Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (2024)

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

(Last Updated On: August 16, 2023)

Jump to Recipe

This vegan bagel recipe is so delicious – it’s fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside!

The yeast dough is soft and airy, and the bagels have a crisp exterior that is so irresistible.

They are brushed with vegan butter and sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning for the best homemade bagels with tons of flavor.

These plant based bagels are so quick and easy to make and much more delicious than store bought!

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (1)

This recipe is especially perfect if you want to save money or save yourself a trip to the store.

These bagels are one of the most affordable bread recipes you can make, and the process is very straight-forward and easy to follow.

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (2)

Homemade Fluffy Everything Bagels

If you’ve never made bagels from scratch, this is the perfect recipe for you – it’s simple to follow and only needs a few ingredients.

This recipe is perfect for beginners, especially if you don’t have much experience with yeast and rising dough.

This vegan bagel recipe also makes your home smell just like a bakery, and there’s nothing better than a fresh homemade bagel!

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (3)

These vegan bagels are delicious with just about anything on top – some of my favorites are vegan cream cheese, vegan butter, hummus and avocado.

They make a great breakfast or afternoon snack, and you can even add some veggies and make it lunch (check out my tofu breakfast bagel sandwich if you’re interested)!

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (4)

How to Make Vegan Bagels from Scratch

Preparing and Rising the Dough

To make your homemade bagels, begin by heating the water just until it’s warm, no hotter than 110 degrees F, then stir in the sugar.

Sprinkle the yeast on top and don’t mix it in, just let it sit for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes frothy. If it does not become frothy the water may have been too cold or hot or the yeast may be expired, try again with another packet until it’s frothy.

Then, mix in the oil, and stir in the flour and salt until it forms a dough – it will come together but you can use a spatula or your hands.

Flour a flat surface and begin to knead the dough for 3-5 minutes (see the recipe video for a visual) until it becomes smooth. Add more flour if it’s super sticky.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel, allow to rise for 1 hour.

Shaping, Boiling and Baking Bagels

Press the air out of the dough and then place on a flat surface and cut into 6 even pieces.

Start to shape the bagels by taking a ball of dough and pulling the sides up towards the middle and squishing down, then flip and roll the bottom on a flat surface in a circular motion without flour to seal it (see video for visual).

Once all bagels are done, cover them with a slightly damp towel and rise another 10-15 minutes. Then flour your thumb and pointer finger and squish them together in the middle of the dough to make a hole, and run two fingers along the inside to fully open it.

Heat your sugar water bath until it’s gently simmering, and then add bagels 3 at a time and boil for 2 minutes, flipping half way through, then place on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper and preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.

Add melted butter and seasoning of choice, and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a nice golden brown.

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (5)

You can now eat them fresh or store them in an air-tight container with a paper towel on the bottom for up to 5 days.

You can also add any seasonings you’d like to these bagels!

I love using everything bagel seasoning, but you can also make your own by mixing together white and black sesame seeds, onion and garlic flakes and salt.

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (7)

Dairy-Free, Eggless Homemade Bagels

These bagels are completely vegan and a great alternative to store bought bagels.

You know exactly what ingredients are in them and you can customize them to your liking, sometimes I just make garlic or sesame bagels!

Homemade bagels are one of my favorite things to bake – even though they take a bit of patience it’s totally worth it!

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (8)

This recipe is:

  • Easy
  • Vegan
  • Homemade
  • Delicious
  • Fluffy
  • Crisp
  • From Scratch

Check out these other vegan baked goods:

Easy Vegan Garlic Knots

Vegan Soft Pretzels

Homemade Vegan Bread (no dutch oven)

Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits

Vegan Homemade Cornbread

Homemade Vegan Croissants

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (9)

Pin this for later!

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (10)
Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (11)

Yield: 6 Small Bagels

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes

Rise Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 52 minutes

These yummy everything yeast bagels are so delicious, flavorful and easy to make! Soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, perfect anytime of day!

Ingredients

Water Bath

Instructions

  1. For the bagels, heat your 3/4 cup water until it's just warm, no hotter than 110°F, (43°C). Mix in sugar and then sprinkle yeast on top - no need to stir it in, just let it sit for 15 minutes until it becomes frothy*.
  2. Add oil and then pour into a larger bowl if needed. Add salt and flour and mix until combined, if the dough is still very sticky you can add a touch more.
  3. Flour a flat surface and place the dough down, sprinkling more flour on top. Knead dough for about 3 minutes until it becomes more dense. Oil a bowl and place the dough inside. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
  4. Once risen, gently pat down to release air, then place on a cutting board and cut the dough into 6 equal parts.
  5. Pull the sides towards the middle in a circular motion to make a ball, then flip and move the dough in a circular motion with the palm of your hand so the bottom comes together (see video for example).
  6. Once all are done, place a lightly damp towel on top and rise another 10-15 minutes.
  7. Once risen again, start heating your bath water with sugar and dip your thumb and pointer finger in flour - squish both together in the middle of the bagel dough to make a hole, then run two fingers along the edges to widen it up to 1 inch (see video for example).
  8. Once bath water is simmering, carefully add 3 bagels at a time and cook for 2 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once done, pick them up with a slated spatula so excess water can drip off, then place them on a baking tray covered in parchment paper.
  9. Once all bagels are done with the bath, add melted butter and any toppings you'd like** and preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
  10. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until nicely golden on top.
  11. Allow to cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and enjoy!

Notes

*If the yeast does not become frothy, the water may have been too cold or hot, or expired. Try again with another packet until it becomes frothy - it also helps to pour the sugar water into a larger bowl so the yeast has more room to touch the water.

**For everything bagels, I used a mix of sesame seeds, onion and garlic powder and poppy seeds. You can also try this bagel seasoning, too!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 221Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 397mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 5g

Vegan Bagel Recipe (soft & crispy) (2024)

FAQs

What makes bagels crispy? ›

Here are my top preparation tips for the next time you're at home and looking for the perfect vehicle for your cream cheese and lox. Moisture: Wetter dough means crispier bagels. Contrary to what you'd expect, the higher the water content in your dough, the crispier your bagel.

What makes a vegan bagel? ›

​Are bagels vegan? Similar to Sandwich Bread, traditional bagel dough is typically vegan because they are usually made with very simple ingredients like water, yeast, salt, and sugar. With that being said, not all bagels are vegan-friendly.

How do you make bagels less dense? ›

If you want a thinner crust and airier texture in your bagels, shorten the boiling time slightly (around 45 seconds, instead of the 60 seconds called for in the recipe). The shorter boil means the crust has less opportunity to preset, which allows more rising, and thus a “fluffier” bagel.

What can vegans put on a bagel? ›

The best vegan bagel fillings and toppings
  1. Peanut butter. Okay, so this could have been at least three recommendations without us breaking a sweat. ...
  2. Vegan cream cheese. ...
  3. Tofu scramble. ...
  4. Your favourite jam. ...
  5. Avocado. ...
  6. Other nut butters.

Why are my homemade bagels not crispy? ›

If your dough is too wet, it'll create large holes in the crumb of the dough and your bagels will be more like French bread, with a fluffy interior (see top photo). When too much flour is kneaded in, bagels become dense, hard and tough, instead of crisp and chewy.

What kind of flour is best for bagels? ›

Bread flour – Because of its high protein content, bread flour makes these homemade bagels delightfully chewy. This recipe also works with all-purpose flour, they're just a bit less chewy than bagels made with bread flour.

Why is butter not vegan? ›

Traditional butter is made with churned milk or cream, which usually comes from cows (but it can also come from other animals like goats), and that's why it's not vegan. Many people also use margarine, which is similar to butter in texture and color, but it's usually made with plant-based fat instead of animal fat.

Is Dave's Killer bread vegan? ›

Q: Are your products vegan? A: All DKB bread products are considered vegan and do not contain any animal products, however, our limited edition DKB Snack Bars (Trail Mix Crumble and Oat-Rageous Honey Almond™) are NOT considered vegan as they contain organic honey. Q: Do you make a gluten-free bread?

What does baking soda do to bagels? ›

Baking soda makes the water more alkaline, giving the bagels a pretzel-like quality that contributes to their chewiness. Just one teaspoon helps the bagels develop a shiny, dark-brown exterior as they bake.

What makes a bagel chewy? ›

You need the higher protein content from the bread flour which creates more gluten and a more elastic dough. This equals the ideal chewy bagel. Brown Sugar: A little bit of brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness. Salt: Every bread recipe needs some salt for flavor.

Which Panera bagel is vegan? ›

Bagels. Vegan bagels include everything, plain, blueberry, and sesame varieties. While Panera doesn't offer a dairy-free cream cheese spread, you don't have to eat your bagel plain! You may be able to snag some avocado or hummus to round out your brekkie handheld.

Are any Dunkin bagels vegan? ›

The plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, and sesame bagels are vegan. Remember to ask for avocado, to add some healthy fats to the savory flavors.

What is done to bagels to give them their dense texture? ›

How long you boil a bagel greatly affects the crust and texture inside. A longer boil produces a thicker crust and very dense interior, while a shorter boil produces a thinner crust and softer interior. Sometimes lye or barley is added to water for flavor and to help the crust brown in the oven.

Are bagels baked or deep fried? ›

Bagels are traditionally made from yeasted wheat dough that is shaped by hand into a torus or ring, briefly boiled in water, and then baked. The result is a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned and sometimes crisp exterior.

What gives bagels their texture? ›

Bread flour – The higher protein level in bread flour helps to create that chewy texture that makes bagels so delightful. It's worth the trip to the grocery store to pick some up. You can use all-purpose flour if you absolutely must, but the texture will suffer.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kareem Mueller DO

Last Updated:

Views: 5876

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kareem Mueller DO

Birthday: 1997-01-04

Address: Apt. 156 12935 Runolfsdottir Mission, Greenfort, MN 74384-6749

Phone: +16704982844747

Job: Corporate Administration Planner

Hobby: Mountain biking, Jewelry making, Stone skipping, Lacemaking, Knife making, Scrapbooking, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.