Plain Bagels

Name: Plain Bagels
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups warm water; 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast; 1 tbsp sugar; 4 cups bread flour; 2 tsp salt; 2 quarts water mixed with 2 tbsp honey, for boiling

8 servings40 min prep20 min cookMedium

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Plain Bagels

Story updated September 18, 2026

Bagels originated among Ashkenazi Jewish communities in Poland, with written references dating to the early 17th century. The boiled-then-baked technique produces their dense, chewy texture, and Jewish immigrants brought bagels to America, especially New York, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Ingredients

Scale:· 8 servings

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
4 cups bread flour
2 tsp salt
2 quarts water mixed with 2 tbsp honey, for boiling

Instructions

1Stir yeast and sugar into warm water; let sit until foamy.
2Stir in flour and salt to form a stiff dough, then knead 10 minutes until smooth.
3Let rise 1 hour, until doubled.
4Divide into 8 pieces, shape into rings, and let rest 15 minutes.
5Boil each bagel in the honey water 1 minute per side.
6Place on a baking sheet and bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes, until deep golden.

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