Homemade Bread Machine Bagels

This year for my birthday I got a lovely bread machine that I posted about here.  I must say that I have gotten some wear and tear out of it.  It’s not one of those gadgets that I only used once and put it away to collect dust.  Since I have really gotten into clean eating, I prefer to make my own foods.  And by clean eating, I mean I try to avoid processed foods where ever possible.  That is how I define it.  Processed bread is treated with a variety of chemicals.  You can read about it here.

So last weekend I made homemade bagels using my bread machine.  The recipe is quick and easy.

To make bread machine bagels you only need five ingredients.  Bread flour, yeast, salt, sugar and water. That’s it!

The water has to have a temperature of 110 degrees.  I use my food thermometer to make sure the temp was correct.

Place the water, sugar and yeast in the pan of the bread machine. Let the yeast dissolve and foam for 10 minutes.

This is what it looks like when it starts to foam.  I used Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast because it’s all that my local store sells.  But it works great. Dry yeast should be stored in a cool dry place; but do not use it after the expiration date on the package. Store open containers in the refrigerator. (I actually keep unopened packages of yeast in the refrigerator too.)

Once yeast is dissolved, add salt and flour to bread machine pan. I used King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour.  Select Dough setting.

Once dough cycle is complete on the bread machine, set dough on floured surface to shape into a bagel.  I had trouble shaping the bagels the first time I attempted this recipe.  They tasted great, but the shape was wonky.  I found  this YouTube video by BagelBoy and it helped me.

Boy is he fast!!

Here are the bagels once they are shaped.  They don’t have to be perfect because boiling them will help the shape.

So since I only cook and bake for myself, I only planned on baking one bagel. Yes. Just one.  I wrapped the rest in plastic and put four of them in the freezer, keeping one in the refrigerator to eat tomorrow.  I like warm fresh bagels.  Bread dough can be frozen and it keeps for at least a month.  So all I have to do the night before I plan to eat a bagel, I pull a wrapped one out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator.  It’s thawed out by the next morning and ready to be boiled.

In order to get that great bagel texture, you must boil the bagel with sugar on each side for one minute.  I just use a sauce pan since I am only baking one bagel.  But if you plan to make all 6 or double the recipe, just use a quart pan.

Sprinkle an ungreased baking sheet with cornmeal.  Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet. Sprinkle with your choice of toppings.  I sprinkled mine with kosher salt because I love salt bagels. You can use whatever topping that you wish, many like poppy seeds, cinnamon, sesame seeds, Asiago cheese, cinnamon sugar…the toppings are endless!  Then place in pre-heated oven until well browned.

Voila! Now you have fresh homemade bagels without all of the preservatives.

Recipe: Bread Machine Bagels

Yield: 6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons white sugar

3 cups bread flour

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 Package)

3 quarts boiling water

3 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon cornmeal

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the water, sugar and yeast in the pan of the bread machine. Let the yeast dissolve and foam for 10 minutes.
2. Once yeast is dissolved, add salt and flour to bread machine pan. (Be sure to check the ingredient order recommended by the manufacturer.) Select Dough setting.
3. When cycle is complete, let dough rest on a lightly floured surface. Meanwhile, in a large pot bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar.
4. Cut dough into 6 equal pieces and shape dough into a bagel shape. Cover bagels with a clean cloth, and let rest for 10 minutes.
5. Sprinkle an ungreased baking sheet with cornmeal. Carefully transfer bagels to boiling water. Boil for 1 minute, turning half way through. Drain briefly on clean towel. Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet. Sprinkle with your choice of toppings.
6. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven for 25 – 30 minutes, until well browned.