Why Homemade Bagels Are Worth Making

There’s something special about making homemade bagels from scratch. Freshly baked bagels have a chewy texture and rich flavor that store-bought bagels simply cannot match. Whether you enjoy them plain, toasted with cream cheese, or piled high with your favorite breakfast toppings, homemade bagels make a comforting addition to any morning routine.

One of the best things about this homemade bagel recipe is how simple the ingredients are. Using pantry staples like flour, yeast, water, sugar, and salt allows you to create bakery-style bagels right at home without complicated equipment. The boiling step helps give these bagels their classic chewy crust while baking creates a golden brown finish.

If you are new to bread making, bagels are a great recipe to learn basic dough techniques. Kneading the dough helps develop gluten for structure and texture, while allowing the dough to rise creates soft and flavorful bagels. You can also customize this recipe with toppings like sesame seeds, poppy seeds, everything seasoning, cinnamon sugar, or shredded cheese.

Homemade bagels can be made ahead of time and frozen for quick breakfasts throughout the week. Simply slice and freeze them in an airtight container, then toast when ready to enjoy. Pair them with homemade jam, flavored cream cheese, eggs, or breakfast sandwiches for an easy homemade meal.

Making homemade bread recipes from scratch is a wonderful way to slow down and enjoy simple homemade living. If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to check out my other homemade baking recipes and natural homemade kitchen favorites here on Homemade is my Hobby.

FAQ Section

Why are homemade bagels chewy?

Homemade bagels are chewy because the dough is made with high-protein flour and is boiled before baking. Bread flour contains more gluten than all-purpose flour, which helps create the dense and chewy texture bagels are known for. Boiling the bagels before baking also helps form the classic chewy crust on the outside while keeping the inside soft.

Can bagel dough be refrigerated overnight?

Yes, bagel dough can be refrigerated overnight. Allowing the dough to rest in the refrigerator helps develop more flavor and can improve the texture of the bagels. After mixing and kneading the dough, cover it tightly and place it in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, let the dough sit at room temperature for a short time before shaping and continuing with the recipe.

Can homemade bagels be frozen?

Yes, homemade bagels freeze very well. Allow the bagels to cool completely after baking, then slice them and store them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. When ready to eat, simply toast the frozen bagels or warm them in the oven for a quick homemade breakfast.

Why do you boil bagels before baking?

Boiling bagels before baking helps create their signature chewy texture and shiny crust. The boiling process gelatinizes the outside of the dough, which prevents the bagels from rising too much in the oven and gives them their classic dense texture. Some recipes also add honey, sugar, or baking soda to the boiling water to enhance flavor and color.

What flour works best for bagels?

Bread flour works best for homemade bagels because it has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour. The extra protein helps develop strong gluten, which gives bagels their chewy texture. While all-purpose flour can be used, bread flour typically creates a more authentic bakery-style bagel.

How To Add Blueberries To Bagel Dough?

Fresh blueberries contain a lot of moisture, so frozen or dried blueberries usually work best.

Using Dried Blueberries (Recommended)

After the dough has mostly kneaded together:

1. Add dried blueberries during the last 1–2 minutes of kneading.
2. Knead gently until evenly distributed.
3. Let dough rise as normal.

This keeps the dough from becoming too wet.

Using Frozen Blueberries

Frozen blueberries release moisture while mixing.

To adjust:

• Add an extra 1–2 tablespoons bread flour if dough becomes sticky.

How to add:

1. Knead dough first.
2. Flatten dough slightly.
3. Gently fold in frozen blueberries by hand.
4. Avoid overmixing or berries may burst.

Some purple streaking is normal and can actually look pretty in homemade blueberry bagels.

For Bakery-Style Blueberry Bagels

Add:

• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon

These pair really well with blueberries.

Cinnamon Raisin

Add:

• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¾ cup raisins

Cheddar Jalapeño

Add:

• ¾ cup shredded cheddar
• 1 diced jalapeño

Bread flour works best for flavored bagels because it helps support heavier mix-ins like fruit and cheese while keeping the bagels chewy.

Everything Bagels

Top with:

• Everything seasoning after egg wash

Asiago Cheese

Top with:

• Shredded asiago cheese before baking

Cinnamon Sugar

Brush with butter after baking and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top.

Important Tip

Try with homemade cream cheese.

Here are some other easy bread recipes to try!

Everything I use to make homemade bread recipes in my Amazon storefront.

Bagel

5 from 1 vote

Easy Homemade Bagels

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Rise 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 6

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tsp yeast
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 3 cups bread flour or All purpose
• 1 tsp salt

Water Bath

• 2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
• 2 quarts water enough room to make them float

Egg Wash & Toppings

• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 egg
• toppings optional

Method

 

1. Add warm water, yeast, sugar, flour and salt to stand mixer with dough hook and knead the dough together until the sides of the bowl comes clean. Gathers into a ball until it becomes smooth. Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel and let rest 1 hour.
2. Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto your work surface and divide into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball with a smooth surface. To form a bagel shape, press your finger into the center of one ball to make a hole right through the middle. Move your fingers gently in a circular motion to make the hole a little bit bigger. Then, hold and stretch it gently to make the hole bigger. The goal is to make the hole a little bigger than you actually want it, as the dough will shrink back slightly during baking.
   
3. Add the water and honey to a pot and let it come to a low boil, turning the heat to medium after it boils to maintain a very gentle boil.
4. Let the bagels you've formed sit on the work surface for about 5 minutes before gently lowering them into the boiling honey water two at a time. Let the bagels boil for about 1 and a half to 2 minutes per side. Don't skip this step! This is what gives bagels their chewy texture and perfect crust and baking them without boiling will not give you the same result. After boiling, place the bagels on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Whisk the egg and milk together and brush the mixture lightly over the tops of the bagels. Sprinkle toppings (if using) over the top of the bagels.
   
5. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the bagels cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.