Homemade Bagels

Homemade Bagels is a medium American recipe that serves 6. 250 calories per serving. Recipe by JustInCooking on YouTube.

Prep: 3 hrs 8 min | Cook: 22 min | Total: 3 hrs 45 min

Cost: $2.22 total, $0.37 per serving

Ingredients

  • 10 g Active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 250 ml Warm water (≈38 °C)
  • 250 g T45 wheat flour (for lightness)
  • 250 g T55 wheat flour (for structure)
  • 30 g White sugar
  • 10 g Fine salt
  • 30 ml Extra virgin olive oil
  • 15 g Cornstarch (for poaching)
  • 3 L Water for poaching (cold water)
  • 30 g Brown sugar (for poaching)
  • 5 g Salt (for poaching)
  • 1 unit Egg (for wash)
  • 15 ml Milk (one tablespoon)
  • 30 g Seeds (white sesame, black sesame, seed and grain mix) (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Yeast activation

    Combine the dried yeast with 250 ml of warm water (≈38 °C) in a small bowl, stir for 1 minute, then let rest for 10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy.

    Time: PT11M

  2. Mixing the flours

    In the robot bowl, pour 250 g of T45 flour, 250 g of T55 flour, 30 g of sugar and 10 g of salt, then mix quickly.

    Time: PT5M

  3. Kneading

    Make a well in the centre, pour in the yeast mixture and 30 ml of olive oil. Knead on medium speed for 5 minutes or by hand until a homogeneous ball forms that detaches from the sides.

    Time: PT8M

  4. First fermentation

    Shape a ball, place it in a bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise 1 h 30 to 2 h in a warm place until it doubles in volume.

    Time: PT105M

  5. Degassing and portioning

    Degas the dough by gently pressing, shape a ball, weigh it (825 g total) and divide into 6 pieces of about 137 g each.

    Time: PT15M

  6. Shaping

    Roll each piece into a ball, poke a hole in the centre and gently widen it to a 5 cm diameter. Place the bagels on a sheet covered with parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30‑40 minutes.

    Time: PT50M

  7. Poaching bath

    In a small bowl, dissolve 15 g of cornstarch in a little water taken from the 3 L. In a large pot, bring the 3 L of water to a boil with 30 g of brown sugar and 5 g of salt, then add the cornstarch‑water mixture.

    Time: PT5M

  8. Poaching

    Remove the film, place the bagels (with the paper underneath) into the simmering water. Cook 1 minute on one side, flip and cook 30 seconds on the other. Drain and let dry for a few seconds.

    Time: PT2M

    Temperature: frémissante

  9. Egg wash

    Beat 1 egg with 15 ml of milk. Brush each bagel with the mixture using a brush, then sprinkle the seeds of your choice.

    Time: PT4M

  10. Baking

    Preheat the oven to 195°C fan‑forced. Bake the bagels for 15 minutes until golden.

    Time: PT15M

    Temperature: 195°C

  11. Cooling

    Let rest 5 minutes on the tray, then transfer to a rack to cool completely at room temperature.

    Time: PT5M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
250
Protein
9 g
Carbohydrates
45 g
Fat
5 g
Fiber
2 g

Dietary info: vegetarian, low-calorie, low-fat

Allergens: wheat, egg, sesame

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Instead of Active dry yeast: fresh yeast (20 g)
  • Instead of White sugar: cane sugar
  • Instead of Extra virgin olive oil: canola oil
  • Instead of Cornstarch: potato starch
  • Instead of Brown sugar: brown sugar
  • Instead of Egg: vegan beaten egg
  • Instead of Milk: almond milk

Equipment Needed

  • Stand mixer or mixing bowl
  • Kitchen scale
  • Spatula or wooden spoon
  • Plastic wrap
  • Parchment paper
  • Baking sheet
  • 5 L pot
  • Whisk
  • Tablespoon
  • Kitchen brush
  • Oven
  • Cooling rack
  • Additional bowl (optional)

Critical Steps — Do Not Skip

  • Yeast activation
  • Kneading
  • First fermentation
  • Shaping the hole
  • Poaching
  • Baking

Chef Tips from the Video

  • Using ice water for the poaching bath gives a softer interior.
  • Slightly boiling the bath before adding the cornstarch prevents lumps.
  • Let the bagels rest 5 minutes out of the oven before slicing.

Troubleshooting

The dough does not rise

Check that the water was between 35‑40 °C and that the yeast is still active; add a little more sugar or let rise longer in a warmer place.

The bagel hole closes during baking

Make sure the hole is indeed 5 cm before poaching and do not handle the bagels too much after poaching.

The crust is too hard

Lower the oven temperature to 180 °C or reduce the baking time by 2‑3 minutes.

Bagels stick to the tray

Use parchment paper and a little flour or oil under the paper.

Storage

Refrigerator: Store in a plastic bag or airtight container for 3‑4 days.

Freezer: Wrap individually and freeze up to 2 months.

Room temperature: Consume within 24 hours, otherwise refrigerate.

Make-Ahead Tips

  • After shaping, you can freeze the raw bagels before poaching.
  • Poached bagels can be frozen and reheated in the oven.

Last updated: September 6, 2026

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Homemade Bagels

Recipe by JustInCooking

Learn how to make soft and flavorful homemade bagels by following each detailed step: yeast activation, kneading, first rise, shaping the characteristic hole, poaching in a sweet bath, egg wash and baking. The result: six golden bagels, crispy on the outside and tender inside, ready to be enjoyed plain or topped with salmon, avocado and cream cheese.

MediumAmericanServes 6

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Source Video
3h 23m
Prep
22m
Cook
27m
Cleanup
4h 12m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$2.22
Total cost
$0.37
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • • Yeast activation
  • • Kneading
  • • First fermentation
  • • Shaping the hole
  • • Poaching
  • • Baking

Safety Warnings

  • • The poaching bath water is very hot, handle with care.
  • • The oven reaches 195 °C, use kitchen gloves.