Best Onion Parmesan Mini Bagels Recipes

THE BEST BAGELS {STEP-BY-STEP}

Steps:

• Line two half-size baking sheets with parchment paper (spray the parchment with cooking spray to help avoid sticking, optional) and set aside. Heat water in the microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes or on the stove until it is between 110 and 130 degrees F.
• In a stand mixer add water, salt, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, about half of the flour, and the yeast on the top. Turn on mixer and add additional flour as needed to form a firm but still soft dough (see note). Dough should clear the sides and bottom of the bowl while it is mixing. It should be firmer than a roll or bread dough, but not so over floured that it becomes tough. Let mixer knead dough for 6 minutes to develop the gluten.
• Divide dough into 12 pieces (about 4 ounces each) and roll each into a ball. Cover the dough balls and let rest for 5 minutes to relax the dough.
• Once they have rested, one-by-one use your thumb to gently poke a hole in the center and carefully stretch the hole with your fingers until it is about an inch wide. For best looking bagels work quickly and gently, not worrying about trying to shape a perfect bagel. The less you handle them at this stage the better looking your bagels will be. Place the shaped bagels on the prepared baking sheets (6 per sheet). Cover them and let them rise for 20-30 minutes.
• While bagels are rising preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 3-4 quarts of water in a wide-diameter pan with 4 tablespoons brown sugar to a boil, stirring to dissolve the brown sugar. You can use a large pot or a deep straight-edge skillet. Then adjust the heat until it stays at a low boil.
• After bagels have risen, transfer them, three at a time, to the simmering water so that the bottom (or ugly side) is facing up. Increase the heat under the pan to bring the water back up to a gently simmering boil, if necessary. Cook the bagels for 30 seconds to 1 minute, flip them over using a wide slotted spatula, and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more. Using a wide slotted spatula, carefully remove the bagels from the water and place them back on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining bagels.
• Top the bagels with your desired ingredients or keep them plain. For a dry topping, such as sesame seeds or poppy seeds, whisk together 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush each bagel with the mixture before topping heavily with seeds or spices. If using Asiago or another cheese, there is no need to brush the bagels with an egg wash, simply place the shredded cheese on the bagels.
• Bake one sheet of bagels at a time for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they're as deep brown as you like. Remove the bagels from the oven, and cool completely on a wire rack.

MINI BAGELS

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt in a large bowl and make a little depression in the middle. Then pour water and olive oil into the depression and sprinkle dry yeast on top. Cover bowl with a kitchen towel and allow to rest for about 5-10 minutes.
• Either use your kitchen machine or knead by hand until the dough becomes smooth, shiny and elastic. Add some more flour if it feels too sticky. Again, let the covered bowl rest at a warm place for about 60-90 minutes (size of dough should have doubled by then).
• Preheat oven to 200°C (392°F). Punch down the dough, and shape about 16 to 20 equally sized little balls. Now comes the fun part: You can either use your index finger (poke it in flour first) or the handle of a wooden spoon to create a hole in the middle and try to give each bagel a nice look. Be sure to make the holes a notch larger than you'd think is necessary, they tend to quickly close up as the bagels rise and bake.
• Heat up a pot of saltwater and bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer. Send bagels into the hot water for about a minute (they'll float on top) and remove with a skimmer. Imagine wrinkled fingers after a long hot bath - yep, that's what they look like now.
• Note: You could now brush some egg yolk over the bagels to give them a darker (and more yellow-ish) color. We tried with a few and found the original color to be much nicer looking.
• Sprinkle with sesame, poppy seeds or other seeds/spices of your choice and bake in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Once cooled down a bit you can serve right then and there, but they also taste phenomenal the next morning, straight from the toaster with cream cheese and jam.