rolled creation waiting to delight taste buds.

Newcomers and seasoned bakers find satisfaction in mastering these classic bread rounds.

Precise techniques guarantee professional-quality results that will impress everyone around your table.

These bagels promise a delicious journey into artisan bread making that you won’t want to miss.

What’s Great About Homemade Bagels

  • Easily swap toppings like everything seasoning, sesame seeds, or cinnamon sugar for personalized flavor adventures.
  • Requires just four simple pantry staples- flour, Greek yogurt, baking powder, and salt- making preparation a breeze.
  • Prepares in under 30 minutes from start to finish, perfect for lazy mornings or spontaneous brunch gatherings.
  • Requires minimal hand-kneading and no complicated rising process, making it accessible for baking beginners and busy home cooks.

What You’ll Need for Homemade Bagels

Dry Ingredients:
  • Flour: The base of the bagel dough, provides structure and texture. All-purpose flour works best, but bread flour can add more chewiness.
  • Baking Powder: Helps the bagels rise and creates a light, airy texture. Fresh baking powder ensures maximum lift.
  • Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the other ingredients. Use fine sea salt or kosher salt for even distribution.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Greek Yogurt: Creates a tangy, soft dough with a tender crumb. Full-fat yogurt provides the best moisture and richness. Plain, unsweetened yogurt is ideal.
Optional Toppings and Variations:
  • Optional Ingredients: Customize your bagels with toppings like sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or poppy seeds for extra flavor and crunch.

Making Homemade Bagels from Scratch

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Station

Grab a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to a toasty 375°F (190°C), creating the perfect warm environment for your bagel adventure.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a spacious mixing bowl, combine your flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk these ingredients together until they’re perfectly blended, creating a light and airy base for your bagels.

Step 3: Bring the Dough to Life

  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Greek yogurt

Pour the Greek yogurt into your dry ingredient mixture. Stir and mix with enthusiasm until a shaggy, rough dough starts to form. Don’t worry about perfection at this stage!

Step 4: Knead to Perfection

Dive into the dough with your hands, kneading it for 3-5 minutes. The goal is a smooth, elastic texture that feels soft and pliable. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour and continue kneading.

Step 5: Shape Your Bagels

Divide the dough into equal portions. Roll each piece into a ball, then create a hole in the center by pressing your thumb through the middle. Gently stretch and shape to create that classic bagel ring.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Brilliance

Place your shaped bagels on the prepared baking sheet. Slide them into the preheated oven and bake until they turn a beautiful golden brown, typically 20-25 minutes.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Remove the bagels from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for a few minutes. Slice, toast, and top with your favorite spreads for a fresh, homemade treat!

Bagel Tips That Help Every Time

  • Prevent Stickiness: Dust hands and work surface with flour to make kneading easier and stop dough from clinging to surfaces.
  • Perfect Dough Consistency: Add Greek yogurt gradually to control moisture and achieve the right texture without over-wetting the mixture.
  • Customize Flavors: Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, or poppy seeds on top before baking for extra crunch and taste.
  • Achieve Golden Crust: Brush bagels with egg wash or milk before baking to create a shiny, beautiful golden-brown exterior.
  • Storage Hack: Cool bagels completely, then store in an airtight container or freeze for up to one month to maintain freshness.

How to Keep Homemade Bagels Fresh

  • Store cooled bagels in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping them fresh and preventing moisture buildup.
  • Wrap individual bagels tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months to maintain optimal texture and flavor.
  • Toast in a toaster or warm in a 350F oven for 3-5 minutes until crispy and heated through.
  • Remove from freezer, unwrap, and let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Toast or warm in oven for best results.

Tasty Pairings for Homemade Bagels

  • Elevate homemade bagels with rich cream cheese, herbed goat cheese, or tangy olive tapenade for a burst of complementary flavors.
  • Serve warm bagels alongside scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and a steaming mug of dark roast coffee for a hearty morning meal.
  • Match these bagels with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc and a selection of aged cheddar, soft brie, and sharp blue cheese for an elegant appetizer experience.
  • Layer with smoked salmon, capers, thinly sliced red onions, and a dollop of dill-infused cream cheese for a sophisticated brunch plate that celebrates the bagel's versatility.

Change Up Your Homemade Bagels

  • Gluten-Free Magic: Swap regular flour with a gluten-free blend containing xanthan gum for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same soft texture.
  • Protein Power Bagels: Replace Greek yogurt with protein powder mixed with water to create a high-protein alternative perfect for fitness enthusiasts.
  • Whole Wheat Wonder: Use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour to boost fiber content and add a nutty, hearty flavor profile.
  • Vegan Veggie Bagels: Substitute Greek yogurt with unsweetened plant-based yogurt and add roasted vegetables like spinach or sun-dried tomatoes for extra nutrition and flavor.

Answering Your Homemade Bagels Questions

  • What type of flour works best for this bagel recipe?

Bread flour or all-purpose flour are excellent choices. Bread flour provides more protein and will give your bagels a slightly chewier texture, while all-purpose flour creates a softer result.

  • Do I need any special equipment to make these bagels?

No special equipment is required. You just need a mixing bowl, baking sheet, and parchment paper. A stand mixer can help with kneading, but hand-kneading works perfectly fine.

  • Can I add mix-ins to the bagel dough?

Absolutely! You can incorporate ingredients like shredded cheese, dried herbs, minced garlic, or everything bagel seasoning directly into the dough before kneading for extra flavor.

  • Is Greek yogurt essential for this recipe?

Yes, Greek yogurt is a key ingredient that provides moisture and helps bind the dough. It creates a tender texture and helps the bagels rise without using yeast. Regular yogurt won’t work as effectively.

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Easy Homemade Bagels Recipe

Easy Homemade Bagels Recipe


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4.7 from 20 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Homemade bagels elevate breakfast with warm, chewy perfection straight from your kitchen. Crisp outer crust and pillowy interior invite passionate bakers to craft these New York-style classics that will delight your morning table.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (250 grams) Greek yogurt
  • 1 egg

Leavening and Seasoning:

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon honey or sugar

Liquid Ingredients:

  • 6 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)

Optional Toppings:

  • Sesame seeds
  • Poppy seeds
  • Everything bagel seasoning

Instructions

  1. Combine dry ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly blending flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution.
  2. Introduce Greek yogurt into the flour mixture, stirring vigorously until a shaggy, uneven dough begins to take shape.
  3. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and perform robust kneading motions, working the ingredients until a cohesive, elastic texture emerges. Incorporate additional flour sparingly if the dough feels excessively tacky.
  4. Divide the dough into equal portions, gently rolling each segment into a uniform circular shape with smooth, continuous motions.
  5. Form each portion into classic bagel rings by creating a central opening, carefully stretching and shaping the dough to maintain consistent thickness.
  6. Arrange the shaped bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring adequate spacing between each piece to allow for potential expansion during baking.
  7. Position the baking sheet in a preheated oven calibrated to 375°F (190°C), allowing the bagels to transform into golden, crisp-edged delicacies with a tender interior.
  8. Monitor baking progress, removing the bagels once they achieve a rich, appetizing bronze coloration, typically requiring approximately 20-25 minutes of heat exposure.

Notes

  • Choose full-fat Greek yogurt for the best texture and tang in your bagels, ensuring a rich, moist result.
  • Dust your work surface with flour to prevent sticking and make kneading easier, creating a smooth, elastic dough.
  • Feel free to customize by adding sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or other toppings before baking for extra flavor and crunch.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising taste.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 2g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 36g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 25mg
Jamie Granger

Jamie Granger

Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Expertise

  • Fusion Cuisine Development
  • Recipe Development and Food Styling
  • Culinary Writing and Content Creation
  • Nutrition and Healthy Cooking​

Education

Culinary Institute of America

  • Degree: Associate in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Emphasis on flavor development, classic and contemporary culinary techniques, menu design, and global cuisine preparation; combined with food-service management, communication, and finance training; and immersive hands‑on restaurant operations through paid industry internships.

Jamie Granger turns ingredients into memories. With her recipes, she brings a fusion-forward flair to every creation. 

Her dishes reflect the places she’s explored, the chefs she’s learned from, and the deep connection she has to food as a form of expression. 

At Pass and Provision, Jamie develops recipes that balance flavor, health, and beauty, meals that don’t just satisfy your appetite but speak to your curiosity.

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