Start with Active Sourdough Starter

Day 1 - Time: 2:00 pm

• The first thing to do for these homemade sourdough bagel recipes is to have an active sourdough starter. The best way to do this is to feed the sourdough starter and let it rise. Once that is done do a float test by taking a piece of the starter and drop into a glass of water. If it floats to the top like a piece of dough, get ready to mix the ingredients.
  

Day 1 Steps for Bagel Dough

Time: 7:00 pm

• Around 7 p.m., I started mixing the dough. I found the weather in Florida will affect the dough. It took me about t 12 hours for the dough to double, which was perfect for making bagels in the morning.
• First, get the bowl of your stand mixer and use the dough hook attachment. You can mix by hand but it is very tough dough so work out the arms before you do.
• Add the sourdough and water at room temperature and mix, then add the honey and one cup of flour at a time and mix on low.
  
• Add the salt and one cup of flour and mix. Add the rest of the flour and mix until it is all combined and the dough is soft. I mix for about 10 minutes. This dough is tough to mix and tempting to add water but do not.
  
• Once complete mix until it is a smooth ball and place in a bowl.
  
• Place plastic wrap and shower cap on top and let the dough rest until the next morning.
  

Day 2 Steps for Bagel Shapes

Time: 6:00 am

• The dough should have doubled the next day.
  
• Take the dough out of the bowl and roll it to a ball. With a dough cutter, cut equal pieces into 8.
  
• Weight each piece of dough on the scale if you would like to have same-size bagels.
  
• Roll each piece of dough into a ball.
  
• Place a piece of parchment paper onto a sheet pan and do a light spray so the dough will not stick. Take your dough ball and with index fingers pock a hole in the center and stretch the dough around to make a water tube. Then place it on the pan. Repeat for each piece of dough.
  
• Place a damp towel on top of the bagels and let them rise for about 1 to 2 hours depending on the climate.
  

Steps for Boiling of Bagels

• Preheat the oven at this time to 375º degrees.
• The easiest part is boiling water for the bagel bath in a large pot of water. First, I use spring water from a bottle to fill up 8 cups of water, along with baking soda and sugar and I start by boiling the water.
  
• Once the water is bubbling, place a few bagels in and let them boil about a minute then flip on the other side and add another minute. With a slotted spoon remove the wet bagels and return to the lined baking sheet. Repeat the process for each bagel
  
• Sprinkle the bagels with your favorite topping or leave plan.
  

Baking Sourdough Bagels

• Place the bagels in the oven and let them cook for 15 minutes at 375º degrees.
• Rotate the bagels after 15 minutes and bake until golden brown which for me with my oven was about 10 minutes more.
  
• Remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack.
  
• Serve with your favorite cream cheese or freeze for a later date. Enjoy!