Go Back

Sourdough Bagels

Homemade sourdough bagels with a chewy texture and deep flavor, perfect for breakfast or brunch.
Prep Time 4 hours
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 day
Servings: 8 bagels
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 215

Ingredients
  

For the Bagel Dough
  • 150 g active sourdough starter (100% hydration)
  • 500 g bread flour (preferably unbleached, 12-14% protein)
  • 275 g filtered water, at room temperature
  • 10 g fine sea salt
  • 15 g honey or barley malt syrup
  • 10 g neutral vegetable oil
For the Boiling Solution
  • 2 liters water
  • 30 g honey or barley malt syrup
  • 15 g baking soda
Optional Toppings
  • Everything bagel seasoning (sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, sea salt)
  • Sesame seeds
  • Poppy seeds
  • Coarse sea salt
  • Cinnamon sugar (for sweet variations)
  • Dried herbs and garlic (for savory variations)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Ensure your sourdough starter is active and passes the float test.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the active starter and water until dissolved.
  3. Add honey, oil, bread flour, and salt. Mix to a shaggy dough.
  4. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, then cover and ferment for 4-6 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
Shaping
  1. Turn the dough onto a clean surface, gently degas, and divide it into 8 pieces.
  2. Shape each piece into tight balls and let rest for 15 minutes.
  3. Shape the bagels using either the rope method or punch-through method.
  4. Proof the bagels for 1-2 hours at room temp or overnight in the refrigerator.
Cooking
  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) with a baking stone or inverted sheet inside.
  2. Boil the water with honey and baking soda until bubbling gently.
  3. Boil the bagels for 30-90 seconds per side, then transfer to parchment and add toppings.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, then cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Experiment with different toppings and flavors to create your perfect bagel.