Description
These Cinnamon Crunch Bagels are soft, chewy, and bursting with warm cinnamon flavor, topped with a delightful cinnamon sugar crunch. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack, this homemade recipe uses a simple yeast dough boiled briefly before baking to achieve the classic bagel texture with a sweet twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110–120 degrees F)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (divided)
- 3 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 5 cups all purpose flour (may need slightly more or less)
Topping Ingredients
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the yeast, warm water, and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes or until the yeast is bubbling and foamy to ensure the yeast is active.
- Mix Dough: Stir in the cinnamon, salt, and 2 cups of flour into the yeast mixture. This forms the base of the dough.
- Knead Dough: Using the dough hook attachment, begin kneading on low speed. Gradually add the remaining flour until the dough starts to come together. Knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic, adjusting flour amount as needed.
- First Rise: Transfer the dough to a greased large bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size, developing flavor and texture.
- Shape Bagels: Punch down the dough to release air. Divide into 12 equal balls. Push your thumb through the center of each ball to form a bagel shape. Place them on a floured surface and let rest for 10 minutes to relax the dough.
- Boil Bagels: Fill a large pot with water and add the remaining tablespoon of brown sugar. Bring to a boil. Boil bagels two at a time for 45 seconds on each side. This step gives bagels their chewy crust. Remove with slotted spoon, drain briefly on paper towels, and place on a greased baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart.
- Add Toppings: Combine white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle evenly over the boiled bagels to create the cinnamon crunch layer.
- Bake: Bake the bagels in a preheated 400°F oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and fully cooked through. Let cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
- Warm water temperature is crucial to properly activate the yeast, so use a thermometer for accuracy.
- Boiling the bagels is essential for the traditional chewy texture; do not skip this step.
- If the dough is too sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time until manageable.
- Let bagels cool completely before slicing to maintain structure and texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days; freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cinnamon bagels, homemade bagels, sweet bagel recipe, breakfast bagels, cinnamon sugar bagels
