bagel with bread machine

Bread Machine Bagel Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240ml) warm water (about 110°F/45°C)
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 3 1/4 cups (400g) bread flour
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast

For Boiling:

• 2 quarts (8 cups) water
• 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar (optional, for a glossy, slightly sweet crust)

Optional Toppings:

• Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion flakes, everything bagel seasoning, etc.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough:
   • Add the warm water, salt, sugar, bread flour, and yeast to your bread machine pan in the order recommended by your machine’s manufacturer. Usually, liquids go first, then dry ingredients, and yeast last.
   • Select the “Dough” cycle and start the machine. This cycle will typically take around 1.5 hours to complete, including mixing, kneading, and the first rise.
2. Shape the Bagels:
   • Once the dough cycle is complete, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface.
   • Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces (for regular-sized bagels) or 12 pieces (for smaller bagels).
   • Roll each piece into a ball. Then, using your thumb, poke a hole through the center of each ball and gently stretch the hole to about 1-2 inches in diameter, forming a bagel shape.
   • Place the shaped bagels on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover them with a clean kitchen towel and let them rest for about 15-20 minutes while you prepare the boiling water.
3. Boil the Bagels:
   • Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
   • In a large pot, bring the 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add the honey or brown sugar, if using.
   • Carefully drop 2-3 bagels at a time into the boiling water. Boil for about 1 minute on each side.
   • Use a slotted spoon to remove the bagels from the water and place them back on the baking sheet.
4. Add Toppings (Optional):
   • If you’re using toppings, now is the time to sprinkle them onto the wet bagels. Press lightly to help them adhere.
5. Bake the Bagels:
   • Bake the bagels in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
   • Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
6. Serve:
   • Enjoy your homemade bagels with cream cheese, butter, or any of your favorite toppings!

Tips:

• Chewier Bagels: For chewier bagels, you can let the shaped bagels rest in the refrigerator overnight before boiling and baking them.
• Boiling Time: Adjust the boiling time slightly for different textures: shorter boiling for softer bagels and longer for chewier ones.
• Flour Types: Bread flour is preferred for bagels as it has a higher protein content, which gives bagels their characteristic chewy texture.

Variations:

• Flavor the Dough: Add 1/2 cup of mix-ins like raisins, cinnamon, blueberries, or chopped garlic to the dough during the kneading cycle for different flavored bagels.
• Stuffed Bagels: Try stuffing the bagels with cream cheese or other fillings before boiling for a special treat.

Cooking Time:

• Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 1.5 hours for the dough cycle)
• Boil & Bake Time: 35-40 minutes
• Total Time: 2.5 hours

Nutritional Information (per bagel, about 8 servings):

• Calories: ~230 kcal
• Protein: ~7g
• Fat: ~1g
• Carbohydrates: ~48g
• Fiber: ~2g
• Sugar: ~4g

Enjoy these homemade bread machine bagels, perfect for breakfast or brunch!