Homemade Bagels

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 3/4 cups water, warm (100-110f)
• 4 cups bread flour (not all purpose)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 egg, for egg wash

Recipe

• 1 in a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) combine yeast, sugar and water.
• 2 let stand for 5 minutes, then stir in flour and salt.
• 3 mix dough thoroughly until it comes together in a large ball, pulling away from the sides of the bowl. add an additional tablespoon of flour or water, if needed.
• 4 if kneading by hand, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until very smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. if using a stand mixer, knead dough with the dough hook until elastic, about 8 minutes on a low speed.
• 5 place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• 6 bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil and preheat the oven to 400°f.
• 7 when dough has risen, turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. shape each piece into a tight ball, pinching the corners together at the bottom of the piece of dough. when all the balls are shaped, let the dough rest for 30 minutes covered with a clean dish towel.
• 8 once dough balls have rested, the bagel shape can be formed. using your fingers, poke a hole through the center of each dough ball. stretch out the dough into a ring with your fingers and be sure to make the hole a little larger than you want the finished bagel to have, as it will shrink slightly while the bagel is expanding during the baking process.
• 9 let bagels rest for about 10 minutes.
• 10 working a couple at a time, drop the bagels carefully into the boiling water. boil for 2 minutes on the first side, then flip and boil for an additional minute.
• 11 using a slotted spoon or strainer, transfer bagels to a clean towel to drain for a moment, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. repeat process with remaining bagels.
• 12 brush boiled bagels with lightly beaten egg (a pastry or bbq brush is a good tool for this) and bake for 20-24 minutes, until golden brown.
• 13 cool completely on a wire rack.
• 14 slice and toast to serve.