Free Recipe · Homemade Bagels
Real, chewy, bakery-style bagels made from scratch, kneaded and steamed in the Thermomix, then baked until golden and crusty.
These classic bagels are made in the Thermomix and the recipe makes 12. The machine kneads the dough hands-free and steams the shaped bagels for you, so there is no pot of boiling water to fuss with, then they bake for 20 minutes until golden with a crusty top and bottom.
Can you tell how obsessed I am with bagels? They have featured in the majority of my cookbooks for Thermomix, and we have taught them at both our Bread and Varoma classes for Thermomix. They are so much fun to make, and so impressive: homemade bagels!
The Thermomix (or thermo cooker) just makes them so much easier. I am not sure I would embark on a bagel recipe without my thermie, and for two reasons. First, it kneads the dough perfectly with almost no hands-on time, mess or skill. Second, it steams the bagels for you, rather than the traditional method of dropping them into a pot of boiling water.
This recipe is not totally set-and-forget, the machine will not shape the bagels for you, but you have got this. Our Copper Dough Scraper makes quick work of portioning the dough into 12 even pieces, and remember, no matter how perfectly (or terribly) you shape them, they will all taste the same.
Meet the tool
Neat, even dough in seconds
Copper Dough Scraper
A solid copper baker's scraper that portions dough cleanly into even pieces and clears the bench in one swipe.
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See how the bagels are shaped
My mum Janene made a video of her whipping up our Plaited Bagels to show you exactly how it is done, and it is just as handy for shaping these classic bagels too.
Let's Bake
Classic Bagels (for Thermomix)
Makes 12 · Thermomix or thermo cooker · about 2 hours, including proving
Ingredients
The Tools
Method
Place the water and sugar in the TC bowl. Heat 3 min / 37C / speed 2.
Add the yeast, mix 3 sec / speed 3. Allow to stand for 10 minutes, then check that your yeast has bubbled or shown signs of activity. If absolutely nothing has happened and the water looks exactly the same as when you started, your yeast may not be alive, so start with a new batch.
Add the flour, oil and salt. Mix 8 sec / speed 6.
Knead 2 min / dough function.
Pour the dough from the TC bowl into a large oiled bowl, cover and stand in a warm place for an hour, or until the dough has doubled in quantity.
Preheat the oven to 180C. Cut 12 squares of baking paper just larger than a bagel.
Cut the dough into 12 pieces (we use our Copper Dough Scraper) and shape into balls on a floured surface, rolling to create as tight a ball as possible. Press your thumb through the middle of each ball and shape into bagels, placing each on its own piece of baking paper. You will want to over exaggerate the bagel holes, as these will close up as they cook.
Place 800g water in the TC bowl, heat 7 min / steaming temperature / speed 3, or until steaming temperature is reached.
Place 4 bagels (on baking paper) on the upper steaming tray and 2 bagels on the lower steaming tray. Steam 4 min / steaming temperature / speed 3. Transfer to a baking tray, using the corners of the baking paper to lift. Repeat with the remaining 6 bagels.
Once all 12 bagels are steamed, lightly spray with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 20 minutes, or until browned with a crusty top and bottom.
To finish
Done! Enjoy these bagels fresh out of the oven, there is no need to wait to slice like you do with most bread. Sesame seeds are optional, so leave them off or swap in your favourite topping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Thermomix to make these bagels?
You do not have to, but the Thermomix makes them so much easier. It kneads the dough perfectly with almost no hands-on time, mess or skill, then steams the shaped bagels for you rather than using the traditional pot of boiling water.
Why steam the bagels instead of boiling them?
Traditional bagels are dropped into boiling water before baking. Steaming in the machine does the same job with far less fuss, and it is one of the main reasons a thermo cooker makes bagels so easy.
How do I know if my yeast is still alive?
After mixing the yeast into the warm water and sugar, let it stand for 10 minutes. It should bubble or show clear signs of activity. If it looks exactly the same as when you started, the yeast may be dead, so start again with a fresh batch.
My bagels are a bit wonky. Did I do something wrong?
Not at all. The machine will not shape the bagels for you, so shaping takes a little practice, but no matter how perfectly or terribly you shape them, they all taste the same. Over exaggerate the holes when shaping, as they close up as the bagels cook.
What other bagel recipes do you have?
Plenty! Try our free Plaited Bagel recipe, which comes with a video, or our free Hot Cross Bagels. You will also find cinnamon and raisin spelt bagels on page 195 of Thermo Cooker Fresh Favourites.
Want to get more from your Thermomix?
From bagels and loaves to everyday dinners, the right tool and a great recipe go a long way. Our Copper Dough Scraper takes the fuss out of shaping dough, and our cookbooks for Thermomix are full of bakes just like this one.
