Homemade Bread Machine Bagels

I have had bagels on my list for a long time of things that I should make and still don't.  I am from New York and I have always liked a good bagel but sometimes in the South, there are bagel shaped things that just taste like bread but don't have the great bite to the outside.  I have been intimidated by making them thinking that I wouldn't be able to get good bite at home. 

I found a recipe to try that used the bread machine here so I added it to my to do list for this week.  I set aside a day that had the least other things to do because I thought it would be labor intensive.  I put the ingredients in the bread machine and watched a movie...really not labor intensive!  I got the dough out to rest while I picked up my son at school.  I came home and was talking to a friend in the kitchen while tossing and turning in the water and buttering and sticking in the oven.  I swear it was the easiest recipe without too much actual work involved.

I am now wondering what took so long!!  They are amazing and easy!!

I put the warm water and sugar and salt in the bread machine although it just looks like water because they dissolved quickly.

I was out of bread flour so I used my regular flour and vital wheat gluten instead.  I added the rest of the ingredients and put it on the dough cycle in the bread machine.  It did a pretty good job of mixing and not sticking to the side but I did scrape the sides just in case after it was mostly mixed.

When the dough cycle was done, it was a small amount of dough that was done so I was a little worried.

I put it on a floured cutting board and separated the dough into 8 rounds.

I pushed a hole in the middle of each of the dough balls so that they looked like a bagel. Not all of them were pretty.

I had to stretch the hole a little bigger because I was afraid that it was going to expand when resting.

I boiled 3 quarts of water with 3 tbsp of sugar and put in four at a time.  I flipped at about 30 seconds and then took them out with the metal spider strainer.

I put the bagels on the cornmeal coated baking sheet.

I did the second batch exactly the same way and put them all on the same baking sheet.

I brushed with melted butter and at the last minute decided to stop two of the bagels with cinnamon and sugar because everything is better with cinnamon and sugar.  Also, this one was pretty ugly so it covered it up.

I baked them for 20 minutes until golden brown.  They were evenly cooked.

The inside of the bagel was nice and airy.  It was soft with a nice bite around the outside.

I enjoyed one hot out of the oven and later split one toasted with butter for my husband and strawberry cream cheese for me.  They were all really good and I am excited by my newest recipe!!

There were a few left that we will get to enjoy them for the coming day but they were super amazing the night that I made them and I will totally make them again soon!!

Homemade Bread Machine Bagels

Ingredients

• 1 cup Warm Water
• 1½ teaspoon Salt
• 2 Tablespoons White Sugar
• 3 cups Bread Flour (or Regular Flour and 3 tsp Vital Wheat Gluten)
• 2¼ teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
• 3 quarts Boiling Water
• 3 Tablespoons White Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Cornmeal
• 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
• Your Choice Of Toppings- I used cinnamon and sugar

Preparation

1. Place water, salt, sugar, flour and yeast in the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting.

2. When cycle is complete, let dough rest on a lightly floured surface.

3. Cut dough into 8 equal pieces, and roll each piece into a small ball. Flatten balls. Poke a hole in the middle of each with your finger. Twirl the dough on your finger or thumb to enlarge the hole, and to even out the dough around the hole. Cover bagels with a clean cloth, and let rest for 10 minutes. 

4. Meanwhile, in a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar.

5. Sprinkle an ungreased baking sheet with cornmeal. Carefully transfer bagels to boiling water. Boil for 1 minute, turning halfway through. Drain with wire strainer or rest on towel. Arrange boiled bagels on the baking sheet. brush tops with butter, and sprinkle with your choice of toppings.

6. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until well browned.