Easy New York Style Bagels

Easy New York Style Bagels are chewy and fun to make using just a few pantry staple items. Get your morning started right with these delicious bagels!

Authentic New York bagel recipe

If you are a bagel love like myself, you know that New York bagels is where it’s at. These bagels are so delicious and chewy, and they really set the morning off right.

New York bagels are known for their chewy texture and their egg washed outside. They are slightly salty, comes together in 2 hours, and uses simple pantry staples that you definitely have in your home!

If you like typical northern recipes that come straight from New England or the New York region, check out these delicious lox and bagels, which is a New York bagel schmeared with cream cheese and topped with smoked salmon and capers.

There are a few steps to make these bagels. First, you need to combine the dough and let it rise. Next, you need to divide the dough, shape them, then boil them. The boil time will dictate how chewy the bagels will be. Lastly, the bagels will bake for 20 minutes, getting that beautiful golden brown crust.

New York style bagel ingredients

• Bread flour– Bread flour has more protein than all purpose flour, which translates to more gluten. This type of flour will produce those chewy, delicious, New York bagels you are looking for!
• Instant dry yeast– To cut down on rising time, use instant dry yeast.
• Sugar– My favorite sugar to use is Florida Crystal’s Organic Cane Sugar because it is natural and unbleached.
• Water
• Salt
• Egg wash– Combine 1 egg white and a tablespoon of water, then mix to combine. This will be slathered on the bagels just before they are baked to help the toppings stick to the bagel and to create those beautiful glossy tops.

Chef’s tips

• You can sub bread flour with all purpose flour. I had a hard time finding bread flour, it took 4 different grocery stores in one day to find it! If you cannot find or do not have bread flour, you can use all purpose flour. All purpose flour has less protein than bread flour, so they will yield a less chewy bagel, so be sure to boil them for 2 minutes on each side to help keep that chewiness.
• Boil for 2 minutes for the authentic New York chewy bagels. If you like to typical chewiness of the New York bagels, boil your bagels for 2 minutes on each side. If you prefer a softer, less chewy bagel, boil the bagels for only 1 minute.
• Top with fun flavors. Everyone likes bagels, but what’s your preference? Do you like plain, everything, cinnamon sugar, blueberry swirl? Choose your favorite toppings for these bagels and make them yours!

How to make New York style bagels

1. Bloom the yeast. Combine 90 degree water, sugar, and yeast. Stir this mixture and allow it to bloom for about 10 minutes until it is foamy. This will activate the yeast.
2. Mix the ingredients. Attach the dough hook on a stand mixer and combine all the ingredients. Mix the dough for 10 minutes to activate the gluten.
3. Shape the dough into a boule and allow it to rise. Grab a large bowl and lightly grease it. Shape the dough into a boule by grabbing the edges and tucking them underneath. Place the dough in the bowl and cover with a damp kitchen cloth and allow it to rise for 1-2 hours.
4. Shape the bagels. Once the dough has risen, punch the dough down. Dump the dough out on to a surface, roll it into a log, and divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Shape the dough by tucking the edges underneath the dough balls. There will be a seam under the dough balls. Place the dough balls seam down on a flat surface. Make a “C” shape with your hand, separating your thumb from the rest of your fingers. Place your hand on the dough and move the dough on the surface, seam down, in a circular motion. This blends the seam. Put flour on your thumb and poke a hole with your thumb in the center of each ball. Using your two index fingers, stretch the center hole until it is 1 inch. Place the bagel on a baking sheet.
5. Boil the bagels. While the water is heating, allow the bagels to rest for ten minutes. Boil some water and a generous amount of salt. Once the water is rapidly boiling, drop it down to a light boil. Drop the bagels in and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Work in batches.
6. Add the toppings. Make the egg wash by combining a tablespoon of water and 1 egg white, then whisk it. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash on the bagels. Add whatever toppings you would like to the bagels.
7. Bake the bagels. Preheat the oven 425 degrees and bake the bagels for 20 minutes. Remove them from the oven and eat right away or allow them to cool before storing.

How to store New York bagels

New York bagels will continue to develop flavor overnight after they are made. You can leave them on the counter on a plate and cover with a kitchen towel, or in a ziplock bag (leave the bag open just a little so they maintain the texture.

You can freeze the bagels by placing them in a ziplock bag or freezer safe container and freeze for up to 8 weeks, although I have a sneaking suspicion these bagels will not last long enough to see the freezer.

What to put on a bagel

• Bagel and cream cheese- Add a schmear of cream cheese (a New Yorkers way of saying a whole lotta cream cheese) onto a toasted bagel.
• Bagel and butter- A buttered, toasted bagel is a carb lover’s dream!
• Bagel and jam with butter- A toasted bagel topped with butter, then jam is a beautiful marriage of salty and sweet!
• Bagel and lox- Lox and bagels is a classic Jewish/New York recipe that uses chewy bagels, cream cheese, and smoked salmon.
• Bagel with bacon, egg, and cheese- If you talk fast like us notherners, it sounds more like “beggineggncheese” and everyone knows that this means.

More breakfast ideas

• Homemade blueberry toaster strudels are made with fluffy puff pastry dough and an easy to make blueberry sauce. This buttery handheld breakfast is drizzled in a delicious icing- the icing on the cake!
• Baked breakfast taquitos are stuffed with hot sausage, eggs, diced chilis, and Mexican cheese for an easy and delicious on the go breakfast! Enjoy these taquitos anytime, anywhere!
• Quick and easy homemade pop tarts are stuffed with your favorite filling, baked to perfection, and drizzled with a delicious frosting.
• Deep fried, pillowy raspberry filled beignets topped with lots of powdered sugar will transport you right to New Orleans!
• Lox and bagels board is an easy no cook breakfast or brunch platter that is packed full of all the good stuff! With two flavors of cream cheese and lots of fixings, the possibilities are endless!

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