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My Best Fresh Baked Bagels at Home

Top-down view of freshly baked bagels with sesame and poppy seeds on baking tray

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These fresh baked bagels are soft, chewy, and perfect for topping with your favorite spread. Made from scratch with a classic water bath boil and golden bake.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1½ cups warm water
  • Cooking spray
  • 8 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup toppings (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix bread flour, sugar, and salt. Add dissolved yeast in warm water and knead 8 minutes (by mixer or hand).
  2. Spray bowl, return dough, cover and rise until doubled, 1–1½ hours.
  3. Divide dough into 12 pieces. Roll each into a smooth ball.
  4. Place on sprayed, parchment-lined sheets. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat oven to 425°F. Simmer water, sugar, baking soda, and salt in pot.
  6. Poke hole in each dough ball and stretch gently to 1 inch wide.
  7. Boil 4 bagels at a time: 3 minutes, flip, then 2 more minutes. Drain and top if desired.
  8. Bake 12 minutes. Flip and bake another 8–12 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.

Notes

  • For overnight prep: shape and refrigerate covered. Let sit 1 hour before baking.
  • Store cooled bagels in airtight container up to 5 days.

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