Savory Classic Bagels

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There’s something comforting about the chewy bite of a freshly baked bagel — warm from the oven, crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. While sweet varieties like cinnamon raisin or blueberry get plenty of love, it’s the savory bagels that often steal the show when you’re craving something hearty and satisfying.

Whether it’s a classic everything bagel topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon or a cheddar and jalapeño bagel oozing with flavor, savory bagels bring endless creativity to your breakfast or brunch table. They strike the perfect balance between comfort and boldness — simple ingredients transformed into something truly special.

Why You’ll Love Savory Bagels

Savory bagels are more than just bread — they’re a canvas for creativity. Each bite can be as simple or as bold as you like. Plus, they store beautifully and can be toasted for a quick, flavor-packed snack at any time of the day.

Whether you’re making them from scratch or picking up a fresh batch from your local bakery, savory bagels bring comfort and satisfaction to your meal. So next time you’re torn between sweet or savory, give these flavorful beauties a try — your taste buds will thank you!

The Art of the Savory Bagel

The secret to a great savory bagel starts with the dough. A touch of salt, malt or maple syrup, and that distinctive boil-before-bake process give bagels their signature chew. But it’s the toppings that turn them into a showstopper. Think roasted garlic, herbs, onion flakes, cheese, or sun-dried tomatoes baked right into the crust.

Homemade bagels are surprisingly easy to make, and the customization options are endless. You can go traditional with sesame or poppy seeds, or take it up a notch with asiago cheese, everything bagel seasoning, or rosemary sea salt.

Why You Should Watch the Video

I know — baking can sometimes feel intimidating. That’s exactly why I created a quick, easy-to-follow YouTube video tutorial to go with this post.
In the video, I’ll show you:

• The exact texture the dough should have.
• How to shape bagels.
• A few fun twists and variations.

Trust me, once you see how simple and delicious these bagels are, you’ll want to bake them every weekend.

Ingredients and Tips

Water- water helps to activate the yeast and hydrate the flour. It helps bring the dough together.

Bread Flour- You will need bread flour for this recipe. The high protein content of bread flour is important in this recipe because it helps to get the proper chewy texture a good bagel is known for.

Maple Syrup- I love the extra flavor the maple syrup adds to bagels. It is subtle sweetness but very much makes one ask,”what is that elusive flavor?”. It also provides another sources of sugar for the yeast.

Yeast- Yeast is the leavening agents that makes the bagels rise. It is important to always test your yeast even if it is not past expiration date.

Baking Soda- This is used in the bagel boiling solution. It helps the bagels brown evenly with a shiny crust. We see this similarly with pretzels.

Boiling Time- I do not recommend boiling bagels longer than 1 minute. The longer you boil the bagels, the tougher the outside skin will be. To get the best texture and chewiness, I find it is best to boil the bagels only 30 seconds on each side giving a total boiling time of 1 minute.

How to Make Savory Bagels

I have written out the most important parts of this recipe in a step-by-step sequence of images along with the instructions for the Savory Bagel. You can find the full sequence of instruction in the recipe card below.

1. To a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, add water and packet of yeast. Stir until dissolved. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. (If you do not get any foam or yeast bloom, your yeast is dead and you will need to start this process over again with new yeast.)

2. Add flour and salt to yeast mixture. Mix until just combined. If using a mixer, use a dough hook to knead dough until elastic for about 10 minutes or so. If mixing by hand, turn dough out and knead until elastic, 15-20 minutes. If dough is sticky do not add additional flour. As you knead, dough will become less sticky as the gluten forms.

3. Once dough is ready, grease large bowl and put dough in. Cover and let rise until doubled, about an hour. Once doubled punch dough down. Spread dough out, about ¾ of an inch thick, then use a bench scraper to cut the dough into 8 roughly equal pieces. Roll the pieces into balls. You can use a kitchen scale to equalize the dough balls if you like.

4. Prepare cookie sheets with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper with butter. Take one the dough balls, flatten it slightly. Then use your fingers to punch a hole in the center. Use two fingers to spin and stretch the whole wide, making sure to keep bagel even. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining bagels.

5. Next, cover with tea towels and rise again until almost doubled and plump. While bagels plump, add 3 quarts of water to a medium pot. Add in 2 tbsp of brown sugar and 2 tsp of baking soda. Cover and bring solution to a boil.

6. Preheat oven to 425°F. Once bagels have risen and plumped, uncover solution, and reduce heat to a simmer. Add bagels in two at a time since they plump when boiled. Boil for 30 seconds on each side for a maximum of 1 minute.

7. Once all bagels are boiled, beat 1 egg and 1 tbsp of water in a small bowl. Brush egg wash over bagels, then sprinkle with your favorite toppings.

8. Bake on 425°F for 15 minutes. Next, flip bagels. Bake additional 5 minutes.

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Savory Bagel Serving Ideas

Savory bagels are perfect for any time of day — not just breakfast. Here are a few delicious ways to enjoy them:

• Bagel Breakfast Sandwich: Layer scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar between a toasted onion or plain bagel.
• Morning Kickstart: Toast an everything bagel and layer it with cream cheese, avocado, and a sprinkle of chili flakes.
• Bagel Lunch Melt: Use a garlic bagel as the base for turkey, spinach, and provolone, then bake until warm and melty.
• Lunchtime Melt: Use a cheddar bagel as the base for turkey, spinach, and provolone, then warm it in the oven until melty.
• Bagel Appetizer Board: Slice mini bagels and serve with hummus, smoked salmon, olives, and marinated veggies.
• Snack Board Favorite: Slice mini bagels and pair them with dips like hummus, olive tapenade, or whipped feta.
• Vegetarian Delight: Spread roasted red pepper hummus on an everything bagel and top with avocado and sprouts.
  • Try a rosemary sea salt bagel with roasted red pepper hummus and cucumber slices.

Every variation adds a new twist — and that’s the magic of savory bagels.