Homemade Everything Bagels

Homemade bagels aren't as difficult as you might think.  They are totally doable and so FUN to make!  

I love a good Everything Bagel smothered with plain cream cheese.  I found a bottle of Everything Seasoning at Target, and I just HAD to try making them at home.  These disappeared so quickly, and my daughter has already requested that we make more.  

She had a lot of fun helping me to roll these out and form them.  Any time that I make homemade dough/bread, I always call her into the kitchen to see if she wants to help.  It's always a fun time making a "mess" with flour all over the counter together.  She gets a kick out of it every single time.

If you aren't a fan of Everything Seasoning, you can actually use this as a base recipe and make Cinnamon Raisin Bagels instead (or leave them plain!).  I've included notes at the bottom of the recipe on how to do this.

Enjoy!

Homemade Everything Bagels

Adapted from:  The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook

Ingredients:

1 package active dry OR rapid rise yeast
1  3/4 cups warm water (105-115F)
2 Tbsp honey
5 to 5 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tsp salt
3  1/2 quarts water
1/2 cup Everything Seasoning (or any mix of poppy seeds, caraway seeds, sea salt, or dehydrated onion and garlic flakes)

Directions:
Combine yeast and warm water in a 2 cup liquid measuring cup; let stand for 5 minutes.  Add honey, stirring well.  In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, combine yeast mixture, 2 cups of the flour, and salt; beat at low speed for 4 minutes or until smooth.

Switch to the dough hook on your mixer.  Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.  Beat at medium-low speed for 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic.  Divide dough into 12 equal pieces.  Roll each into a smooth ball.  Cover and let rest 5 minutes.

Shape each ball into an 11-inch rope.  Bring ends of ropes together, and pinch to seal.  Roll bagel around palm of hand to make a ring.  Place on greased baking sheets; cover and chill 12 to 18 hours.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Pour Everything Seasoning into a small, shallow dish.  

Bring water to a rolling boil in a Dutch oven.  Boil bagels, 4 at a time, 30 seconds, turning once (to set the shape).  Remove with a slotted spoon; place on wire racks.  Dip the top of each bagel into the Everything Seasoning to coat.  Repeat with remaining bagels.

Place bagels on lightly greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal, if desired.  Bake at 450 degrees F for 13 - 14 minutes or until golden brown.  

Variation:
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels - Stir in 1 cup raisins and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon into dough before dividing dough into pieces.