The Perfect Cheesy Bagel: A Step-By-Step Guide

how do you cook cheese bagels

There are many ways to cook cheese bagels, from cheddar cheese bagels to three-cheese bagels to high-protein cottage cheese bagels. The basic steps for making a cheese bagel are to first shape the bagel dough, then boil the bagels in batches, top them with cheese, and bake them. The dough can be made with a variety of ingredients, including bread flour, salt, yeast, sugar, and cheese. The bagels are then boiled in water for about 1 minute on each side, before being topped with shredded cheese and baked in the oven at a temperature of around 425°F for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown.

Characteristics Values
Type of Bagel Cheddar Cheese Bagel, Three Cheese Bagel, Cottage Cheese Bagel
Ingredients Water, sugar, flour, yeast, salt, shredded cheese, egg, baking powder
Equipment Saucepan, slotted spoon, baking sheet, blender, food processor, cookie sheet, pizza stone
Cooking Method Boil, bake
Cooking Time 1 minute on each side in boiling water, 15-17 minutes in the oven
Storage Store in a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3-4 days
Calories 262-299 kcal

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How to make the dough

To make the dough for cheese bagels, you'll need bread flour, salt, shredded cheese, warm water, dry active yeast, and brown sugar. You can use any type of shredded cheese you like, such as sharp cheddar, for a stronger flavour.

First, add the warm water, yeast, and sugar to a small bowl and stir to combine. Set this mixture aside. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, salt, and shredded cheese. Stir to combine. After about five minutes, the yeast mixture should be bubbly and foamy.

Next, add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. If you're using a stand mixer, use the dough hook and knead for 10 minutes. You may need to add in a bit of extra flour to keep the dough workable but soft. If mixing by hand, stir the dry ingredients into the yeast mixture until a shaggy dough forms. Then, pour the dough onto a clean surface and knead by hand for 10 minutes.

If your dough is excessively sticky, you can add a bit more flour, one tablespoon at a time, to achieve a kneadable and shapeable consistency.

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Shaping the bagels

Firstly, roll the dough into a 10-inch long rope. You can do this by dividing the dough into equal portions and then rolling out each portion into the desired length. This step ensures that your bagels are evenly sized and shaped.

Next, bring the ends of the rope together to form a circle, allowing them to overlap slightly. This will create the distinctive bagel shape. Make sure to pinch the edges tightly to seal the dough and prevent any filling from leaking out during the boiling or baking process. A well-sealed bagel should hold its shape without any gaps or openings.

After shaping each bagel, place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. This step ensures that the bagels have a stable surface to rest on while they rise and also makes it easier to transfer them into the boiling water without losing their shape. Cover the bagels with a clean tea towel and let them rise for about 15 minutes. This resting period allows the dough to relax and ensures that the bagels will have a soft and airy texture after boiling and baking.

Finally, before boiling the bagels, you can oil the parchment paper or sprinkle a thin layer of cornmeal onto it. This step is optional but can make it much easier to pick up the bagels after boiling and prevent them from sticking to the paper.

By following these detailed steps for shaping cheese bagels, you will be well on your way to creating delicious, evenly cooked bagels with the perfect texture and taste.

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Boiling the bagels

To cook cheese bagels, you will need to boil them before baking them in the oven. Here is a step-by-step guide to the boiling process:

First, bring a large, wide saucepan of water to a boil. You will need about 4 inches of water in the pan. While you are waiting for the water to boil, shape the bagels. Roll the dough into a 10-inch long rope, bring the ends together to form a circle, overlapping and pinching the edges to seal the dough. Place the shaped bagels on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, cover with a clean tea towel, and let them rise for 15 minutes.

Once the water is at a rolling boil, carefully lower the bagels into the water. You should only boil one or four bagels at a time, depending on the size of your pan. Boil each bagel for about 1 minute, then flip it over and boil for another minute. Use a large slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove the boiled bagels from the water and place them back on the lined baking sheet. Repeat this process with the remaining bagels.

While the next batch of bagels are boiling, top the boiled ones with shredded cheese. Continue this process until all the bagels have been boiled and topped with cheese.

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Adding cheese to the bagels

There are several ways to add cheese to your bagels, whether you're making them from scratch or adding cheese to a pre-made bagel.

Adding Cheese to the Dough

If you're making your bagels from scratch, you can add cheese to the dough itself. This will ensure that you get a cheesy flavour in every bite. You can use shredded sharp cheddar cheese, adding about one cup to the dough. You can also add shredded cheese to the dry ingredients when making the dough, using a stand mixer with a dough hook to knead the dough for about 10 minutes. You may need to add a bit of extra flour to keep the dough workable but soft.

Adding Cheese to the Top

Another way to add cheese to your bagels is to sprinkle shredded cheese on top. First, brush the bagel tops with beaten egg, then sprinkle the cheese on top. You can also get creative with other toppings, such as everything bagel seasoning, flaky salt, cinnamon sugar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or garlic flakes.

Cottage Cheese Bagels

If you're feeling adventurous, you can try making bagels with cottage cheese. These bagels are said to be crispy, fluffy, and packed with protein. To make these, blend cottage cheese until smooth and creamy, then combine it with flour and baking powder to form a sticky dough. Shape the dough into bagels, brush the tops with beaten egg, and sprinkle with your desired toppings before baking.

Jalapeno Cheddar Bagels

For a spicy twist, you can add shredded cheese and diced jalapenos to the dough. After brushing with an egg wash, sprinkle some extra cheese and sliced jalapenos on top before baking.

No matter which method you choose, adding cheese to your bagels is a great way to elevate this classic breakfast food.

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Baking the bagels

To make homemade cheddar cheese bagels, you'll need to start by preparing the dough. In a small bowl, combine warm water (105° F- 113° F), dry active yeast, and brown sugar. Stir and set aside. In a large bowl or stand mixer, add bread flour, salt, and shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Next, add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Use a dough hook and knead the dough for 10 minutes, adding extra flour as needed to keep the dough soft and workable.

Once the dough is ready, roll it into a 10-inch long rope and bring the ends together to form a circle, overlapping and pinching the edges to seal. Place the shaped bagels on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, cover with a clean tea towel, and let them rise for 15 minutes.

Now it's time to boil the bagels. In a large saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Carefully drop the risen bagels into the boiling water, cooking them for about 1 minute per side. Use a slotted spoon to gently remove the bagels from the water and place them on a lined cookie sheet.

Finally, it's time to bake! Before baking, brush the bagels with beaten egg and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Bake the bagels in a preheated oven at 425° F for 15-17 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Allow the bagels to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

You can also make high-protein cottage cheese bagels. To make these, preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet. In a medium bowl, combine blended cottage cheese, flour, and baking powder until a sticky dough forms. Divide the dough into four equal portions and shape them into bagels. Place the bagels on parchment paper, brush them with beaten egg, and sprinkle your desired toppings. Transfer the bagels to the preheated baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Frequently asked questions

To make cheese bagels, you will need to make a dough from flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and cheese. Knead the dough for 10 minutes, adding flour as needed to keep the dough workable but soft. Roll the dough into 10-inch long ropes, then bring the ends together to form a circle, overlapping and pinching the edges to seal. Boil the bagels for 1 minute on each side, then bake in the oven at 425°F for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.

You can use shredded sharp cheddar cheese or a combination of different cheeses, such as three-cheese bagels. Cottage cheese can also be used as a base for a high-protein bagel.

Boil the bagels for about 1 minute on each side. You may need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your pot.

Cheese bagels can be stored in a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. They can also be sliced and frozen, then popped into the toaster when needed.

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