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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Published: Feb 1, 2022 · Modified: Apr 16, 2023 by Jen Talley · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

    New York Style Sourdough Starter Discard Bagels

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    Several everything and sesame bagels on a cooling rack with the text: Sourdough Discard Bagels.

    Chewy New York Style Bagels are even better when made with a sourdough starter. The sourdough discard adds depth of flavor and keeps the bagels fresh longer!

    An everything bagel and plain bagel on a small wooden cutting board.
    New York Style Bagels with Sourdough Discard

    The idea of making homemade bagels may seem a bit intimidating, but bagel dough is denser (more flour) and easier to work with than normal bread dough.

    To make it even easier I made a full video tutorial that you can find in the recipe card below. If you have any questions I would love to help!

    These bagels use yeast and sourdough starter. They are mild and delicious in flavor and done in about 2 hours. Although they are not purely sourdough they still have a beautiful soft and chewy inside!

    These easy sourdough bagels are my most requested gift to give to friends. I have even been asked to make several dozen for brunches!

    They are naturally vegan! No crazy ingredients to substitute! Top with vegan cream cheese or butter. Or try these Plant Based Bagels without a sourdough starter.

    Have you tried a New York style everything bagel with cream cheese, lox (smoked salmon) and a slice of tomato? They are divine!

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • The bagel are chewy on the outside and soft and on the inside!
    • The dough is not sticky at all and so easy to work with!
    • These will miles better than the store bought bagels.
    • You can customize them with your favorite toppings!

    Recipe Ingredients

    The ingredients to make New York style sourdough discard bagels.

    You'll need the following ingredients to make New York Style Sourdough Discard Bagels.

    Flour: Bread flour or a flour with higher wheat protein will yield chewier bagels. King Arthur bread flour or King Arthur all purpose flour are great.

    Water

    Sourdough Discard: These will take your mediocre homemade bagels and make them magnificent. The discard adds flavor and longevity to the bagels!

    Sugar: Helps feed the yeast.

    Yeast: Hands down my favorite yeast is SAF Instant Yeast. I use it in all my bread!

    Salt: Brings out the flavor.

    Optional Toppings: everything seasoning, dried onion flakes, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, coarse salt.

    How to Make Bagels

    Here are some quick instructions. The full recipe with ingredient measurements is below! Also, check out the full tutorial video in the recipe card!

    Add the water, flour, yeast, salt and sugar to the mixer. Knead for at least 10 minutes.

    Adding the ingredients for bagels into a mixer.

    Take the dough out of the mixer and shape it into a ball.

    A collage of mixing the dough, kneading the dough and shaping it into a ball.

    Put the dough in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and rise.

    The bagel dough before and after it has risen.

    Cut the dough into 8-12 pieces depending on the desired size of the bagels. Generously flour a clean surface for the shaped bagels to rest on.

    Cutting the dough into pieces and dusting the counter with flour.

    There are two methods to shape the bagels. The video tutorial in the recipe card will be VERY helpful with shaping the bagels.

    Showing the shape of the bagels for the two different methods of rolling them out.

    The first method is to roll it out like a snake and use the counter to roll the two ends together. I prefer method one.

    A collage of how to roll out and shape a bagel.

    The second method is to roll a tight ball and use your fingers to poke a hole in the middle of the dough and then gently stretch it out.

    A collage on how to shape a bagel by rolling the dough into a ball and poking a hole in the middle.

    Let the boils rest on the counter while you bring the water to a boil and preheat the oven.

    A collage of before and after the bagels rest on the counter.

    Boil the bagels and add toppings.

    A collage of boiling bagels and adding toppings on the boiled bagels.

    Bake the bagels and allow them to cool before slicing them open.

    Bagels stacked on a wood board.

    Recipe Tips & Tricks

    There are two ways to shape the bagels. The first way is to roll each piece into a tight ball and then use your fingers to make a hole in the middle. Then, carefully stretch out the hole.

    The second way is to roll the piece of dough into a snake that can fit around your hand. Then roll the overlapping dough against the counter to roll the ends together. Watch this Easy Homemade Bagels video to see them in action.

    Good parchment paper or Silpat Baking Mats are a must. These bagels come out of the boiling water and the dough will stick to a bare pan.

    An onion bagel with cream cheese and a stack of bagels next to it.

    Storage and Reheating

    • Storage: Store the bagels in a bread bag. They will stay fluffy for 3 days. After day 3 you may want to toast them or freeze them.
    • Reheating: Take the frozen bagels out of the freezer. Allow them to thaw on the counter or in the microwave. Then toast them.
    • Freezing: Cut the bagels in half and put the cut sides back together. Double bag them and freeze them.

    Additions and Substitutions

    • Toppings: It is fun to experiment with the bagels and toppings. Try everything seasoning, dried onion flakes, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, coarse salt.
    • Cinnamon Raisin: Add an additional 2 tablespoons of sugar to the dough, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ cup of raisins.
    • Chocolate Chip: Add an additional 2 tablespoons of sugar to the dough. Add mini chocolate chips after the rise and before shaping the bagels.
    Several everything and sesame bagels on a cooling rack.
    New York Style Sourdough Discard Bagels

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What can you serve on bagels?

    You can keep it simple and add butter or cream cheese to the bagel. You can also add lox (smoked salmon), onion, tomato and capers on top of the cream cheese. Many people like to use bagels for breakfast or lunch sandwiches. You can add scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast. Deli meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato are perfect toppings for lunch.

    Why do bagels have to be boiled?

    Boiling the bagels creates that chewy outer crust, but keep the center of the bagel soft.

    Why do you add sugar or malt syrup to the boiling water for bagels?

    Barley malt syrup or sugar can be used in the water when boiling bagels. It helps to create the shiny, chewy exterior of the bagel.

    Can bagels be made without a mixer?

    You can make bagels without a mixer, but they need to be kneaded very well to create the classic chewy bagel. The dough is very dense and requires some strength to knead for at least 10 minutes.

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    📖 Recipe

    An everything bagel and plain bagel on a small wooden cutting board.

    New York Style Sourdough Starter Discard Bagels

    Chewy New York Style Bagels are even better when made with a sourdough starter. The discard adds depth of flavor and keeps the bagels fresh longer!
    4.97 from 84 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: bagels, breakfast, lunch, sourdough
    Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Rise Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 2 hours hours
    Servings: 8 bagels
    Author: Jen Talley

    Equipment

    • 1 Bosch Mixer or
    • 1 Kitchenaid Mixer
    • 2 Sheet pans
    • parchment paper or
    • 2 silpat mats

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups warm water (454 grams)
    • ½ cup sourdough discard (120 grams) (a heaping ½ cup)
    • 3½ teaspoons Instant Yeast (9 grams) (prefer SAF Yeast, but can sub active dry yeast)
    • 2 tablespoons white sugar (30 grams)
    • 2½ teaspoons kosher salt (16 grams)
    • 6 cups unbleached bread flour (800 grams) wait to add the last ½ cup after you check the dough - see video

    For Boiling Bagels

    • water
    • 2 tablespoons white sugar (30 grams)

    Optional Toppings

    • everything bagel seasoning
    • dried onion flakes
    • sesame seeds
    • poppy seeds
    • coarse salt

    Instructions

    • Add the water, sourdough discard, yeast, sugar and salt to a mixer. Add 5½ cups of flour to the mixer. Using the dough hook begin to knead the dough. It may take some time to mix well because there is a lot of flour. Slowly add the remaining ½ cup of flour until the dough isn't sticky anymore and it feels very dense.
    • Knead for about 10 minutes using a Bosch mixer and about 13 minutes using a Kitchenaid mixer.
    • Transfer the dough to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise is a warm place for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
    • Punch down the dough and cut it into 8-12 pieces (It depends on how large you want your bagels. I usually aim for each bagel to be about 160 grams.)
    • Dust your counter with flour and place the shaped bagels onto your counter.  There are two methods to share the bagels (see video). Option 1: Roll the piece of dough into a "snake." Bring the two ends together under your palm and roll the ends together. Option 2: You can roll the piece of dough into a ball and stick your finger through the center to make a hole and then use your fingers to stretch the hole.
    • While your shaped bagels are resting (you do not need to cover them).
      1. Fill a large pot with water and add the 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bring the pot of water to a gentle boil.
      2. Arrange the oven racks to the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
      3. Line two pans with parchment paper or Silpat mats.
      4. Get your toppings ready.
    • By the time the water begins to boil the tops of the bagels should be a little smoother and puffier. Gently lift a bagel and place it into the boiling water top side down. I can fit 3 at a time into my pot of boiling water. Boil for 30 seconds on each side. Remove them with a large slotted spoon or spatula. Place them gently on the parchment paper. If you want to add toppings now is the time - while they are still wet from the water.
    • Put the first pan in the 400° oven as soon as it is full. Follow with the second pan as soon as you finish boiling the rest of the bagels.
    • After 15 minutes swap the pans. Put the pan from the bottom on the top rack and put the pan from the top on the bottom rack. Bake for another 10-15 minutes. Make sure your bagels have started to brown nicely before taking the out of the oven. The dough is dense and if you take them out too early it will still be a little gummy in the middle. Let them cool before slicing.

    Video

    Notes

    Good parchment paper or Silpat Baking Mats are a must. These bagels come out of the boiling water and the dough will stick to a bare pan.
    Storage: Store the bagels in a bread bag. They will stay fluffy for 3 days. After day 3 you may want to toast them or freeze them.
    Reheating: Take the frozen bagels out of the freezer. Allow them to thaw on the counter or in the microwave. Then toast them.
    Freezing: Cut the bagels in half and put the cut sides back together. Double bag them and freeze them.
    Dairy Free: These are naturally dairy free. Top with dairy free butter or cream cheese. 

    Additional Resources

    Another short video about shaping the bagels is below.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sharon Hunt says

      February 01, 2022 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      I tried making these bagels for my husband and I and they came out great! The video definitely helped with shaping them!

      Reply
      • Thyme for the Table says

        February 01, 2022 at 9:21 pm

        I'm glad the video was helpful and the bagels turned out good!

        Reply
    2. Kristin says

      February 01, 2022 at 8:57 pm

      5 stars
      Oh My Bagel! I am obsessed with this recipe and absolutely love that I can have homemade bagels from start to finish in less than 2 hours! Who knew making delicious bagels was that easy?!

      Reply
      • Thyme for the Table says

        February 01, 2022 at 9:20 pm

        It really is so much easier than you would think! I'm glad you gave them a try!

        Reply
    3. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      February 02, 2022 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      Oh these look so good. Unfortunately my husband managed to end Bob my starter when I was visiting my mum.

      Reply
      • Thyme for the Table says

        February 02, 2022 at 8:09 pm

        Oh no! Poor Bob! My Doughlene got neglected when I was on vacation in Florida, but a couple feeds later and she perked right back up.

        Reply
    4. Hayley Dhanecha says

      February 02, 2022 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      These look super delicious and absolutely loving this recipe. Homemade bagels in 2 hours? How amazing is that!!

      Reply
      • Thyme for the Table says

        February 02, 2022 at 8:10 pm

        They really are incredible!

        Reply
        • Sheri Lane says

          March 02, 2023 at 5:51 pm

          The recipe calls for over 8 cups of flour. It reads to add 5 initially and then add 1 to 3/4 cups for (or something like that). Do you mean we should add that much for or 3/4 from the remaining 3+ cups for that is left over?

          Reply
          • Jen Talley says

            March 04, 2023 at 2:46 am

            I just went through and made a huge update on the post. I read through the recipe card and changed the way it was worded. I also added weight measurements to be more precise. There is also a full video tutorial in the recipe card. I hope that helps Sheri. I have been meaning to update this post for a while and I am sorry it wasn't clearly written.

            Reply
    5. Casey says

      February 02, 2022 at 6:49 pm

      5 stars
      You can't really eat store bought bagels after making these!! I love that the dough wasn't sticky and easy to work with! Thanks so much for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Thyme for the Table says

        February 02, 2022 at 8:11 pm

        You're welcome Casey! I can't even remember the last time I bought pre-packaged bagels!

        Reply
    6. Rika says

      February 02, 2022 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      I didn't know that I could turn sourdough discard into bagel! I love the idea!

      Reply
      • Thyme for the Table says

        February 02, 2022 at 8:12 pm

        Yes! It is a great way to use your ever-growing sourdough starter!

        Reply
    7. Alison says

      February 02, 2022 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      Making your own bagels is so much fun! And you're right, the sourdough starter really makes these extra special!

      Reply
    8. Timothy says

      March 05, 2022 at 10:14 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve tried several recipes for bagels using some sourdough starter, and these are by far the best. My mixer had some struggles with the dense dough but that made the difference: really nice chew on the exterior, and an appropriately soft but not TOO soft interior. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Thyme for the Table says

        March 06, 2022 at 10:15 pm

        You're welcome! My friend has a KitchenAid and I have a Bosch and the Bosch handles the denser dough a little better, but both get the job done. I'm so glad the bagels were a success.

        Reply
    9. Kat says

      June 14, 2022 at 10:20 pm

      What setting is the mixer supposed to be at? I have a 6qt KitchenAid mixer.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        June 16, 2022 at 1:13 pm

        The dough is going to be very dense, I would keep it at the slowest setting to knead it.

        Reply
    10. Laura says

      August 05, 2022 at 12:39 am

      Sooo.. I don’t have a stand mixer. Could I cut this recipe in half and knead by hand?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        August 05, 2022 at 6:42 pm

        Hi Laura! Yes, you can absolutely knead this by hand. The nice thing about kneading it by hand is that this is not a sticky dough. However, it will be very dense and you will need to put some muscle into it. You really want to knead it well to get that chewiness of New York bagels. You can even just keep the recipe, "as is" and knead it by hand. No need to halve it.

        Reply
    11. Sarah P says

      December 22, 2022 at 9:49 pm

      5 stars
      On my third batch of these. They are fantastic! I mix about 1.5 TBS roughly ground pepper with no toppings...and my husband loves them. Thank you for this wonderfully easy recipe. I have been told I need to make them weekly now.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        December 27, 2022 at 2:51 am

        That's awesome Sarah! I have never made them with black pepper! I'm glad you are enjoying them!

        Reply
    12. Mia Koob says

      January 04, 2023 at 3:33 am

      5 stars
      Could I let these proof over night in the fridge? If so how long should I let them ride out on the counter in the morning?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        January 04, 2023 at 3:21 pm

        I haven't tried to let them proof in the fridge. But, I have been tempted to try! Let me know if you give it a try. I would be super interested to see how it works out.

        Reply
        • Mia Koob says

          January 05, 2023 at 11:40 am

          5 stars
          I tried it! They turned out great, i left the dough covered over night and shapes and baked them in the morning!

          Reply
          • Laura says

            April 28, 2023 at 12:18 pm

            I am in the process of making my first batch as I’m typing. I was wondering if you or anyone else has tried making these in the air fryer instead of the oven? It’s coming up on summertime and I prefer the air fryer for certain things if I can.

            Reply
            • Jen Talley says

              May 01, 2023 at 9:24 pm

              Laura,
              I have cooked these in my air fryer. I do 325 degrees for about 12 minutes. You still need to put them on parchment paper so they don't stick. At about 8 minutes I flip them and take the parchment paper out. I would cut the recipe in half and just do 4 bagels. Let me know if you have any questions.

    13. Adam says

      February 17, 2023 at 3:24 pm

      Any chance to get this recipe in standard SI measurement?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        February 18, 2023 at 6:38 pm

        Yes, I can work on getting that to you. The good news is that these bagels are very forgiving especially because you are making a dense dough. So even without precise measurements, you will find success. But next time I make these I will write down the measurements, add them to the recipe card and email you.

        Reply
        • Adam says

          February 20, 2023 at 8:15 pm

          It would be nice! Thank you!

          Reply
          • Jen Talley says

            March 04, 2023 at 2:48 am

            I just did a big update Adam. Not only did I add the weight measurements, I also posted process shots in the post. Best of all, there is a new video tutorial in the recipe card. I hope you give these bagels a try. My whole neighborhood loves them!

            Reply
    14. Annette says

      February 21, 2023 at 10:27 pm

      Can I put the dough in the refrigerator after the first rise to boil and bake off the next morning for fresh bagels and coffee?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        February 23, 2023 at 1:52 pm

        I haven't tried that yet, but maybe I will!! (I just made these bagels yesterday morning and took new pictures and a video I am going to add to this post.) I would definitely reduce the amount of yeast so that it doesn't rise too quickly overnight because then they may deflate when you add them to the water.

        If I were to try this I would make the dough in the evening. I would use room-temperature water and reduce the yeast to 1 teaspoon. It will cause the first rise to be slower, but it would reduce the risk of over proofing in the refrigerator. Put parchment paper on two cookie sheets and generously dust them with flour or corn meal. Spray with oil or butter on the top of plastic wrap. Shape the bagels and put them on the cookie sheets and cover them with the plastic wrap. Set it in the coldest part of your fridge. The next morning take the bagels out and allow them to warm on the counter for 30 minutes or so. Boil them and bake them.

        Like I said, I haven't tried this method, but this is what I would do. Let me know if you decide to give it a try and I'll let you know if I do.

        Reply
        • Kelly says

          July 29, 2023 at 5:07 am

          I tried, it was a flop. I let the dough rise in counter, as always. Then shaped them, cooked half and covered and refrigerated the other raw bagels to make the next day. They deflated and were blobs 🙁 but glad I tried so now everyone knows

          Reply
    15. Elizabeth Galloway says

      March 08, 2023 at 6:25 am

      5 stars
      These turned out absolutely delicious. Not a difficult recipe and tastes like a bakery bagel. Huge hit with the family. Thank you so much for this quick 2 hr start to finish recipe!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        March 08, 2023 at 1:47 pm

        Thank's for the great review Elizabeth! I'm so glad your family enjoyed them!

        Reply
    16. D says

      March 14, 2023 at 4:44 am

      4 stars
      Hi, did you change/update your recipe in March? I found your recipe in January/February and made several batches of bagels - the kitchen aide mix at 13 minutes was spot on and I had dough that climbed the hook and then fell off perfectly, leaving silky dough to rise for an hour. I've tried three separate times to make your recipe in the past week and it's resulted in dry, hard dough. Ive had to throw away 1500+ grams of flour and all my starter discard! Your recipe seems like it's changes online from what I recall based on the photos/videos and text....

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        March 14, 2023 at 6:24 pm

        Hey D! I'm so sorry that the update caused you to have problems! I had someone comment and ask me for the measurements in weight. I was careful to measure the ingredients and weigh them. I thought that I was very careful about the changes. I just realized that for the 2 cups of water, I wrote down the weight measurement for 1 cup. I just updated the correct grams of water and I really appreciate you bringing this to my attention. Email me if you have any questions!

        Reply
    17. Marcy says

      March 21, 2023 at 8:12 pm

      5 stars
      Such an excellent recipe! So easy and the bagels come out perfect every time! Thank you so much for sharing this as many people have been blessed by you and this bagel recipe! ♥️

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        March 22, 2023 at 12:34 am

        Thanks Marcy! That is really kind of you to write. My neighbors are always looking forward to being gifted my bagels too.

        Reply
    18. Jordon Reznicek says

      March 26, 2023 at 8:48 pm

      So my dough is super thick and hard. What did I do wrong??? I used fresh grained flour rather than bread flour. Does it make that big of a difference??

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        March 27, 2023 at 7:02 am

        Hi Jordon. Fresh-grained flour usually does require more water. It is also difficult to produce a chewy bagel New York Style bagel because the bran and germ makes it more difficult to produce as much gluten development. I haven't made these bagels using fresh whole wheat flour.

        Reply
    19. Beth says

      March 27, 2023 at 1:52 am

      5 stars
      These turned out deliciously! I successfully used some old disgard that I keep in my fridge. The only comment I have is that I used the amounts specified by weight and the dough was a little wet. I added more flour but should have added even more. Is your recipe geared more toward the other measurements (i.e. cups, etc?)

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        March 27, 2023 at 7:16 am

        Hi Beth! I am so glad you enjoyed the bagels! The consistency of your starter can effect how wet the dough is. Check the dough to make sure it is firm and not sticky and if you need to add more flour then definitely add some. The more you make the bagels the more familiar you will be with the dough. I make these so often, that I don't even measure the flour anymore. I just add it until the dough is dense and not super sticky. Please let me know if you have any questions. You can email me too. I'd be happy to help!

        Reply
    20. Annie says

      April 11, 2023 at 6:44 pm

      Do you have a NY style recipe that does not use a discard starter? Sometimes I don't have that amount of starter.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        April 12, 2023 at 12:06 am

        I am finishing up a recipe this week! I can't rank on Google search for "NY Bagel Recipe" so I am calling it "Plant Based Bagels." But it was my go-to recipe for YEARS before acquiring a starter. They are chewy on the outside and fluffy inside and they are seriously so good! I'll email you when it is finished this week!

        Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        April 16, 2023 at 10:11 pm

        Hi Annie! I just posted my recipe for the NY Bagels without starter. The recipe is "Plant Based Bagels."

        Reply
    21. ROBYN says

      April 26, 2023 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      First try and they were absolutely fabulous. Wonderful instructions thank you. My one question is: it would be good to get to a certain stage at night, leave and then cook in morning so nice fresh hot bagels for breakfast. Is it possible to do this? Many thanks

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 01, 2023 at 9:44 pm

        Hi Robyn! If I were to try this I would make the dough in the evening. I would use room-temperature water and reduce the yeast to 1 teaspoon. It will cause the first rise to be slower, but it would reduce the risk of over proofing in the refrigerator. Put parchment paper on two cookie sheets and generously dust them with flour or corn meal. Spray with oil or butter on the top of plastic wrap. Shape the bagels and put them on the cookie sheets and cover them with the plastic wrap. Set it in the coldest part of your fridge. The next morning take the bagels out and allow them to warm on the counter for 30 minutes or so. Boil them and bake them.

        Like I said, I haven't tried this method, but this is what I would do. Let me know if you decide to give it a try and I'll let you know if I do.

        Reply
    22. Teresa says

      April 26, 2023 at 8:27 pm

      4 stars
      After the shaped bagels rise and I try to move them on the parchment closer to the pot, they deflate completely. That also happens if I just pick them up. What do I need to do differently?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 01, 2023 at 9:26 pm

        Teresa, how long are you letting them rise. It should be about 10 minutes (I do it just long enough to get the oven preheated and the water boiling). They just barely get puffy. Also, how dense was the dough? I'd love to help you perfect your bagels! Feel free to email me.

        Reply
    23. Dee Elliott says

      May 05, 2023 at 4:54 pm

      Hi! I love your site! We have Cuisinart food processor- do any of the attachments that come with it work for the kneeling? Or, do we have to get a special attachment? What would work best?
      Thanks,
      Dee

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 06, 2023 at 2:00 am

        Hi Dee! Thanks! Some food processors have a completely plastic blade that can be used for dough. I do have a food processor, but I haven't used it to make dough. The bagel dough is a pretty dense dough so I am not sure how the food processor would handle it. Let me know if you try it. You can also knead this dough by hand. It will be a bit of a workout, but because it is a dense dough it isn't sticky so it is easy to work with. Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions!

        Reply
    24. Jennifer Egan says

      May 16, 2023 at 11:18 pm

      I'd love to try this recipe after reading the reviews - however, I only have a hand mixer (with dough hooks) that doesn't do well with heavy doughs, or a food processor with a dough blade. I'm not sure I could knead by hand as long (and hard) as you are suggesting with my bad shoulder, haha. Any thoughts on using the food processor with dough blade to get it going and then maybe a shorter knead time? Thanks in advance!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 17, 2023 at 12:54 pm

        Hi Jennifer! The bagel dough is a pretty dense dough so I am not sure how the food processor would handle it. You may want to try very slowly adding the flour to the food processor. Stop adding it once the food processor seems to hit its limit. Then add the remaining flour by hand when you finish kneading it by hand. I hope you are able to try the recipe. If you do, let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    25. Sarah says

      May 24, 2023 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      These are so great! I just have a question out of curiosity - how did you come up with the measurement for yeast? It feels like a lot, more than a standard packet.. does it aid in the chewiness? Just curious 🙂 Love this recipe, thank you!!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        May 27, 2023 at 11:15 pm

        Hi Sarah! Normally a packet of yeast (2 1/4 tsp) is for 4 cups of flour. I increased it to 3 1/2 teaspoons because the recipe is using about 6 cups of flour. You could reduce the yeast a little (3 teaspoons OR 1 tablespoon) and be just fine. It shouldn't affect the chewiness. It will affect the rise time. You would want to keep an eye on the first rise and even the second "rest" after the bagels are shaped. You want them to begin to get a little puffy before they go into the boiling water. I'm glad you are enjoying the recipe.

        Reply
    26. Mary Connolly says

      June 04, 2023 at 6:25 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made these 3 times now and each time the bagels have been perfect. So tasty and chewy. Perfect!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        June 04, 2023 at 8:32 pm

        Thanks for the great review Mary! I really appreciate you taking the time to rate the recipe!

        Reply
    27. Corrie says

      June 13, 2023 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      These are the BEST bagels I’ve ever had! I love that they use sourdough discard. Our favorite flavors we’ve made are cheddar cheese and brown sugar cinnamon. My husband requests I make these multiple times a week (we do a half batch). Thank you for this incredible yet easy recipe! I recommend it to all my friends.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        June 16, 2023 at 1:54 pm

        Thanks Corrie! I've never made them with cheddar cheese or brown sugar and cinnamon. I'd love to try the brown sugar and cinnamon. Do you just sprinkle some on top after boiling them?

        Reply
    28. Stephanie says

      June 26, 2023 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      My dough was a little sticky. I think maybe I didn't add quite enough flour at the second addition or I didn't knead my dough long enough (I did 13 min on low with KitchenAid).

      In spite of them being oddly shaped and looking kind of wrinkly when boiled, they baked up perfectly and are amazing! They're 100x better than I expected them to turn out.

      I can't wait to make them again with the knowledge I gained from my first attempt. Hooked!

      Thanks for this easy to follow no-fail recipe. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        June 27, 2023 at 3:12 am

        Hi Stephanie! I'm so glad they turned out fantastic even with the dough being a little sticky. I always give my dough a poke after it has been kneading for a few minutes and see how it feels. If it is sticky it definitely needs more flour. It should be pretty dense and not stick to your finger. Let me know how the next batch turns out!

        Reply
    29. Melissa says

      July 06, 2023 at 5:22 am

      Can you freeze these before you boil them? Thaw them out and boil and bake when I want another.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        July 07, 2023 at 5:33 pm

        Hey Melissa! I haven't tried that before, but I think it might work. As soon as you have them rolled out into the bagel shape I would immediately freeze them. After they thaw, boil and bake as usual. Let me know if that works for you. I might try it too!

        Reply
    30. Melanie says

      July 08, 2023 at 11:08 pm

      5 stars
      I made your bagels and they are quick, easy, and tasty. Just a question and a comment. Do you start the first 15 minute time (for switching the pans) once both pans of bagels are in the oven or right after the first pan goes in? I couldn’t tell for sure from how the instructions were written.
      Also, I made the recipe after reading through all your written instructions but did not watch your video first. I was disappointed to find the important suggestion to use fed starter is only in the video. It would have been helpful for that to have also been in the written instructions.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        July 10, 2023 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks for the feedback Melanie! I think both of those are important instructions I should include. To be honest, I keep an eye on the top pan and when I see that it is starting to lightly brown, I make the switch. In my oven, it is usually about 15 from the time I put the first pan in. I have made the bagels with fed starter and not. They turn out great both ways, but perhaps even slightly better with fed starter. I'll try to go in and edit the post when I have a minute. Thanks again for taking the time to leave a review!

        Reply
    31. John says

      July 12, 2023 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      These bagels are a hit, everyone that has tried one love them. This is now my go to bagel recipe.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        July 13, 2023 at 4:08 pm

        Thank you so much, John! I love that you are sharing them with others! Enjoy!!

        Reply
    32. Mark says

      July 20, 2023 at 12:37 am

      5 stars
      I used the recipe as a base. Made onion bagels, added a large whole sweet onion pureed in food processor. Weighed onion and equated approximately 80% in grams to water Weight. They came out excellent.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        July 22, 2023 at 2:09 pm

        Wow Mark! I've never thought to do that! So cool!

        Reply
    33. Donatella Bennett says

      July 22, 2023 at 5:17 pm

      5 stars
      These are wonderful 👍I have made them many times I actually make mini bagels from the recipes now . They are delicious 🤤

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        July 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm

        Thanks Donatella! I love mini bagels too! Sometimes I make pizza bagels for lunch or dinner.

        Reply
    34. Vilma Morales de Salazar says

      August 13, 2023 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      I just loved this recipe. They came out perfectly.

      Highly recommended.

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        August 16, 2023 at 10:24 pm

        Thanks Vilma!

        Reply
    35. Dee Elliott says

      August 17, 2023 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      I’m on my second time maki g these bagels and wanted to thank you for the clear, thorough directions. After making sourdough for about 2 years, this recipe for bagels is so much easier! On my first try they were delicious but didn’t rise as much as maybe they should have. I did let them rise to double on the first rise. Did I not let them rise enough after the shaping? Can you give me a time (in minutes) for how long you let them rise then? Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        August 19, 2023 at 1:00 pm

        Hi Dee! I don't know the exact time because it depends on the temperature of my kitchen. I shape all my bagels and then I start the water to boil. If my kitchen is warm they are usually ready by the time my water starts boiling. If my kitchen is cold they may not be ready. You are looking for the shaped bagels to look puffy, but NOT doubled. They should continue to grow while they boil and bake. I hope this helps. If you want to email me a picture of the shaped bagels and another picture of when you are about to boil them I can take a look for you.

        Reply
    36. Vilma says

      August 23, 2023 at 5:21 am

      5 stars
      They came out nice. To make them absolutely sourdough, why usen of yeast should the process be longer or same?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        August 26, 2023 at 1:12 pm

        If you don't use yeast the process would take longer. I haven't created a recipe for that yet. Good luck!!

        Reply
    37. Linda says

      September 03, 2023 at 2:53 am

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh! I am never buying bagels again! I made half Everything Bagels and Cheddar Jalapeños Bagels. They had a great chewy texture that's fluffy at the same time. Super easy and fail proof. I like the idea of giving them out as a gift. I think I'll be making these a lot!

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        September 05, 2023 at 3:34 am

        Thanks Linda! I love the idea of cheddar jalapeno! I will have to try that! I give them out for Christmas to my neighbors with a little thing of cream cheese. It is always a hit!

        Reply
    38. Veronica says

      September 22, 2023 at 1:24 pm

      I don’t have a mixer can it be worked by hand?

      Reply
      • Jen Talley says

        September 22, 2023 at 4:49 pm

        Hi Veronica! Yes, you can definitely knead it by hand. It should be easy to work with because it isn't a sticky dough. However, it is dense, so you will really need to put some strength into kneading it and develop the gluten for a chewy bagel. I hope you enjoy them!

        Reply

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