Friday, August 14, 2009

Bagel Recipe

This recipe is my own to share. I've been making bagels for almost 40 years and they still remain one of my favorite things to bake. I have the largest Cuisinart ever made...DLCX, which I believe is not made anymore. I've modified the recipe to fit my daughter's Cuisinart, which is probably the one everyone has now.

In your processor's bowl:
4 1/2 cups of King Arthur bread flour
1 T. Kosher salt
1 T. honey

Pulse 2-3 times to incorporate

In a glass measuring cup:

1/2 cup very warm (105F degrees)
1 1/2 T. dry yeast
1 tsp. honey

Whisk and let set 8-10 minutes to proof. You should see the mixture become "foamy", then you know your yeast is good. (If this doesn't happen, check expiration date and begin again)

Add yeast mixture to flour mixture and pulse again 2-3 times. Fill measuring cup with 1-1 1/2 cups warm water. Turn on processor and pour water through feed tube until dough comes together. The dough should move freely around the bowl and not be sticky.

Turn out onto a bread board that has been lightly dusted with flour and knead 3-4 minutes. Don't be tempted to overflour at this point. Form into a ball and place into a bowl (or gallon-size plastic bag) sprayed with a baking oil spray. Let rise about 40 minutes.

Just before you're ready to start forming the bagels, place a large pan (or Dutch oven) on the stove with about 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil, but lower temperature just to simmer. Add 2 T. honey to the water. Heat oven 400F-degrees/Convection.

Turn out dough onto the board and divide. You will probably get about 8-10 pieces, depending on how large you want your bagel. Shape all pieces in to balls, cover with a towel and let rest 5 minutes. The dough will relax and makes it easier to form. Use your thumb to make a hole in the middle and stretch is out to about 2-inches. Ease 3-4 formed bagels into the simmering water, right-sides down. Simmer 3 minutes. Turn over with a slotted spoon and simmer just 1 minute more. Place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with a baking oil spray.

When all the bagels have been simmered. Spray with Quick Shine (I buy this product from www.kingarthurflour.com) and sprinkle with your favorite seeds...Poppy, Sesame, Flax, etc. Bake for 20-22 minutes until golden brown.

You'll never go back to store bought!!

2 comments:

  1. Susan-Your remarkable bagels are the talk of Tacoma. Several cafes are joining together for a bake-off using your recipe. They've credited your blog on FaceBook calling your bagels, "the best bagels ever." The news brought me great joy on your behalf.

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  2. Susan-- Today, for David's birthday, I made my first ever batch of homemade bagels and they were a huge success! (David had 3 before 10am...) I used a recipe from a magazine, but then thought that I would see if you had one too. So, my recipe called for barley malt syrup as the sweetener, but I see that you use honey--What do you prefer abou the honey? Also, I only boiled for 45 seconds, but I see that you do 4 minutes--Do you think a longer boiler gets a better texture?
    I am definitely hooked on making my own bagels--Thanks in advance for your tips!

    Michelle

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