This homemade bagel recipe makes the best do-it-yourself bagels! Add a favorite bagel seasoning of your choice and you’ll never go back to store-bought bagels!

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Bagel Recipe

Just about everyone loves a fresh bagel, and for good reason!

There’s just something about bagels that makes them a favorite type of bread. While I also love fresh whole wheat bread or sourdough bread, bagels are incredibly versatile and go well with so many different kinds of toppings.

Some people love smothering their plain bagel with some of their favorite toppings such as cream cheese, honey, brown sugar, or jelly.

Other prefer a more basic bagel topped with poppy seeds or sesame seeds.

Either way, the bagels made with this recipe have a chewy texture and that perfect golden brown color.

Try this easy homemade bagel recipe and see if you don’t agree that these are some really good bagels—maybe even better than what you’ve had from bagel shops!

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Supplies Needed for This Recipe

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients and instructions for how to make this recipe are in the recipe card below.

Flour: Bread flour is used in this recipe. I usually buy unbleached flour.

Salt: Any salt can be used, but I like to use this sea salt in all of my cooking.

Instant Yeast: This recipe calls for instant yeast, not active dry yeast.

Sugar: White granulated sugar is the sweetener for the muffins.

Warm water: This is used as an ingredient in the bagel dough and in boiling the bagels.

Olive oil: This is needed to grease the bowl. You could also use butter or coconut oil.

Honey: You’ll need honey as part of the process of boiling the bagels in hot water.

Egg: A whisked egg is used as part of the bagel egg wash.

Toppings: You can use your choice of toppings, but sesame seeds or “everything bagel” seasonings work well.

How to Make This Homemade Bagel Recipe

Prepare the Yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let sit for about 5 minutes or until it becomes frothy.
Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients of bread flour and salt. Once the yeast mixture is ready, pour it into the flour mixture. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.

Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky, or more water if the dough is too dry.
Grease the Bowl: After kneading, lightly grease a clean large bowl with the olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides with the oil.
Let the Dough Rise: Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours.

punching bagel dough and letting it rise

Shape the Bagels: Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into eight to 12 equal pieces, depending on your desired size.
Roll each piece into a ball, then poke a hole through the center with your index finger to make a bagel shape. Gently stretch the dough to form a ring. Place the shaped bagels on a lightly floured surface, cover loosely, and let them rest covered for about 10 minutes.

balls of bagel dough and dough with holes

Preheat and Prepare for Boiling: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Bring the water to a boil in a large pot (at least 2 to 3 quarts) and add the honey.

Boil the Bagels: Put the bagels in boiling water, a few at a time, for 1-2 minutes on each side. Use a slotted spoon to remove the boiled bagels from the water and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

Apply Egg Wash: Whisk the egg. Brush each boiled bagel lightly with the egg wash.
Add Toppings: Sprinkle sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning over the bagels after applying the egg wash. Leave some plain, if desired.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool: Transfer the bagels to a wire rack and let cool before serving.

How to Store

You can store homemade bagels at room temperature or freeze them for later use.

To store at room temperature, place them in a paper bag, where they’ll keep for a few days. But since fresh bagels tends to dry out pretty quickly, you might want to use them up or freeze them for later.

You can also store them in a plastic bag, but let them completely cool first as warm bagels will form condensation in a plastic bag, which could lead to mold growth.

To freeze bagels, put them in a freezer bag or airtight container. They’ll keep for several months in the freezer. You can also slice them before freezing so they’re ready to use after thawing.

If your stored bagels are too dry, sprinkle them with a little water, then bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

It’s not recommended to store bagels in the refrigerator as they don’t stay fresh due to moisture loss when refrigerated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my yeast doesn’t become frothy or foamy?

If your yeast doesn’t foam up, this is because it hasn’t “activated.” This could be due to the yeast being old, or if your water is too cool or too hot. The ideal temperature to activate yeast is 100 to 110 degrees F.

Can I prepare bagel dough ahead of time?

Yes, instead of letting the dough rise at room temperature, you can let the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight.

What’s the reason for boiling the bagels?

Bagels need to be boiled in water with honey in order to create a chewy but crisp outer coating.

How can you tell when bagels are done baking?

You’ll know your bagels are ready to come out of the oven when they’re golden brown with a crispy bottom.

My bagels are sticking to the parchment paper. Why is that?

You can dust the parchment paper with corn flour or cornmeal to prevent sticking.

What are the best toppings for bagels?

The sky is the limit when it comes to bagel toppings. But some of the most popular options are cream cheese, everything bagel, cinnamon sugar, or fresh herbs like dill or chives.

More Bread Recipes:

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment with a 5-star recipe rating and let me know! Thank you!