The idea of making homemade bagels might seem silly. I realize it’s quick and easy to pick up fresh-baked bagels from the store. But, there really is no substitute for fresh bread made at home.
One of the reasons why I love making my own bagels is having control over the size, mix-ins, and toppings. Not to mention you can make your own bagel-bites, bagel-dogs, and another snack you can wrap a chewy bread around! Bagels are simple and amazingly versatile!
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when making bagels. They are yeast dough, but they are heavy. Also, they should not be allowed to rise too long or they will fall apart when you boil them prior to baking.
The simplest way to shape bagels is to separate your dough into about 1/2 a dozen balls (depending on how large you want your bagels).
Then, holding a ball with both hands, gently press flat and use your thumbs to create the center hole.
Then you can mold the bagel with your hands, working from the center out. You want to try and achieve a hole that’s the size of a 50 cent piece. You can mold the bagel with your hands, working from the center out.
Once you have them shaped, you simply allow them to rise, boil and bake. The smell is amazing!
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