Homemade Sourdough Bagels

There is something incredibly special about baking with sourdough. It slows you down in the best way. Instead of rushing, you work with time, patience, and simple ingredients. In our home, sourdough baking has become a beautiful rhythm — mixing dough in the evening, letting it rest overnight, and waking up to the quiet promise of fresh bread.

One of our family favorites lately has been sourdough bagels. They are hearty, chewy, and so satisfying to make from scratch. The best part is knowing exactly what goes into them: simple, wholesome ingredients and a healthy sourdough starter doing the work it has done for generations.

These bagels are perfect for breakfast with butter, cream cheese, eggs, or even homemade jam. They also freeze well, which makes them wonderful for busy mornings with little ones.

Here is the simple process to make your own sourdough bagels at home.

Ingredients

• ½ cup (100 g) active sourdough starter

• Water (255g)

• Raw honey or sugar (40g)

• Salt (10g)

• Bread flour or All purpose flour (500g)

For boiling:

• 6 cups water

• 1 tablespoon sugar

Optional toppings:

• Sesame seeds

• Poppy seeds

• Everything bagel seasoning

• Cheese

Step 1: Feed Your Starter

About 12 hours before mixing your dough, feed your sourdough starter so it becomes active and bubbly. Add the ingredients to a clean jar and stir until combined. Loosely cover and let it sit at room temperature.

Your starter is ready when it has doubled in size and you can see bubbles throughout the jar.

Step 2: Make the Dough

In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the active starter, water, honey, and salt. Stir well. Add the bread flour and mix until a stiff dough forms.

Knead the dough using a dough hook on low speed for about 6–7 minutes (or knead by hand for about 10 minutes). The dough should feel firm.

Cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for 8–12 hours.

Step 3: Shape the Bagels

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Turn the dough onto a clean work surface and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Use your thumb to poke a hole through the center of each ball and gently stretch it to form the bagel shape.

Place the shaped bagels onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover with a towel and allow them to rise for 30–60 minutes until slightly puffy.

Step 4: Boil and Bake

Preheat your oven to 400°F (218°C).

Bring 6 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar to a boil in a large pot. Boil the bagels for about 2 minutes on each side, working in small batches.

Remove with a strainer and place back on the parchment-lined sheet. Add any toppings you like.

Bake for 25–28 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let them cool slightly before slicing.

Baking sourdough bagels at home may take a little time, but the process is simple and deeply rewarding. The flavor, texture, and nourishment are truly worth it.

If you’ve been wanting to start baking sourdough but feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I created The Simple Sourdough Guide — to help you go from unsure to confident, step by step, in a way that fits real mom life.

And if you’re curious, I’ve also gathered all the simple tools I use for sourdough baking in one place — just to make things easier if you’re getting started 🌿