1 1/2 cups warm water 

2 tbsp granulated sugar

2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) dry active yeast

3 1/2 cups bread flour (+ ~1/2 cup for kneading)

2 1/2 tsp salt

Egg wash 
 

Optional toppings: Everything but the bagel seasoning, salt, sesame seeds, etc.

• In a small bowl (or pyrex for easy pour) Add 1/2 cup warm water. Pour in the sugar and yeast (do not stir) and let it sit for ~5 min.

• In a large bowl, mix whisk together the flour and salt. Give the yeast/sugar mixture a quick stir. Make a well in the middle and pour into the flour

• Pour remaining 1 cup water into the well & mix dough well. On a floured counter top, knead the dough for ~10 min. being sure to incorporate any additional flour 

• Lightly coat a large bowl with vegetable oil. Add the dough  to the bowl and flip it so that it is coated with the oil. Cover the bowl with a warm, damp kitchen towel and let rise ~1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size. Squish the dough down, and let it rest another ~10 min. keeping it  covered with the damp kitchen towel

• Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces. To shape each piece into a ball, gently roll your hand and the dough in a circular motion on the counter top so that a ball forms. Repeat with each of the dough pieces

• Press your finger into the center of each ball to form a ring. Place the bagels on a baking sheet & cover the formed bagels with a warm, damp kitchen towel and allow to rest for ~10 min.

• Preheat the oven to 425°

• Bring a large pot to a boil. Working in batches, us a slotted spoon and lower the bagels into the boiling water and boil ~2 min. Flip bagels over and boil another ~2 min. Remove the bagels to a wire rack to drip-dry

• Once bagels are drip-dried, coat tops with egg wash. At this point add any toppings you want. Place bagels back onto baking sheet and bake ~20-25min.

**If you would like to try cinnamon raisin or sun-dried tomato bagels where the "toppings" are incorporated into the dough, add the cinnamon & raisins or sun-dried tomato & basil just prior to adding the rest of the water to the flour mixture to form the dough