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Soft Homemade Bagels Recipe (4 Easy Flavors – Better Than Bakery-Style)

These homemade bagels are my go-to recipe for soft, chewy, bakery-style bagels at home. Made with simple ingredients and no special equipment, this recipe includes 4 easy flavors: plain, cinnamon sugar, garlic, and sun-dried tomato herb. Perfect for breakfast, meal prep, or feeding a crowd—these bagels freeze beautifully and taste so much better than store-bought.
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Prep Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

The Base Dough (Your Starting Point):
  • 1½ cups warm water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2¼ tsp instant yeast
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 4 –4½ cups all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Sugar:
  • Butter or water
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1½ tsp cinnamon
Garlic:
  • Oil or egg wash
  • Garlic powder or minced garlic
  • Pinch of salt
Sun-Dried Tomato Herb:
  • Handful of chopped sun-dried tomatoes
  • Dried oregano + basil
  • Oil + optional garlic

Method
 

Activate yeast
  1. Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast together. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until it becomes foamy and alive.
  2. 👉 This is your foundation — if nothing happens here, start again.
Make the dough
  1. Add salt, then slowly mix in flour until a stiff dough forms. It won’t feel soft or smooth at first — that’s normal.
  2. Knead for 8–10 minutes until it becomes elastic and smooth.
First rise
  1. Cover and let the dough rise for 45–60 minutes, until it looks slightly puffy.
  2. 👉 This is where the texture develops.
Shape your bagels
  1. Divide into 12 pieces. Roll into balls, poke a hole through the center, and gently stretch into bagel shapes.
  2. Rest for 10–15 minutes.
Boil (don't skip this)
  1. Boil in water with 1–2 tbsp sugar or honey.
  2. Cook each side for about 30 seconds.
  3. 👉 This is what creates that chewy bakery texture.
Bake
  1. Bake at 425°F / 220°C for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
✨ Flavor Variations:
    🍬 Cinnamon Sugar (sweet & cozy)
    1. Brush with butter or water after baking, then coat with cinnamon sugar mixture.
    🧄 Garlic (savory classic)
    1. Brush with oil or egg wash and top with garlic + salt before baking.
    🍅 Sun-Dried Tomato Herb (bold + flavorful)
    1. Fold chopped sun-dried tomatoes + herbs into the dough before shaping.

    Notes

    • Dough should feel firm, not soft like bread dough
    • Don’t skip the boiling—it’s what makes them bagels
    • They freeze really well after baking