Perfect Homemade Sourdough Bagels

Name: Perfect Homemade Sourdough Bagels
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup active sourdough starter; 1 cup warm water; 4 cups bread flour; 2 tablespoons sugar; 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon instant yeast; 1 tablespoon barley malt syrup or honey for the boiling water

These sourdough bagels have a lovely chewy crust and a soft center that makes them better than anything from the store.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· September 11, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

30 minutes

Cook

25 minutes

Total

55 minutes

Serves

There is something so rewarding about making your own bagels at home. These sourdough bagels are a favorite in my kitchen because they have that classic crisp exterior and a tender inside that only a bit of sourdough starter can provide. They are wonderful toasted with a little bit of cream cheese for breakfast.

Since this recipe is quite flexible, you can choose to make them all in one day or let the dough sit in the fridge overnight for an even deeper flavor. It is a very beginner friendly process, so do not be intimidated if you have never baked with sourdough before.

🧺 Ingredients

1 cup active sourdough starter
1 cup warm water
4 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon barley malt syrup or honey for the boiling water

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Mix the sourdough starter, water, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large bowl until a stiff dough forms.
2
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes until it feels smooth and elastic.
3
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size.
4
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and shape each piece into a ball.
5
Poke a hole through the center of each ball with your thumb and gently stretch it to form a bagel shape.
6
Cover the shaped bagels and let them rest for another 30 minutes while you preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
7
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the barley malt syrup or honey.
8
Boil the bagels for about 1 minute on each side, then remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a baking sheet.
9
Bake the bagels for 20 to 25 minutes until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.

💡 Tips

Store your leftover bagels in a sealed bag at room temperature for two days or freeze them for up to a month. For the best flavor, toast them lightly before serving and add your favorite seeds like sesame, poppy, or dried onion flakes before baking.

#baking #bread #breakfast #homemade #vegetarian

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