Bagels from scratch
🥯✨ I made bagels from scratch and honestly? I feel unstoppable.
No shortcuts — just real ingredients and patience. They came out soft, chewy, and perfect with cream cheese 🤍
• 2 cups bread flour
• ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1¾ tsp salt
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• ~¼ cup warm water
• 1 tbsp baking soda (for boiling water)
• 1 egg (optional – for richness or egg wash)
Steps:
1. Mix flour, salt, and yeast. Add yogurt + water to form a dough.
2. Knead 8–10 mins until smooth. Let rise 1 hour (until doubled).
3. Shape into 6 bagels. Rest 10–15 mins.
4. Boil 30–40 secs per side in water + 1 tbsp baking soda.
5. Brush with egg wash if using. Bake at 425°F / 220°C for 18–22 mins.
6. Cool, slice, toast, and enjoy 🤍
🧊 Mine didn’t have salt this time (forgot lol) but they were still fire with cream cheese 🔥
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Making bagels from scratch offers a rewarding baking experience that combines patience, skill, and simple ingredients to create a delicious result often superior to store-bought versions. The key to achieving that iconic bagel texture—soft on the inside and slightly chewy on the outside—lies in a few important steps. First, using bread flour is crucial because its high protein content promotes gluten development, which gives bagels their characteristic chewiness. Greek yogurt adds moisture and a slight tang, while the instant yeast ensures a proper rise. Salt is essential not only for enhancing flavor but also for controlling yeast activity. The boiling step with baking soda is what sets bagels apart from other bread. Boiling the shaped bagels briefly in water mixed with baking soda creates that shiny, chewy crust by gelatinizing the starch on the surface. Baking soda raises the pH of the water, helping to develop that classic bagel crust and color. For health-conscious bakers, this recipe offers a wholesome alternative to commercially produced bagels that may contain preservatives and additives. You can also customize toppings after boiling—everything from sesame seeds, poppy seeds, to onion flakes—to suit your taste. Additionally, the optional egg wash adds richness and gives the bagels an appealing golden finish. However, even without it, as noted in the original recipe, the bagels are delicious and pair perfectly with cream cheese or your favorite spreads. Beyond flavor and texture, making bagels at home unlocks creative possibilities such as adding proteins or experimenting with gluten-free flours for dietary needs. For example, swapping part of the bread flour with whole wheat or oat flour can enhance nutritional value. In summary, this straightforward homemade bagel recipe emphasizes careful ingredient selection and technique, resulting in bakery-quality bagels that are soft, chewy, and satisfying. It's an excellent project for baking enthusiasts looking to master traditional methods and enjoy fresh, warm bagels that everyone will love.
