Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe·4.9 from 10 reviews

This cheddar cheese bagel recipe is easy make! Top these delicious bagels with your favourite topping, such as jalapeño peppers and your favourite cheese flavour. Enjoy New York style fresh bagels as good as your neighbourhood bagel shop. Make your own bagels in the comfort of your home.

Love easy breakfast recipe? Try my sausage cream cheese casserole, chocolate chip pancakes or these Hawaiian roll breakfast sliders next!

this recipe!

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox.Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

About these Cheddar Bagels

There is nothing better than a homemade fresh bagel! The way the cheese gives the edges those crispy bits of cheddar cheese is heaven. This recipe gives that same great texture you get from a bakery.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (2)

Although the dough takes a bit of time to rise they are worth the wait and they really are super easy to make! You’ve got this!!

Don’t you love how you can mix and match the flavours such as jalapeño cheddar cheese or sharp cheddar cheese. I’ve left instructions in the notes on the recipe card for cinnamon raisin bagel varation and you will want to try those too!

These bagels are perfect for breakfast or brunch, and if you have any leftovers they are easy to freeze. You might also enjoy my cranberry orange scones or cinnamon roll apple cobbler for your next breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients for Homemade Cheddar Bagels

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (3)
  • Granulated sugar
  • Active dry yeast – I do not recommend any substitutes for this ingredient.
  • Eggs – Use large eggs at room temperature. Take them out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you start the recipe.
  • Vegetable oil
  • Bread flour
  • Salt
  • Sharp cheddar cheese – see variations below for other suggestions. You can make these bagels your own by adding several different toppings to suit your taste.

Step By Step Instructions

Below you will find step by step instructions with photos to help you along the way. You can find the full recipe card with ingredients and instructions at the bottom of this page.

You will need one to two large cookie sheets for this recipe.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (4)

DISSOLVE THE YEAST

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve 1 tsp. of sugar in warm water. Water temperature should be between 110F and 115°F.
Sprinkle yeast over top of water mixture and let stand for 10 minutes. (Yeast should be frothy – if not, wait another two to three minutes).

MAKE THE DOUGH

Whisk in eggs and vegetable oil, followed by the sugar and salt.

Gradually stir in 2 cups of the flour and continue to stir until dough is smooth. Gradually add another cup of the flour and continue to mix. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

Turn out the dough onto a very lightly floured surface. If the dough is a little sticky when you are kneading it, you can work up to 1/2 cup of additional flour into the dough but not more than that as it will upset the balance needed for the right texture.

Knead dough for 10 minutes. To knead dough, place dough in front of you and fold the back half of the dough towards you. Use heel of your hand to press dough down into itself. Give the dough a quarter turn and repeat. (Turn, knead, turn, knead). When kneading is completed, the dough should spring back when you poke it with your finger.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (5)

Using a different large bowl, coat the bowl lightly with olive oil.

Place dough in bowl and turn dough through the oil once to grease.

Cover with plastic wrap andlet rise until doubled in size for 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (7)

COOK THE BAGELS!

In a large, wide saucepan, bring 16 cups of water and the 2 tbsp. of sugar to a boil. (you will be shaping the bagels while the water is coming to a boil).

Roll into a 10-inch long rope. Bring the end together to form a circle, overlapping, then pinch the edges to seal the dough.(Pinch the edges tightly)! Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cover with a clean tea towel andlet rise for 15 minutes.

Gently add the bagels to the boiling water, four at a time. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Turn over with slotted spoon and cook for 1 minute more. Move bagels to a baking sheet that is freshly-lined with parchment paper. Continue with the remaining bagels until all 12 have been completed.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (8)

EGG WASH AND TOPPINGS

Beat one egg with 1 tsp. water in a small bowl.

Brush the bagel tops with eggs, then place the bagels on parchment paper-lined baking sheet and sprinkle the cheese on top. If you do not have parchment paper, you can grease and lightly flour the baking sheets.

Bake in 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Transfer to cooling racks. See recipe notes below for storage and freezing instructions.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (9)

Storage and Freezing Instructions

FAQ’s

Are bagels hard to make at home?

Bagel are an easy baking project to make in the comfort of your home. They do take time to make and you should plan for about three to three and a half hours total from start to finish.

Can I use all purpose flour instead of bread bread flour for bagels.

Although you can substitute all purpose flour for bread flour in a bagel recipe, the result will be a less chewy bagel. One of the things that makes a bagel so delicious is the chewy texture, so go with the bread flour!

Variations

You can make these bagels your own by changing up the types of cheese that you use. Mild or medium cheddar, Montery Jack and the ever-popular asiago cheese bagels are all great choices.

Jalapeno Cheddar Bagels – add in 100 g of finely grated jalepeno pepper to the dough and sprinkle a few on top of the cheddar before baking.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (10)

My Top Tips For Delicious Homemade Bagels

Use bread flour to achieve a classic, chewy bagel texture.

Measure ingredients accurately for a successful bake.

Make the your own – you can spinkle the unbaked bagels with sesame seeds, poppy seeds and a variety of cheeses. I’ve included instructions in the recipe card notes for cinnamon raisin bagels which are also delicious!

More you may love

Easy Breakfast Hash

Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole Recipe

Copycat Cracker Barrel Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Print

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (15)

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

4.9 from 10 reviews

  • Author: Sandra Flegg
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12
Print Recipe

Description

Thischeddar cheese bagel recipeis easy make! Top these delicious bagels with your favourite topping, such as jalapeño peppers and your favourite cheese flavour. Enjoy New York style fresh bagels as good as your neighbourhood bagel shop. Make your own bagels in the comfort of your home.

Ingredients

YEAST MIXTURE:
1 tsp. granulated sugar

1 cup warm water

1 tbsp. active dry yeast

DOUGH

2 large eggs

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

3 and 1/2 cups bread flour

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1 and tsp. salt

POACHING LIQUID

16 cups water

1 and 1/2 tbsp. granulated sugar

EGG WASH

1 large egg, beaten

1 tsp. water

TOPPINGS

1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

  1. TO DISSOLVE YEAST
  2. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve 1 tsp. of sugar in warm water. Water temperature should be between 110F and 115°F.
  3. Sprinkle yeast over top of water mixture and let stand for 10 minutes. (Yeast should be frothy – if not, wait another two to three minutes).
  4. MAKE THE DOUGH
  5. Whisk in eggs and vegetable oil.
  6. Add in sugar and salt.
  7. Gradually stir in 2 cups of the flour and continue to stir until dough is smooth. Gradually add another cup of the flour and continue to mix. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
  8. Turn out the dough onto a very lightly floured surface. If the dough is a little sticky when you are kneading it, you can work up to 1/2 cup of additional flour into the dough but not more than that as it will upset the balance needed for the right texture.
  9. Knead dough for 10 minutes. To knead dough, place dough in front of you and fold the back half of the dough towards you. Use heel of your hand to press dough down into itself. Give the dough a quarter turn and repeat. (Turn, knead, turn, knead). When kneading is completed, the dough should spring back when you poke it with your finger.
  10. Using a different large bowl, coat the bowl lightly with olive oil.
  11. Place dough in bowl and turn dough through the oil once to grease.
  12. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size for 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours.
  13. Punch down the dough and knead 10 times.
  14. Divide dough into 12 equal portions.
  15. In a large, wide saucepan, bring 16 cups of water and the 2 tbsp. of sugar to a boil. (you will be shaping the bagels while the water is coming to a boil).
  16. Roll into a 10-inch long rope. Bring the end together to form a circle, overlapping, then pinch the edges to seal the dough.(Pinch the edges tightly)! Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise for 15 minutes.
  17. Gently add the bagels to the boiling water, four at a time. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Turn over with slotted spoon and cook for 1 minute more. Move bagels to a baking sheet that is freshly-lined with parchment paper. Continue with the remaining bagels until all 12 have been completed.
  18. EGG WASH AND TOPPINGS
  19. Beat one egg with 1 tsp. water in a small bowl.
  20. Brush the bagel tops with eggs, then place the bagels on parchment paper-lined baking sheet and sprinkle the cheese on top. If you do not have parchment paper, you can grease and lightly flour the baking sheets.
  21. Bake in 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown.
  22. Transfer to cooling racks. See recipe notes below for storage and freezing instructions.

Notes

VARIATIONS:

1/2 cup of sesame seeds, poppyseeds or everything bagel seasoning. Sprinkle on top of bagels after brushing on the egg wash.

WHOLE WHEAT CINNAMON RAISIN BAGELS VARIATION:

Use 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 2 and 1/2 cups of bread flour

Increase sugar from 2 tbsp. to 1/4 cup granulated sugar for the dough

Add 2 and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon to the flour mixture

After the dough has risen, punch down and gently knead in 1 cup raisins

STORAGE & FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS:

Store bagels in a plastic storage container or plastic zip top bag for a few days.

Bagels can be frozen in plastic zip top bags for up to three months.

  • Prep Time: 2 hours
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 255
  • Sugar: 4.2 g
  • Sodium: 246.8 mg
  • Fat: 10.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5.6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32.6 g
  • Fiber: 1.8 g
  • Protein: 8.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 62 mg

This post was first published in October, 2020 and was updated January 31st, 2023 with additional images and some modifications to the recipe to include cheddar cheese bagels.

Cheddar Cheese Bagel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of bagel to cream cheese? ›

The cream cheese to bagel ratio should always be 3:1 @dietstartstomorrow.

Can you freeze bagel dough? ›

You can also freeze the bagel dough. After punching down the dough in step 6, wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then punch the dough down again to release any air bubbles.

How much butter goes on a bagel? ›

Use a knife to spread a thin layer - about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) - of butter evenly on both sides of your bagel, and enjoy your bagel.

How unhealthy is a bagel with cream cheese? ›

While bagels with cream cheese are delicious, traditional cream cheese is not necessarily healthy. This popular bagel topping is generally low in protein and high in fat and calories. The good news is that there are healthier cream cheese options, if cream cheese is your favorite bagel spread.

Why do you boil bagels before baking? ›

It sets the outer layer of the dough, giving the bagel its distinctive chewiness. The boiling process gelatinizes the starches on the surface, creating a glossy, crackly crust during baking. Additionally, boiling gives the bagel its characteristic dense interior while maintaining a tender crumb.

What makes New York style bagels different? ›

A New York–style bagel is always boiled in water that has had barley malt added, which gives a bagel its signature taste, texture, and leathery skin.

Why do you put honey in water for bagels? ›

Now unlike most bread, bagels are unique because they are boiled before baked in the oven! Add honey and baking soda to the boiling water in a large pot. This will help give the bagels a nice sheen and golden brown color when out of the oven.

Are bagels healthier than bread? ›

Unfortunately there's no simple answer to this question. In terms of calories, on average one bagel has more calories than one slice of bread. However, if you choose to have a bagel with more fibre, this may help you feel fuller for longer and potentially reduce your snacking throughout the day.

Should I egg wash my bagels? ›

Some recipes direct you to add your toppings as soon as the bagels come out of the boiling water, but I find that using an egg wash makes the toppings stick better and makes for a shiny, golden brown crust.

Why cut bagels in half before freezing? ›

Make sure your bagels are sliced completely in half. (This is because the bagels will be nearly impossible to slice once frozen). Wrap each bagel half in plastic wrap, foil, or beeswax paper.

How much cream cheese for 4 bagels? ›

4 bagels. 8 oz cream cheese softened.

How much does a bagel with cream cheese have? ›

1 side of bagel, with cream cheese (First Watch) contains 320 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 66% carbs, 20% fat, and 15% protein. This is a good source of protein (21% of your Daily Value).

What is the hydration ratio for bagels? ›

Hydration. Bagels are usually made from a stiff, dry dough, with hydrations in the range of 55 to 65% (compared to soft sandwich or crusty artisan breads, which are usually 65% hydration and higher). This helps give them their signature tight crumb structure and their chew.

How much is a bagel with cream cheese in New York? ›

Bagel with cream cheese prices ranged from $1.80 (Bagel Hole) to $3 (Black Seed), and cream cheese prices from $3.90 (Absolute, Brooklyn Bagel, and Murray's) to $6 (Black Seed).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6233

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Birthday: 1996-12-09

Address: Apt. 141 1406 Mitch Summit, New Teganshire, UT 82655-0699

Phone: +2296092334654

Job: Technology Architect

Hobby: Snowboarding, Scouting, Foreign language learning, Dowsing, Baton twirling, Sculpting, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.