This is the gluten free bagels recipe you have been waiting for! This recipe makes the perfect bagels!! Crisp on the outside and deliciously soft chewy on the inside! I made these gluten free sourdough bagels but you can use yeast or sourdough!
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I have been trying to get this gluten free bagels recipe right for weeks. Lots of tries, some fails, some so-so versions, and after many tries, finally I had success!
Most of my fails have been due to my following usual gluten free logic, specifically the consistency of the dough. Normally in gluten free baking, you want a wetter batter or dough. That is definitely NOT the case when making these gluten free sourdough bagels.
I used my popular gluten free sourdough starter recipe because yeast is so hard to find lately. If you love breakfast as much as we do, check out all of my gluten free breakfast recipes!
Why you need to try this recipe:
These bagels are perfect for anyone with food allergies! They are gluten free, dairy-free, and egg-free! You can choose which gluten free flour blend you use to further customize the ingredients used.
I learned the hard way that if you use a wetter batter, your bagels will fall apart when you boil them. You have to really make sure your dough is firm enough to hold together well.
These are by far the BEST gluten free bagels I have had. I hope you get a chance to make these for yourself. Use these bagels to make gluten free breakfast sandwiches!
If you love using sourdough starter instead of yeast because you can't find yeast in stores lately, you will also want to check out my easy gluten free sourdough bread recipe.
Ingredient notes:
- Sourdough starter or dry yeast - you can use either one but if you use a sourdough starter, you will need a little more flour. You want your bagel dough to look like mine in the photos below
- Gluten free flour blend - Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- Salt - for some reason, salt helps the rise in my recipe.
- Optional toppings like everything, sesame, and poppy seed.
- Water - though it may seem obvious, water is very important in this recipe. I highly recommend using filtered water. It makes your yeast thrive which helps the texture of your bagels.
This is bagel perfection! Are you ready to give this recipe a try? As I mentioned above, you will need sourdough starter for this to be a sourdough bagel recipe.
Are you ready to make some delicious bagels?
Recipe step by step directions:
Step 1: Add your sourdough starter (or bubbly yeast mixture), flour, water (filtered!) and salt to a large bowl and mix. This batter will have more water to rise. I add more flour after this big rise.
Mix this up before you go to bed allow it to rise overnight. I place a clean towel over the bowl and set it out on the counter. If it is cooler weather, I make this around dinner time and let it rise longer.
This is what my batter looked like when I woke up the next morning. It was all bubbly!
The amount of gluten free flour added to make your bagel dough will vary depending on which gluten free flour blend you use, and if you use a sourdough starter or dry yeast. The more starchy your gluten free flour blend, you will need to adjust your amount of water.
Step 2: Add the rest of the flour to your dough mixture and mix until the dough is somewhat stiff. *Note, depending on if you use a sourdough starter or dry yeast, you WILL need to adjust flour amounts to compensate for the liquid. Please add flour until your dough is similar in consistency to this photo.
Step 3: You can make your bagel shapes one of two ways:
- Make a dough circle and poke your finger into the middle to push the dough away from the middle.
- You can roll your dough and then wrap into a circle and seal the edge where they meet.
I tried both methods and I felt the dough circle method was a little better. I think the rolling added some tightness to the batter so it held together really well. It also seemed to crack a little less.
Step 4: Cover with plastic wrap gently and let your bagels rise for 1-2 hours.
Step 5: Bring a pot of 4 cups water and 3 tablespoons maple syrup to boil. (If you are using a small pot.) I tried boiling several bagels at once but I found when I boiled a lot at once it cooled the water from its boil too much.
Boiling each one at a time kept the water boiling the whole time.
Step 6: Boil the bagel for 25 seconds on each side and remove with a slotted spoon onto a cookie baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to drain all of the water off the bagel.
You can see some cracking. Gently use your finger to smooth out some of the cracking. You want to do this carefully as the outside is cooked and you don't want to mess with that outer sweet boiled layer too much. Some cracking is inevitable and is because of the rising dough.
Step 7: Brush the bagels with a thin coating of egg white. If you want to keep this recipe egg-free, use melted butter. Add your favorite topping.
Bagel toppings:
- Sesame seeds
- Everything bagel seasoning
- Poppy seeds
- Coarse salt
- Shredded cheese
Step 8: Bake your bagels at 425º F for 20-25 minutes. Baking time will depend on how large and how thick your bagel dough is. You will know your bagels are done baking when they are lightly golden on the outside.
Allow your bagels to cool. These bagels will have a nice crust on them, especially if you used the sourdough starter.
Give them a try topped with either this homemade Red Pepper Schmear or this Cinnamon Cream Cheese Spread.
These gluten free bagels are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or use them to make gluten free bagel pizzas!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
These bagels will keep for up to 3 days. I will be honest, they are best freshly baked. Once you put them in a container for storage, the slightly crisp crust gets a bit soft. You can crisp it up again in the toaster, but it isn't quite the same as fresh.
You can definitely freeze these gluten free sourdough bagels! To thaw, just let them sit out on the counter. Hint, you will want to freeze them pre-sliced so they are easier to cut.
Sourdough is not gluten free unless it is made with gluten free flour or a gluten free flour blend.
You can easily make this homemade bagels recipe with yeast instead of a sourdough starter. Add one packet of yeast, and 1 teaspoon honey to ½ cup of warm water. Allow the yeast to get bubbly then add it to your flour as specified in the recipe. Note you will need to adjust your flour to water ratio so your dough matches the consistency of mine.
If you love these bagels, wait until you try my homemade Gluten Free English Muffins recipe!
More Delicious Breakfast Ideas:
Reader Rave:
So delicious!! definitely will make again!"
Eliza M., Pinterest user
Yummy! I used whole grain flours in my sourdough giving them a browner color: sorghum, brown rice, and buckwheat."
Mary M., Pinterest user
I made this recipe and it worked beautifully! The texture of gluten free stuff will always throw me off a little bit, but these were a close second! Gave them to my GF grandpa! :-)"
Hannah H., Pinterest user
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave me a rating and a comment. I LOVE hearing from you!! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest to see even more delicious recipes!
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Bagels
Ingredients
First Rise
- ½ cup sourdough starter * see note for using dry yeast
- 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see notes
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups of filtered water
Making Bagels
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend * see notes
Instructions
- Add your gluten free sourdough starter, flour, water, and salt to a large bowl.
- Mix well.
- Cover with a towel and let sit out on the counter overnight to rise.
- In the morning, add the additional flour and mix the dough. You will need to use a little judgment to see how stiff your dough is. See the note below on gluten free flour blends.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape your bagels either by forming a circle and poking a finger in the middle or roll your dough into thick rows then merge the ends to form bagel shapes. *Note, depending on if you use a sourdough starter or dry yeast, you WILL need to adjust flour amounts to compensate for the liquid. Please add flour until your dough is similar in consistency to the photo in my post for Step 2.
- Cover the bagels gently with plastic wrap so they don't dry out.
- Allow the bagels to rise 1-2 hours (depending on how warm it is on your counter.)
- Preheat the oven to 425º F.
- Bring 4 cups of water and 3 tablespoons maple syrup to boil in a small pot.
- Drop a bagel gently into the boiling water and cook 25 seconds on each side.
- Remove the bagel with a slotted spoon and allow water to drain.
- Place the bagels onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Brush each bagel with egg whites. Add optional toppings.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes depending on bagel size and thickness.
- Bagels will be lightly golden brown when finished baking.
Notes
- Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- If you are going to use yeast instead of a sourdough starter. Add 1 packet of yeast and 1 teaspoon honey to ½ cup of warm water. Allow the mixture to get bubbly.
- Every gluten free flour blend behaves differently depending on the starch content. I used King Arthur Measure for Measure to make these bagels. If you use a starchy blend, you may need more liquid.
- The amount of gluten free flour added to make your bagel dough will vary depending on which gluten free flour blend you use, and if you use a sourdough starter or dry yeast. Look at the dough photos to ensure your bagel dough is the right consistency.
- These bagels will keep up to 3 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer. I recommend slicing them in half before freezing!
- Make a dough circle and poke your finger into the middle to push the dough away from the middle.
- You can roll your dough and then wrap into a circle and seal the edge where they meet.
Nutrition
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Elaube5
Did you use a gluten-free starter or a regular starter for this recipe?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi, I used a starter and have also made this with packet yeast. There are directions for both.
Eliza
I love this recipe! I added 2 tbs of psyllium husk powder and they were seriously the best GF bagels I have ever had! Thank you 🙂
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked it!!