New York-Style Bagels

Chewy homemade New York-style bagels made with a simple yeasted bread dough, shaped into rings, briefly boiled, topped as desired, and baked until golden.

20 mins

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

2 hrs

Total Time

8

Servings

Ingredients

Toppings
  • caraway seeds, optional
  • cinnamon sugar, optional
  • coarse salt, optional
  • minced fresh garlic, optional
  • minced fresh onion, optional
  • poppy seeds, optional
  • sesame seeds, optional
  • everything bagel seasoning, optional
Dough
  • 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 4 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups warm water, plus up to 1/4 cup more if needed
  • 3 1/2 cups bread flour or high-gluten flour, plus more for kneading
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Stir sugar and yeast into 1/2 cup warm water after letting them sit for 5 minutes, until dissolved and active.
  2. Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well, add the yeast mixture, then gradually mix in the remaining warm water until a moist, firm dough forms.
  3. Knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes, working in flour as needed, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and firm.
  4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn to coat, cover with a damp towel, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled. Punch down and rest 10 minutes.
  5. Divide dough into 8 pieces and shape each into a smooth round. Press a floured finger through the center of each round, stretch into a ring, and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
  6. Cover shaped bagels with a damp towel and rest 10 minutes while heating the oven to 425 F and bringing a large pot of water to a boil.
  7. Reduce water to a simmer. Boil bagels in batches for 1 minute per side, or 2 minutes per side for extra chew.
  8. Add toppings while the bagels are still wet from boiling, then transfer to an oiled or parchment-lined baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until uniformly golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.