Homemade Bagels

By cnash

Fresh-made bagels can stand on their own or take a savory turn with a spread of Bacon-Scallion Cream Cheese. Morning pleasures this alluring make it easy to throw back the bedcovers and race to the breakfast table.

Ingredients

• 7.5 cup(s) bread flour
• 1.5 teaspoon(s) instant active dry yeast
• 2.5 cup(s) water, warmed to 100 degrees F
• 2.75 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1 tablespoon(s) honey
• 2 tablespoon(s) cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon(s) baking soda

Preparation

Step 1

Make the dough: Combine 4 cups flour and 1 teaspoon yeast in a large mixing bowl. Whisk the water into the flour until smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and proof the mixture in a warm, draft-free place until bubbly and double in volume -- about 2 hours. Rap the bowl on a work surface to collapse the dough. Add the remaining yeast, 3 cups flour, salt, and honey and mix until the ingredients form a ball. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead, working in the remaining flour, until the dough is stiff but satiny -- about 10 minutes.

Shape the bagels: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, spray with vegetable oil, and set aside. Shape the dough into thirteen 4 1/2-ounce balls, cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for 20 minutes. Make a hole in the center of each ball of dough, widening it until the bagel is about 4 inches in diameter. Return the bagels to the baking sheets, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for 20 more minutes. Transfer the bagels to the refrigerator and let rest for 12 to 24 hours.

Cook the bagels: Fill a large Dutch oven with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove bagels from the refrigerator and let rest for 20 minutes. Sprinkle 2 baking sheets with cornmeal. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Add baking soda to the water and poach 2 to 3 bagels at a time for 30 seconds on each side. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining bagels. Bake for 5 minutes. Rotate pans, reduce oven temperature to 450 degrees F, and bake until golden brown -- about 15 more minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.