Bagels!

I've been thinking of baking bagels for a while now, and today-- my day of rest and the day I also happen to finally be feeling human again after a wicked cold-- was the day.

I used this recipe for my bagels, and as far as I can tell, it worked beautifully.

I thought baking bagels would be hard, but it was actually easier than making pretzels (the last baking endeavor). Again, I was most worried about killing the yeast, but I didn't! I also forgot to take any photos until I was boiling and baking the 2nd batch. Overall, though-- easy.

Step one: Combine yeast, warm water, salt, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Mix gently with dough hook until combined.

Step 2: Add the flour. It takes quite a bit, but this recipe makes a dozen bagels. Knead with the dough hook for about 3 minutes, then let rise.

Step 3: Beat down the dough, roll into bagel shapes (I used the "hole-in-the-middle" technique), and let rise again for about 20 minutes.

(Bagels have risen and are ready to boil.)

Step 4: Now it's time to boil! This, as with pretzels, is what gives bagels their wonderful, unique texture.

Let them boil for about 30 seconds, and make sure to turn them once so the whole bagel gets nice and boiled.

Step 5: Bake the bagels at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Take them out and let them cool. Admire.

I have yet to taste them, as I'm still waiting for the 2nd batch to come out of the oven, and I want them to cool. Also, I want to be hungry when I finally break into one. They smell heavenly, and I know I'll want to eat the whole thing once I crack them.

EDIT:

The bagels are delicious. Perfect texture and great flavor. They even look like real bagels when you cut them in half.

I will say that I'm pretty sure I'm never buying bagels again. This whole process only took about an hour, and it made an easy dozen. If I wanted slightly smaller bagels, I could probably eke 16 out of this amount of dough.

To add to my shopping list: cream cheese. Mm, bagels.

Any ideas for my next baking adventure?