Published Date: March 8, 2024 | Last Updated: March 4, 2024
Only a few ingredients come together to make these ultra-chewy and delicious Sourdough Bagels! Regular bagels are good and all, but I swear sourdough bagels are on another level. This Sourdough Bagel recipe yields bagels that are soft inside but have the perfect bite, and taste so amazing eaten straight out of the oven. Homemade bread always tastes better, and that
Only a few ingredients come together to make these ultra-chewy and delicious Sourdough Bagels! Regular bagels are good and all, but I swear sourdough bagels are on another level. This Sourdough Bagel recipe yields bagels that are soft inside but have the perfect bite, and taste so amazing eaten straight out of the oven.
Homemade bread always tastes better, and that goes for bagels too!
Sourdough Bagel Recipe Ingredients
I love making bread on my own so I can control the ingredients that go into my food. Storebought bagels have all kinds of preservatives and additives that aren’t so great for your health. Plus, this recipe uses sourdough instead of commercial yeast, which is so good for gut health.
Active Bubbly Sourdough Starter
For this sourdough bagel recipe, you will need to use a happy, fed, bubbly and active starter. If your sourdough starter is thin or runny, it’s not active, and you’ll have to feed it before you use it. Check out my Sourdough 101 Post for all the info you’ll ever need! This guide walks you through all of the steps of caring for and baking with a sourdough starter.
Brown Sugar
Adding a bit of brown sugar to the dough helps add flavor, and doesn’t make them taste sweet at all.
Salt
This is maybe the most important ingredient of them all. Don’t forget the salt, or you’ll end up with tasteless lumps of dough. Speaking from experience here!
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Flour
I use bread flour for all of my bread recipes. Bread flour has a high protein/gluten content, which makes the final product extra chewy and delicious! If you have bread flour, definitely use that, but if you only have all-purpose flour, that will work fine too.
How to Make Sourdough Bagels
Making sourdough bagels is not too difficult, but does require a few steps and a bit of time. Baking with sourdough takes a little more time, but really doesn’t take any more effort than making bread with conventional yeast. Most of the time is spent letting the dough rise, so it’s mostly hands-off. Just read the directions and I promise you can do it!
Make the Dough
Start by combining all the ingredients and kneading them together into a smooth dough. You can use a stand mixer, Bosch, or make it by hand.
First Rise
Cover the dough and let it rise until it is doubled in size. This could take anywhere from 5-10 hours, depending on the ambient temperature and the strength of your sourdough starter. I find that it takes much longer in the winter than in the summer. Just keep an eye on your dough throughout the day. You could also put the dough in the fridge and let it rise there for a day or two.
Shape
After the dough has doubled in size, divide it into 8 equal portions. Shape the dough into a snake, then circle it around to form a bagel. Pinch the edges to make a smooth circle.
Cut out 8 squares of parchment paper, then place a shaped bagel on each square. The parchment will help keep the shape of the bagels when you boil them later.
Let the bagels rise until doubled.
Boil
Boiling the bagels gives them their unique chewy exterior. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and ¼ cup of honey to the pot.
Gently add the bagel dough (still stuck to the parchment paper) into the water. Once the parchment gets wet, it is easy to peel off the dough and set aside.
Boil the bagels for about 45 seconds per side. Once the bagels are boiled, add them to a baking sheet.
Brush each bagel with an egg wash, and then add your desired toppings. We love to add jalapeño and cheese to our bagels. If you want sweet bagels, you can add cinnamon sugar. I find that it works best to use butter instead of egg wash on the cinnamon sugar bagels.
Bake
Bake at 425 for about 20 minutes, and serve immediately. I love to serve these fresh with butter or cream cheese. These bagels also make amazing breakfast sandwiches!
Bagel Topping Ideas
You can use any toppings that you like! We love jalapeño and cheddar, but you could also do everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, any type of cheese, or cinnamon sugar.
My Favorite Sourdough Bread Recipes
Sourdough Rosemary French Bread
Natural Yeast Sourdough Sandwich Bread
Happy Cooking!
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do. If you want to follow along on my cooking adventures, follow me on Instagram @AMBERSKITCHEN
Ingredients
- 1 cup active bubbly sourdough starter
- 1.5 cups warm water
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3.5 to 4 cups flour
- Toppings like cheese, sliced jalapeños, or cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Combine water, sourdough starter, sugar, salt, and flour. Mix and knead all ingredients together until dough forms a smooth and elastic dough.
- Cover dough and let rise until it has doubled in size. (This step could take 5-10 hours depending on ambient temp and strength of starter). This step can be done on the fridge over a day or two!
- Dump dough onto lightly floured surface.
- Divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a snake, then circle it around and make a circle out of the dough. Pinch connecting sides together to make a smooth circle out of the dough.
- Cut out 8 squares of parchment paper and set each circle of dough onto each parchment square. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
- Bring a pot of water to boil. Add 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1/4 cup honey.
- Gently drop the bagel dough- parchment paper and all- into the water. Parchment will loosen as it gets wet and you can remove it from the pot. Let the bagel boil for about 45 seconds per side.
- Set boiled bagel dough directly onto a baking sheet either greased or lined with parchment paper.
- Brush each bagel with an egg wash and then desired toppings. I find that it works best to use butter instead of egg wash on the cinnamon sugar bagels. We especially LOVE the jalapeño cheddar bagels!
- Bake at 425 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately! Enjoy!
In one of your bread recipes it says to stir down the starter to remove the bubbles before measuring out your cups. Do I do that here or just pour out a cup of the bubbly starter? I can’t wait to try this!
Author
I usually stir down the bubbles before I measure.
Ooh these are soo good! Love the sourdough recipes!!
We love these bagels. Make them weekly at our house! Thanks you!
Do you have any tips on making sourdough blueberry bagels?
We love this recipe, but want to change things up a bit 🙂
Author
Hi Stacie, just add some blueberries to the dough! I think it will turn out great.
Hi Amber. I have learned more from you then anyone, so thank you for that. Do you use fresh jalapenos? Thank you!!!
Author
Hi Susan, what a kind thing to say! Yes I have used fresh jalapenos.
Turned out great. Making again today for bagel sandwiches this week 😋
Author
Hi Chrissy, so glad that you loved this recipe.
Do you have a non-sourdough bagel recipe?
Author
I don’t! That’s a good idea though! If you have a sourdough starter I highly recommend trying this recipe.
Look forward to making these!
Wow! So dang good! My kids loved these. They didnt turn out so pretty, I’ll have to work on my shaping. So much better than the store bought jalapeno cheddar ones we buy.
Author
Thanks Alisha!
Hey Amber! Do you have measurements for this recipe in grams? It would be so helpful to have especially for the flour!
Also, how sticky should the dough be after the first step?
Author
Hi Mary, I don’t have the recipe in grams, unfortunately, maybe one day! I like to use the touch test: After kneading the dough, touch it with 3 fingers. If a lot of dough sticks to your fingers, it needs more flour. If hardly any sticks to your fingers it’s just right. If it is dry and crumbly with pockets of visible flour, it has too much flour. Kneading the dough for a few extra minutes can help hydrate any excess flour.
Love love love!
My 17yr old daughter made these and they turned out so well! Along with the browned butter sourdough chocolate chip cookies—you cannot go wrong with these recipes.
Author
Thank you Amy!
Best bagel recipe around!
My family LOVES these bagels-so soft and chewy! I mix up the dough and throw it in the fridge for a couple days. It always works out amazing! I love that the dough is so versatile. We can add whatever toppings and it’s delicious every time!
Author
Alyssa, so glad that you love this recipe.
My family loves these bagels! I can’t buy store bought anymore. Super soft and the texture is amazing. I’m trying blueberry inclusion next.
Author
Heather, so glad that your family loves this recipe.
I’ve made this so many times. It’s a huge favorite of all. We love to double it and make mini bagels to slice and freeze. The topping options are so good and the taste is incredible. Not to mention the amazing smell that warms your kitchen.
Can’t wait to try this!! I love all things jalapeno! 🌶️🌶️
I’ve made these bagels multiple times and always get delicious results. Amber’s instructions are so easy to follow, you can’t go wrong. Definitely a favorite way to use sourdough at our house!
Author
Thank you Aubrey!
Made these for a crew of family over the 4th of July. WOW! What a hit. I made plain, jalapeño and cheddar, and a cinnamon crunch. So good and chewy. I love making things for my family that are natural and wholesome! Thank you for an easy way to do this.
Author
Cinnamon crunch sounds delicious!
I LOVE that you have cook mode first and foremost! Who knew this was a thing and something that was life changing while following your recipe!
Love how these bagels came out. Happy to try something other than sandwich bread. These were a major hit! Very simple and so savory.
Author
Hi Sharla, I’m glad you love the bagels!
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to make them this weekend!
I’ve made these bagels 3 times and they always turn out perfect. My kids crave them! Yum Yum Yum!!!
Author
Thank you Ashlie!
My family loves these bagels! Cheddar and jalapeño are our favorite, but I always have a few that request cinnamon sugar as well.
Author
Marsha, so glad that your family loves these bagels.
Do you use bread flour or all purpose flour in this recipe?
Author
You can use either!
These look amazing! Now if I can just master sourdough. 😜
I love bagels. I love them even more when they are sourdough bagels. So glad I found this recipe. I won’t ever be able to justify buying store bought bagels anymore!
These are soft and super easy to make!
Author
Thank you Karina!
I was so scared to make these! I love to cook, but you have to be precise when baking. I did it. I made bagels, and they were spot on!! Thanks, Amber, for your fantastic recipes 😋
Author
Yay! So happy these turned out great for you!
We love bagels.
Can you keep the dough to rise overnight in the fridge?
Author
Yes, you can keep it in the fridge, but it could take a day or so to rise!
I can’t wait to try this! the cheese flavor looks delicious😋!
Okay. These are honestly to die for. I’ve tried different sourdough bagel recipes and I continue to go back to this one. It truly is fool proof and tastes amazing. So airy and not dense at all. LOVE!!
Author
Thanks Hanna, so glad that you love this recipe.
I’ve made sourdough bagels before and was a little confused on the process but this step by step recipe was super simple for me to follow.
Author
So glad that this was easy for you to follow, Angie.
These are amazing! Never would I have attempted to make sourdough bagels or even regular bagels without Amber’s clear recipe and directions. They turned out great and it’s so fun to do the different flavor options. We loved the cinnamon sugar ones!
Author
Thank you for the kind comment, Katie!
I absolutely love this recipe. I love bagels but this sourdough bagel recipe is the best. The recipe is easy to follow and the bagels come out soft and tangie. My kids devour them every time I make them.
Author
Thanks Vanessa, so glad you love this recipe!
Best sourdough bagel recipe! Asiago is my favorite!
I love this recipe. I’ve not made many bagels before. But since starting sourdough I like these for breakfast with an egg or whatever more than I like making sd bread. There’s just 2 of us so bread lasts too long.
This is an easy recipe to follow. It’s fun to make and they turn out great every time! They freeze well too.
Author
Thanks Kris!
Love this recipe. Easy to use. Delicious!
I am new to sourdough AND new to bagels. This recipe is amazing. It was easy to understand and they turned out divine. If it seems scary, like it did to me, don’t worry!! You can do it and they’ll turn out great!
Author
Thanks Whitney!
I love to bake but was always intimidated by making bagels. I absolutely love ambers crusty sourdough bread recipe, so when I saw her post this bagel recipe I figured I would try it out! It is so much easier than I thought it would be!! And they turned out amazing my first time making them! I personally love the jalapeno and cheddar the best, but my kids love blueberry and cinnamon/sugar ones. It’s so easy to add whatever toppings you want! The recipe is so good, you won’t ever need to try a different bagel recipe! Thanks so much for the great recipe Amber!🩷
Author
Thank you Cassidey, I’m so glad that you love this recipe.
Hands down the bagel recipe! We moved away from our favorite bagel shop and we have been craving a good bagel ever since. I whipped these up and dare I say they’re even better than our beloved bagel place? Definitely a recipe I will come back to time and time again. Thank you!
Author
That’s such high praise, Christie!
Never EVER buying store bought bagels again! I’m new to sourdough and this recipe was so easy and delicious. We tried the jalapeno and cheese. Amber’s recipes never disappoint!
Author
So glad to hear that, HaLee!
I’ve made these many times with my kids! They’re delicious and so versatile, we do all the toppings from everything seasoning to cinnamon raisin.
Author
Thanks Elizabeth!
Those look so yummy. So easy to make. Thank you for sharing. Your the best.
Honestly this is such a staple in my house! I can get all three of my children to eat it, so it’s a win for me!!
Love, love this recipe! The bagels turn out light, flavorful and with a little bit of chewy-ness. No more store bought bagels for us!
Author
Thank you Randee 🙂
I have tried a few other sourdough bagel recipes, but stopped looking after this one. I’ve made it several times. Not only is it easy, but they turn out so chewy and yummy. The cheese is my favorite but I love all her suggestions. I need to make more to have on hand for my husband who also loves them. I love Ambers recipes, so easy to follow especially sourdough ones.
Author
Thank you Kristine, what a kind comment!
Made these today and they were SO delicious. I loved the chewy thick texture and my kids gobbled them up. We did some plain, some with just cheese, and a few cinnamon sugar- my kids loved the cheese ones the most.
Author
Thanks Brinley, so glad that your family loves this recipe!
This bagel recipe is the BEST! It is simple and fun to try different flavors. I double the recipe and freeze the rest. They don’t last long! My kids fight over them!
Author
Thank you Kira, so glad that your family loves this recipe.
These bagels are AMAZING. The recipe is very clear and easy to follow. Every time my parents come into town they beg me to make these. You have to try them!
Author
Thanks so much Rebekah!
I love this bagel recipe, and jalapeño cheddar is my favorite flavor!! My husband is the sour dough guy in our house and I literally beg him to make these all the time.
Author
So glad your family loves these!
THE most amazing bagel recipe. It’s easy, few ingredients, and SO good. Even if you’re new to sourdough, you can do this!
My family can’t have enough of them. Our favorite are the cheese ones, but even plain they’re so good.
Author
Thank you so much Cecilia!
Can’t wait to try- I’m a little nervous, but I am going to do it!
Author
You can do it Amy!
This bagel recipe is AMAZING! It comes together quickly, and with the tip of using parchment when putting the bagels in to boil, it’s so easy! I like doing a cheese bagel and they freeze great!
Author
Thank you for the kind comment Shauntae!
This is my go-to bagel recipe. Great texture. I especially like making jalapeño cheddar and cinnamon sugar ones.
Author
Thank you Stephanie 🙂
Coming from a New Yorker who knows what a good bagel tastes like, these are absolutely delicious.
Author
That’s high praise! Thank you!
Lovely recipe. So clear
These are by far our favorite recipe. So easy to make and delish!
Author
Thanks Kaylee!
Ooh we love these!! So yummy! Keep the sourdough recipes coming!
Author
Thanks Yvette!
Best sough dough bagel recipe ever! I love the cheddar jalapeno ones! We used jalapenos from our garden and felt like a true homesteader😂! It’s turned out great! Amber has the best recipes.
Author
That’s awesome Camille!
I’m excited to try these. They look delicious! I’ve never made bagels before so it’s a bit intimidating. Your detailed step by step instructions are just what I needed to have the confidence to try a new recipe. Thank you!!
Could these be made without sourdough starter? Like with regular yeast?
Author
Hi Kristi, this recipe is developed for a sourdough starter. You would have to alter it if you made it with regular yeast.
My son and I started making these this summer and could not make enough. When I took him to college- he wanted to go with a bunch of bagels! So yummy!
Author
That’s so sweet, Kristie.
My families favorite bagel recipe! How genius of the cut up parchment papers, makes boiling them so easy!
Author
Thanks Machelle!
We liked these! I wasn’t sure about dropping the parchment paper into the water with the bagel, but it worked, haha! I could only fit one bagel at a time in my pot, and between the 45 seconds for each side and getting the next ones ready, my boiling honey baking soda water turned fairly dark near the end. My last bagel or two looked much darker than the others. Maybe I just need to work on getting faster, haha. But we enjoyed them with everything but the bagel seasoning on them! Thanks, Amber!
Author
Thanks Alexandra!
Followed this recipe exactly and made the most delicious bagels! Thankfully the rising period isn’t too long for the bagels to come out so fluffy and airy. A new staple!
Author
SO glad to hear they turned out for you, Kylie!
If it’s Amber’s recipe, it’s a winner! These sourdough bagels are to die for delicious!
Author
Thanks Katie, that’s so nice!
Excellent. Soooo yummy. Chewy but airy. Can’t wait to try some of the combos besides the plain sourdough bagel! Thank you amber for sharing your sourdough magic recipes !
Author
Thank you Katie!
The BEST bagels! EASY & delicious… I have made these twice now and they are a hit in our house. Our favorite way to eat them is toasted with cream cheese and homemade grape jelly ❤️
Author
Homemade grape jelly? Yum!
Amazing! Seriously so good and easy! I normally feed my starter in the morning and by the evening it is ready to go! I make the dough for the bagels and by morning they are perfectly risen and ready to form. An easy boil and add toppings and bake! Makes the softest, tastiest bagels every time! So simple and so delicious! One of my favorite go to recipes!
Amazing! Seriously so good and easy! I normally feed my starter in the morning and by the evening it is ready to go! I make the dough for the bagels and by morning they are perfectly risen and ready to form. An easy boil, add toppings and bake! Makes the softest, tastiest bagels every time! So simple and so delicious! One of my favorite go to recipes!
Delicious, perfect, no need to say more . Just try them for yourself and you will add lots of adjectives as well !
Author
Thank you for the kind comment Holli!
Sourdough bagels are my kids favorite and this recipe makes it easy to make them for them often!!
They are so good. But every time I’ve made them they are pretty dense and chewy — not airy.
But so good. And excellent with homemade cream cheese!
Definitely going to try this recipe but wonder if you could use honey instead of brown sugar?
Author
Yes!
Love this recipe! Turns out great every time. Soft bagels with a nice chew to them. And great for fried egg sandwiches!
Author
Yum! Love a fried egg sandwich.
We made these bagels this past weekend and they turned out amazing, super delicious and surprisingly easy! We will definitely be making them again!
Author
Thanks Sierra! 🙂
I made these last week…third time trying to make sourdough bagels and this time they were finally amazing! It is a longer process than the sandwich bread that I usually bake. But the more I make these bagels I’m sure the easier they will feel too. I doubled the dough and made 32 “mini” bagels. They were still pretty big.
Author
With practice they will definitely feel easier!
I have made these a handful of times the past couple years, and Everytime I do I wonder why I don’t see them more often? So delicious!! Especially the cheddar topped ones, Yum!
Author
That’s how I feel every time I make them!
Best sourdough bagel recipe ever!
Author
Thank you Jan!
Wow I can’t wait to try your bagel recipe. It looks delicious 😋
Hi Amber, i love following you and love all your recipes. I just learned how to use my refrigerator to help with timing of sourdough and look forward to trying your bagels!! Thank you for keeping in touch.
Author
Thanks Judy!
These look amazing, Amber!
And thank you for the tips using starter directly from the refrigerator!
I love this recipe! It is so much easier to make than what I had thought it would be. The bagels are always super delicious. I have gotten some of the best recipes from you and my family loves it all. Every recipe is a success! Thank you Amber.
Author
Thank you so much Dani!
I want yo make these! I love all of your recipes. ❤️❤️
Thank you for this recipe! The bagels are amazing! I made half of them with the jalapeños & cheddar, half with everything bagel seasoning. I love the simple, step by step directions and the result is so yummy!
Author
Thanks Kim, so happy that you love them.
My family absolutely loves these bagels. I make them every week to soothe the savage beasts!
These bagels are absolutely delicious!! The flavor and texture in every bite is a 10/10!! Love all of Ambers recipes- they never disappoint!
Author
Thank you Breana 🙂
Beautiful bagels! Thank you for advice on using cold starter. What a game-changer!
Author
It really is a game changer!
These look so delicious!!! Printing recipe and planning on making them soon!!!
Author
Let me know how it goes!
I’ve made these bagel probably 4-5 times – they are delicious! We usually do a few jalapeño cheddar, everything bagels, and a handful of cinnamon sugar. You can add anything to them and they taste great!
Author
Yum! SO glad that you love this recipe.
These bagels are 10/10 the best recipe out there! Don’t forget to add the cheese on top, you won’t regret it! Thanks Amber for the delicious recipe as always!
Author
Thanks Jenny for your kind comment!
I can’t wait to try these!!!
These look amazing, I can’t wait to make them & being able to use cold starter, blows my mind!!
Author
I know right! Try it using cold starter and let me know how it goes!
This is my go to bagel recipe! So good my family ate the whole batch in one sitting! Highly recommend!
Author
Haha glad that you loved them!
These are so good! Our favorite toppings are everything bagel seasoning and cinnamon sugar. I really want to try making blueberry bagels next time. My shape never looks very pretty but they always taste great.
Author
Blueberry sounds delicious! Mine always end up a little wonky as well but all that matters is the taste!
I love bagels! Gonna have to try these sometime when I get more comfortable with sourdough!
Author
Thanks Holly!
I started making these last night and baked them this morning and they turned out great! Next time I won’t do mozzarella (it got a little crispy), but parm & mex blend worked great. I also struggled with baking on a wire rack and being a little stuck after baking. Next time I’ll just do parchment. Overall, I will for sure make them again! Thank you!
Author
Rachel, I’m sure with those tweaks they will be fantastic!
I made these for the first time yesterday and couldn’t believe how easy they were! They turned out so amazing and so delicious! I can’t wait to make them again!
Author
Thanks Samantha!
This was my first time making bagels. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I mixed the dough before school and baked them when my kids got home. Jalepeno cheese was my favorite and my littles loved the cinnamon sugar.
Author
So glad that it worked out for you Alyse!
Made these last night. I forgot about the dough and didn’t end up finishing them until 7:30pm but regardless, my husband, three kids, and I ate half of them fresh out of the oven because they were so good.
Author
So glad to hear that Camille!
Amber may as well be the author of sourdough for dummies. She’s taught me all I know and spells it out for you by video. These bagels are delicious and my family loves them too. Make sure you have a sheet pan lid-it’ll make your life easier-especially if you’re storing them in the fridge overnight to boil & bake for breakfast. You won’t regrets making this recipe
Author
Thanks Denise for your kind comment! 🙂
Yum! These really are easy. I made 2 each of plain, jalapeño cheddar, everything, and blueberry. I made the dough in the afternoon, let it sit on the counter until bedtime, popped it in the fridge until morning and then made them for breakfast.
Author
Thanks Kelli!
I have been wanting to try making bagels and this was a great recipe to start with! They were so easy to make! It was a little cooler than normal in my house so I left the dough in the oven to rise with the light on to speed things up and it worked like a charm! I will be making these again!
Author
So glad that it worked out for you, Madelynn!
I was a little intimidated to make these as I am new to sourdough, but they were quite easy and turned out delicious! I loved the cinnamon sugar with cream cheese for breakfast and the cheese topped ones make a delicious sandwich! I will definitely make these again
Author
Yum! So happy that you love this recipe.
These turned out delicious! I made some plain, some with cheese, and some with cinnamon sugar. The flavor was so good and great chewy texture. I think this was my best sourdough win so far!
Author
I’m so happy that they turned out, Bethany!
Thank you, Amber. As usual your recipes are the best!
Author
Thank you Julie!
My stomach is bulging! These bagels are so good I could not stop eating them. I made a cheesy parmesan version, a cinnamon sugar version, and an everything version. The sourdough made it feel acceptable that these will be digest better than regular bagels, but I had no self control and ate way more than I should have and now I have the world’s biggest belly ache. They are that good. Thanks for this easy peasy recipe, Amber! You are one of the sourdough queens!
Author
So glad you enjoyed them, Heidi!
How long did it take for the bagels to double in size after u shaped them?
Author
Hi Mia, it really depends on the strength of your sourdough starter and the temperature of your kitchen, so I can’t quite tell you exactly how long it will take. Sourdough is a lot less precise than baking with conventional yeast.
Can we use sugar instead of honey I. The boiling water? Looking forward to trying this recipe
Author
You can use brown sugar if you like!