If you’ve been looking for a simple, time-efficient, dependable bagel recipe to make at home… I believe you have found it! I’ve now made close to 1,000 of these bagels, so although I’m no bagel “Expert” (what makes a bagel expert, anyway?), I think you could say this recipe is “Tried and true.” And, as opposed to the 12-24 hour process that many require, these bagels are delicious and can be fresh from your oven in the span of 2 hours total. Yup, you read that correctly – 2 hours TOTAL!
I created this recipe to be based on the famous Montreal-style bagel, which is a chewy, slightly sweet, sesame covered bagel with a honey-gloss sheen on the crust. Typically the Montreal bagels have a larger hole in the middle, and they are made with barley malt syrup (a typical ingredient in any bagel recipe) – which are two staple things I have adapted in this recipe to suit my taste and readily-available ingredients.
The 4 main differences in this recipe from the traditional Montreal style bagel are (1) That they are made to have a smaller hole (better for making sandwiches), (2) They are made with honey and molasses instead of barley malt syrup, (3) They are baked in a normal oven, and (4) They can be made with all-purpose flour instead of strictly using bread flour, which is what you would normally want to use to make bagels. I have used both types of flour for this recipe, however, and the bagels come out delicious either way– so, whichever you happen have on hand, don’t be afraid to use it!
My one thing to note before you dive into this project would be that I recommend not trying to multi-task while you’re doing this. During the first rise, then sure – clean something, check your Facebook, write a poem, or whatever you would be apt to spend the time doing. But, after you shape the bagels, there’s plenty to keep you busy until they come out of the oven… so leave yourself some time in your schedule to make sure you can give them the attention that they need.
And then, of course – when they come out of the oven, fresh and warm – Get yourself a bunch of good cream cheese and have yourself a little party; I think at that point, you’ve earned it. I hope you love them!
Scroll down for the recipe and for photos of the process!
Montreal Style Bagels
An easy way to make Montreal style bagels at home... without special ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp dry active yeast
- 2 Tbsp oil olive oil or vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp liquid honey
- 1-1/2 tsp molasses fancy/table molasses or blackstrap - table molasses is my preference
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg beaten
- 5 cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 cup raw sesame seeds
Poaching Syrup:
- 1/2 cup liquid honey
- 16 cups water (16 cups = 1 gallon)
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the lukewarm water with sugar and yeast, and stir to dissolve (there may be small clumps that don't blend in very well - this is okay). Allow this mixture to rest about 10 minutes, or until slightly risen and bubbly.
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Add the oil, honey, molasses, salt, and beaten egg; stir to combine. Stir in the flour, and knead on a lightly floured work surface until smooth and elastic, about 3-5 minutes. Place the dough back into the bowl, cover with plastic, and allow to rise 1 hour or until doubled.
Note: To test if the dough is risen enough, stick your finger into the dough - if an indentation remains without shrinking back where your finger was, it is ready to use.
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While the dough is rising, combine the water and honey for the poaching syrup in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, just to keep it hot, until ready to use.
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When the dough has risen enough, punch it down to remove any air bubbles. Turn it out onto a clean work surface. Divide the dough into 12 evenly divided portions (each should weigh about 100 grams).
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Roll each portion of dough into a long rope, about 12 inches long. Bring the ends together with about a 1-inch overlap, pinching the ends together firmly to seal. Roll over the pinched portion of dough a couple of times, with your hand in the hole of the bagel, to make the seam a little smoother and more uniform. Set the finished bagel onto a parchment lined baking sheet, and repeat with the other bagels until all 12 have been shaped. The holes in the centre of the just-shaped bagels should be large enough to fit a golf ball inside snugly.
Note: If the dough is sticky, you can use a little flour on the work surface to prevent sticking. Also, I like to make my bagel holes a little smaller, so I usually roll them with 3 fingers in the hole - Using your whole hand makes the hole a little larger, which is actually more typical of a Montreal style bagel.
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Bring the poaching syrup back to a boil, preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, and allow the bagels to rest 10-20 minutes, or until about 1-1/2 times their original size. They won't look very much larger - just slightly more puffy.
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Drop 3-5 bagels into the boiling poaching syrup (depending on the size of your pot - you want them to have room to expand without overlapping each other), and allow them to poach 1 minute on each side, but not longer. If anything, take the bagels out slightly before they reach the 1 minute mark per side. Lift the bagels out of the water using a slotted spoon or fork, allowing them to drip slightly before setting them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. The bagels should double in size during this step.
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Allow the bagels to cool slightly, and then re-attach the ends of any bagels that broke open during the poaching process. Using your hands, dip the bagels upside down into a bowl of sesame seeds to cover the tops. Place the seeded bagels back onto the parchment lined baking sheet. (The dough should be a sticky, spongy texture at this step.)
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Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.
Recipe Notes
1 cup flour = 140 grams in this recipe.
I would love to hear how these turn out if you make them!
Thanks for stopping in,
Naomi
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I love bagels, this is a great recipe, most do take 12-24 hours to make like you said, I can handle 2 hours!!! love all the images with the step by step instructions, great post and recipe
I love bagels! Thanks for sharing! I will definitely need to try these!
Delish! Thank You I have been wanting a go to bagel recipe for quite a while and this one is easyish, and oh so yum! First try…many more to follow. ❤️
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for the comment!
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