Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (2024)

  • Baking

ByAdam Kuban

Updated May 08, 2020

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Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (1)

This is my go-to recipe for homemade bagels. It's adapted from Bernard Clayton's Complete Book of Breads. Clayton, in turn, got the recipe from the folks at the now-defunct Jo Goldenberg's, the famous Jewish restaurant and delicatessen in Le Marais, the historical Jewish quarter of Paris.

These bagels take about thee hours from start to finish, a large chunk of that time being the hourlong rise and the 30 or so minutes in the oven. Make these for a brunch party, tell your guests they came from your oven, and watch their socks get knocked off. There's something about homemade bagels that really impresses people.

How to Make Bagels at Home

Recipe Details

Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe

Active60 mins

Total3 hrs

Serves10 bagels

Ingredients

  • 19.25 ounces bread flour (3 1/2 cups; 530g)

  • 1/4 ounceinstant dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons; 1 envelope active dry; 7g)

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 tablespoon salt

  • 12 ounces hot water(1 1/2 cups; 340g; 120°–130°F)

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons malt syrup (for the boiling water; alternatively, you can use 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar)

  • 1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water (optional, for toppings)

Directions

  1. Add all the dry ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until mixed, about 5 seconds. With processor running, slowly add the water; process until dough comes together and rides up over the blade, about 30 seconds. Continue processing until dough becomes satiny and elastic, about 30 seconds more.

  2. Transfer dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

  3. After dough has risen but before you divide and shape it, prepare your water bath: Add the malt syrup to 6 quarts of water over high heat and let it come to a boil as you continue with the following steps.

    Also: Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (3)

  4. After dough has doubled in bulk, turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface and press down with your fingers to expel the gases. Divide dough into 10 equal portions.

  5. Ball a portion of dough, then roll it into a "rope" about 7 inches long and about 1 inch thick. (Tip: I like to taper the ends slightly in preparation for the next step.)

    Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (4)

  6. Wrap the dough around the back of your hand, overlapping the ends in your palm. Place your hand, along with the dough, palm-down on the work surface and roll dough back and forth until ends crimp and seal together. Place dough ring under a span of plastic wrap while you repeat rope-and-loop process with remaining dough portions.

    Tip: You can brush a little water on the ends to help them stick, but this dough is wet enough that it usually comes together without help.

    A note on hand size: The recipe calls for wrapping the rope around your palm, but I like a smaller, tighter bagel, so I wrap it around my first three fingers, as shown. If you have a smaller hand, you could probably wrap it around all your fingers.

    Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (5)

  7. Allow bagels to rise again for 10 minutes. At this point, your malt syrup–water should be boiling. Use a skimmer or slotted spoon to carefully add bagels, one at a time, to the water. (Note: no more in the pot than 3 at a time.) Bagels should sink but then rise again after a few seconds. Simmer for 1 minute, flipping bagels at the 30-second mark.

    Tip: The original recipe calls for this second rising, but I often skip it. I've found it makes very little, if any, noticeable difference.

    Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (6)

  8. Remove bagels from water with skimmer or slotted spoon to a clean kitchen towel. Pat dry.

    If making plain bagels, proceed to Step 10.

  9. For bagel toppings: Place bagels on wire cooling rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Brush bagel tops with egg-water mixture. Shake on desired toppings. Sesame seed, poppy seed, kosher salt, minced onion, and minced garlic are classic (at least in NYC).

    The baking sheet will collect excess dry toppings (such as sesame or poppy seeds). Simply pour them back into their containers for reuse.

    Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (7)

  10. Place bagels on prepared baking sheet. Bake until light brown and shiny, 15 to 20 minutes. Flip, and bake until reverse side is golden-brown and shiny, about 10 minutes more.

    Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (8)

Special equipment

Large baking sheet, oiled with shortening or nonstick cooking spray and then dusted with cornmeal (or just use a nonstick baking sheet or parchment)

This Recipe Appears In

  • How to Make Bagels at Home
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
213Calories
1g Fat
43g Carbs
7g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories213
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g1%
Saturated Fat 0g1%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 638mg28%
Total Carbohydrate 43g16%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 12mg1%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 70mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Homemade Bagels, à la Jo Goldenberg Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making bagels? ›

10 Tips for Making Schmear-Worthy Homemade Bagels
  1. Moisture: Wetter dough means crispier bagels. ...
  2. Water temp: The colder the better. ...
  3. Dry active yeast: Let it chill. ...
  4. Flour: Embrace the gluten. ...
  5. Mixing: Low and slow is the way to go. ...
  6. The rise: Your kitchen climate is A-okay. ...
  7. Flavor kick: After the proof.
Jan 13, 2023

Is it cheaper to make your own bagels? ›

Making Homemade Bagels is cheaper than buying them. Although going to a bagel shop makes for a delicious meal, it gets expensive quick. That's why we love making them at home. This recipe gives you all the things you want in a bagel.

Why do you boil bagels in baking soda water? ›

Baking soda makes the water more alkaline, giving the bagels a pretzel-like quality that contributes to their chewiness. Just one teaspoon helps the bagels develop a shiny, dark-brown exterior as they bake. One thing to keep in mind: Keep the water bath at a constant simmer.

Does Einstein bagels boil their bagels? ›

Unlike the traditional boiling method, Janelle says Einstein has steam injection ovens that simulate the boiling process. “They're steamed for, I'd say, about 30 seconds,” Janelle said.

What kind of flour is best for bagels? ›

Bread flour – Because of its high protein content, bread flour makes these homemade bagels delightfully chewy. This recipe also works with all-purpose flour, they're just a bit less chewy than bagels made with bread flour. Maple syrup – It activates the yeast and gives the bagels a hint of sweetness.

What makes bagels in New York so good? ›

a regular bagel is the water you boil them in. Much like a specific vineyard terroir is used to make a wine, certain minerals in New York City tap water are attributed to creating the best bagels. These include low concentrations of calcium and magnesium and a high level of sediment.

Why are my homemade bagels so dense? ›

If your dough is too wet, it'll create large holes in the crumb of the dough and your bagels will be more like French bread, with a fluffy interior (see top photo). When too much flour is kneaded in, bagels become dense, hard and tough, instead of crisp and chewy.

How long do fresh homemade bagels last? ›

HOW LONG DO FRESH BAGELS LAST? Fresh bagels are best eaten on the same day they're baked. When stored at room temperature in a paper bag, fresh bagels can last for about two to three days. Fresh bagels can last for about three to four months when stored in the freezer, and thawed in a toaster.

Why are bagels more unhealthy than bread? ›

It all comes down to density. Bagels are more dense -- imagine those six slices of bread squeezed together. This is what gives bagels their chewy texture but also ups the calories. As for the different bagel flavors, some have more calories than others.

What happens if you don't boil bagels before baking? ›

One of the most important steps in making bagels. is boiling before baking. Baking the dough right away gives a bagel with a matte. finish and an open interior structure. Boiling the bagel pre gelatinizes the crust.

Can I make bagels with pizza dough? ›

Usually, one standard ball of pizza dough will make about 4 large or 6 mini bagels, but this recipe is all about eyeballing, so don't overthink. The dough you buy is already proofed, so it is just about forming, boiling, and baking!

Why boil bagels in honey? ›

BOILING. Add honey and baking soda to boiling water in a large pot. This will help give the bagels a nice sheen and golden brown color when out of the oven. Add a few bagels at a time to the pot, making sure they're not crowded.

Does Noah's boil their bagels? ›

But there's no boiling of the bagels baked by upstart Noah Alper, who opened Noah's New York Bagels almost two years ago. Steam is injected into Noah's oven to create fluffy, puffed-up bagels.

Are Panera bagels the same as Einstein bagels? ›

By 2014, the bagel brand, which now consisted of Einstein Brothers, Noah's New York Bagels, and Manhattan Bagel, was sold to JAB Holding Company for around $374 million. In 2021, Einstein Bros. merged with fellow JAB brands Panera Bread and Caribou Coffee to form Panera Brands.

Why does Einstein bagels close so early? ›

When asked why the company closed so much earlier than other SUB restaurants, an employee stated that they close early because they are a new company. Einstein Bros. Bagel Company is trying to get a feel for what business will be like before they extend their hours.

What makes a bagel better? ›

A good bagel should have a thin, shiny, crackly crust spotted with the kind of microblisters that you can only get from proper boiling followed by a high-temperature bake. It's these little bubbles that add both surface area and crunch.

Why are my bagels not fluffy? ›

6) For the bagel you want, tweak your boil time

The shorter boil means the crust has less opportunity to preset, which allows more rising, and thus a “fluffier” bagel. If you want a chewier bagel, both internally and externally, boil the bagels a little longer (90 seconds each side).

Why do you put honey in boiling water for bagels? ›

Add honey and baking soda to boiling water in a large pot. This will help give the bagels a nice sheen and golden brown color when out of the oven. Add a few bagels at a time to the pot, making sure they're not crowded. They should float immediately when added to the water.

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