Perfect Everything Bagel Recipe - Easy Homemade Guide 2025

Recipe Rundown

Taste: Rich, savory perfection with garlic, onion, and poppy seed flavors that create the iconic everything bagel experience
Texture: Chewy interior with a perfectly crispy, seed-topped exterior
Difficulty: Intermediate – requires some technique but totally doable for home bakers
Time: 4 hours total (including rise time)
Pros: Fresher than store-bought, customizable toppings, impressive homemade bread skills
Cons: Requires planning ahead for rise time
Would I make this again? Absolutely! Once you taste homemade everything bagels, store-bought versions pale in comparison.

Why Everything Bagels Are Taking Over the World

Everything bagels have become the ultimate crowd-pleaser, and for good reason. That perfect combination of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried onion, garlic, and salt creates a flavor explosion that transforms a simple bagel into something extraordinary.

While you can find everything bagels at most bakeries and grocery stores, nothing beats the satisfaction and superior taste of homemade everything bagels. Plus, you control the freshness, ingredients, and can customize the everything seasoning to your exact preferences.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your bread-making journey, this comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of creating bakery-quality everything bagels in your own kitchen.

What Makes Everything Bagels Special?

Everything bagels stand out because of their distinctive topping blend. The combination of:

Poppy seeds – add a subtle nutty crunch
Sesame seeds – provide richness and texture
Dried onion flakes – bring savory depth
Garlic flakes or powder – add aromatic punch
Coarse salt – enhances all the other flavors
Caraway seeds (optional) – contribute a slight rye bread note

This seasoning blend creates layers of flavor and texture that make every bite interesting.

Everything Bagel Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Bagel Dough:

4 cups (480g) bread flour
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1¼ cups warm water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the Everything Seasoning:

2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (white or black)
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
1 tablespoon garlic flakes (or 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
1 tablespoon caraway seeds (optional)

For Boiling and Finishing:

8 cups water
2 tablespoons sugar or honey
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (egg wash)

How to Make Everything Bagels: Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Everything Seasoning

In a small bowl, combine all seasoning ingredients. Mix well and set aside. This can be made days ahead and stored in an airtight container.

Step 2: Prepare the Bagel Dough

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, sugar, and salt
Add warm water and oil, mixing until a shaggy dough forms
Knead by hand for 8-10 minutes or with a stand mixer for 5-6 minutes until smooth and elastic
Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1-2 hours until doubled

Step 3: Shape the Bagels

Punch down dough and divide into 8 equal pieces
Shape each piece into a ball
Poke a hole through the center of each ball using your finger
Gently stretch the hole to about 2 inches in diameter
Place shaped bagels on parchment-lined baking sheets
Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes

Step 4: Boil the Bagels

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C)
Bring water and sugar to a boil in a large pot
Carefully drop 2-3 bagels into the boiling water
Boil for 1-2 minutes per side
Remove with a slotted spoon and place back on baking sheets

Step 5: Add Toppings and Bake

Brush each bagel with egg wash
Generously sprinkle with everything seasoning, pressing gently to adhere
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown
Cool on wire racks before slicing

Pro Tips for Perfect Everything Bagels

Dough Consistency: The dough should be firm but not dry. It should hold its shape when formed into bagels.

Shaping Technique: Don’t make the holes too small – they’ll shrink during boiling and baking.

Boiling Water: Adding sugar or honey to the boiling water helps create that classic bagel shine and chewiness.

Seasoning Application: Apply the everything seasoning immediately after the egg wash while it’s still wet for maximum adherence.

Even Browning: Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking for even golden color.

Everything Bagel Variations to Try

Sesame Everything Bagels

Double the sesame seeds in your everything seasoning for extra nuttiness.

Spicy Everything Bagels

Add red pepper flakes or cayenne to your seasoning blend for heat.

Everything Bagel Bites

Make mini bagels using the same technique but divide dough into 16 pieces instead of 8.

Whole Wheat Everything Bagels

Substitute up to half the bread flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition and flavor.

What to Serve with Everything Bagels

Classic Pairings:

Cream cheese (plain, scallion, or everything-flavored)
Lox and capers
Butter and jam
Avocado and tomato

Creative Serving Ideas:

Everything bagel breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon
Pizza bagels with marinara and mozzarella
Everything bagel French toast
Bagel chips for dipping

How to Store Everything Bagels

Room Temperature: Store in a paper bag for up to 2 days for best texture.

Freezing: Slice bagels before freezing. Wrap individually in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Toast frozen bagel slices directly from the freezer, or thaw at room temperature first.

Troubleshooting Common Everything Bagel Problems

Dense Bagels: Usually caused by over-kneading or not enough rise time. Ensure proper fermentation.

Toppings Falling Off: Make sure to brush with egg wash and press seasoning gently into the dough.

Pale Color: Increase oven temperature slightly or brush with a more generous egg wash.

Holes Too Small: Make holes larger during shaping – they shrink during boiling and baking.

The Science Behind Perfect Bagels

Bagels get their characteristic chewy texture from high-gluten bread flour and the boiling step. Boiling sets the exterior and creates that distinctive bagel crust while keeping the interior tender.

The everything seasoning not only adds flavor but also creates textural contrast. The seeds and flakes provide crunch against the chewy bagel base.

Everything Bagel Recipe Scaling Guide

This recipe easily doubles or triples for larger batches:

Double batch: Makes 16 bagels
Triple batch: Makes 24 bagels
Half batch: Makes 4 bagels (perfect for trying the recipe)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make everything bagels without a stand mixer? Absolutely! Hand-kneading works perfectly fine and only takes a few extra minutes.

How do I know when the dough has risen enough? The dough should roughly double in size and feel light and airy when gently poked.

Can I prep everything bagels ahead of time? Yes! Shape the bagels and freeze them before boiling. Thaw, then continue with the boiling and baking steps.

What’s the difference between bagel flour and bread flour? Bread flour works excellently for home baking. Bagel flour has slightly higher protein content but isn’t necessary for great results.

Recipe Card for WP Recipe Maker Plugin

Recipe Name: Perfect Homemade Everything Bagels
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Rise Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 4 hours
Servings: 8 bagels
Calories per serving: 280

Ingredients:

[ ] 4 cups bread flour
[ ] 2 tsp instant yeast
[ ] 1 tbsp sugar
[ ] 2 tsp salt
[ ] 1¼ cups warm water
[ ] 2 tbsp vegetable oil
[ ] 2 tbsp poppy seeds
[ ] 2 tbsp sesame seeds
[ ] 2 tbsp dried onion flakes
[ ] 1 tbsp garlic flakes
[ ] 1 tbsp coarse salt
[ ] 1 tbsp caraway seeds (optional)
[ ] 1 egg + 1 tbsp water for wash

Instructions:

Mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in large bowl
Add water and oil, knead 8-10 minutes until smooth
Rise in oiled bowl 1-2 hours until doubled
Divide into 8 pieces, shape into bagels with 2-inch holes
Rise 30-45 minutes on parchment-lined sheets
Boil water with 2 tbsp sugar
Boil bagels 1-2 minutes per side
Brush with egg wash, top with everything seasoning
Bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes until golden
Cool on wire racks before serving

Notes: Make sure holes are large enough as they shrink during cooking. Press seasoning gently to help it stick.

This comprehensive everything bagel guide gives you all the tools needed to create bakery-quality bagels at home. The combination of detailed instructions, troubleshooting tips, and variations ensures success for bakers of all skill levels.

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