The Best Gluten Free Bagels

This is the gluten free bagels recipe you have been waiting for! This recipe makes bagels with that perfect texture!! Crisp on the outside and deliciously soft and chewy on the inside! I share directions to make these bagels with gluten free sourdough or active dry yeast so you have easy options!

My family grew up eating traditional bagels before we all went gluten free. Our favorite way to eat fresh bagels is with cream cheese and smoked salmon! When we went gluten free, you couldn't buy bagels in stores yet. This was a long time ago. Over the years, I have been tweaking my recipe so that you can make them easily!

I used my popular gluten free sourdough starter recipe for this post, but go to the FAQ for full directions to use dry packet yeast! If you love breakfast as much as we do, check out all of my gluten free breakfast recipes!

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 love using sourdough starters, you will also want to check out my easy gluten free sourdough bread recipe.

These surprisingly came out delicious! I am not sure why I put off trying to make bagels for so long, but I'm glad I finally did it. I used Namaste Gluten Free Flour Blend, my absolute favorite for breads and baked goods. They were soft and delicious. Now I just need to figure out what to do with the two bags of gluten free bagels that I bought, because these are SO much better!"

Shannon B., Pinterest

Our Pick

Cup4Cup Gluten Free Multipurpose Flour, 3 lbs

This is an awesome gluten-free flour blend for pizza crust, biscuits, and pie crust. It is also great for yeast recipes! Note, this blend does have dry milk powder, so it is not suitable for those who avoid dairy.

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Ingredient Notes:

• Sourdough Starter or Active 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. NOTE: If you use dry yeast, double-check that the brand is gluten-free. Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
• Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe using Cup4Cup Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work. I just have not tested other flours. Many flours like King Arthur's Measure for Measure and Bob's Red Mill 1:1 really aren't made to work well in yeast recipes. I also LOVE Authentic Foods Steve's Bread GF Flour blend. You will need a little less flour if you use Steve's GF Blend. If your blend does not contain xanthan gum or guar gum, you will need to add one teaspoon.
• Salt - I like to use sea salt or kosher salt.
• Optional - Toppings like everything bagel seasoning, sesame, and poppy seed.
• Water may seem obvious, but it 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 a sourdough starter for this to be a sourdough bagel recipe.

How To Make Gluten Free Bagels:

If you are using dry yeast, proof the yeast now in warm water with one teaspoon of honey or sugar. See the FAQ below for more directions for using active dry yeast.

Step 1: Add your sourdough starter (or bubbly yeast mixture), flour, water, and salt to a large bowl and mix. I make the batter wetter so it will have more water to rise. I add more flour after this big rise.

🔑 Sandi says: A note on the water. Yeast, especially sourdough wild yeast, performs much better when using filtered water. It really makes a difference in the bagel texture when your yeast is happy!!

1. If you are using a sourdough starter, mix this up before you go to bed and let the dough rise overnight. You do not want to rise the dough overnight if you use active dry yeast.
2. Don't forget to see the FAQ below for using dry yeast directions!! For active dry yeast, be sure to rise your dough in a warm place.

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 in the wet ingredients. Please add flour until your dough is similar in consistency to this photo.

You can use a standing mixer with a dough hook or paddle attachment if you prefer to use it to mix up your gluten free bagel dough.

I tried both methods and felt the dough circle method was a little better. The rolling added some tightness to the batter, so it held together well. It also seemed to crack a little less.

Step 4: Cover the shaped bagels loosely with plastic wrap gently and let your bagels rise for 1 hour.

Step 5: Prepare the hot water bath. Bring a large pot of water and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup to boil. 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. I recommend boiling two bagels at a time to maintain the water temperature.

Step 6: Boil the bagel for 25 seconds on each side and remove the gluten free bagels with a slotted spoon. Place them 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: Preheat the oven to 425º F and set the oven rack to the middle position. In a small bowl, add an egg and scramble it. Use a pastry brush to spread a thin coating of egg over each bagel.

If you want to keep this recipe egg-free, use melted butter instead of the egg for the wash. Sprinkle your favorite topping over the egg wash. See below for a list of toppings to try.

If you love bagels, try my Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels recipe.

Give them a try topped with either this homemade Red Pepper Schmear or this Cinnamon Cream Cheese Spread.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

If you love these bagels, wait until you try my homemade Gluten Free English Muffins recipe! You may want to make this Ube Jam to spread on your bagels.

More Delicious Breakfast Ideas:

• Quick and Easy Roasted Red Pepper Cream Cheese Spread
• Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Ricotta Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
• Gluten Free Banana Muffins
• Garden Vegetable Shakshuka

Reader Rave:

Yummy! I used whole grain flours in my sourdough giving them a browner color: sorghum, brown rice, and buckwheat."

Mary M., Pinterest user

📖 Recipe

Gluten Free Bagels

Sandi Gaertner

Delicious homemade gluten free bagels that can be made with either a sourdough starter or dry yeast.

4.91 from 21 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Rising Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Course Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 109 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ ½ cup sourdough starter *SEE NOTES below for using dry yeast instructions!
• ▢ 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see notes for favorite gluten free blends
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 ¾ cups water
• ▢ 1 cup gluten free flour blend * see notes

Instructions

 

• Add your sourdough starter (or bubbly yeast mixture), flour, water, and salt to a large bowl and mix. I make the batter wetter so it will have more water to rise. I add more flour after this big rise. A note on the water. Yeast, especially sourdough wild yeast, performs way better if you use filtered water. It really makes a difference in the bagel texture when your yeast is happy!!
• If you are using a sourdough starter, mix this up before you go to bed and let the dough rise overnight. If you are using dry yeast, you do not want to rise the dough overnight.
• Don't forget to see the FAQ below for using dry yeast directions!!
• 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, the more you will need to adjust your amount of water and flour. The best way to know if you are using enough flour is to look at my photos and compare the batter photos with your dough.
• 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 in the wet ingredients. Please add flour until your dough is similar in consistency to this photo.

  You can use a standing mixer with a dough hook or paddle attachment if you prefer to use it to mix up your gluten free bagel dough.
• 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.
• Cover the bagels loosely with plastic wrap gently and let your bagels rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425º F and set the oven rack to the middle setting.
• 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.
• Preheat the oven to 425º F and set the oven rack to the middle position. In a small bowl, add an egg and scramble it. Use a pastry brush to spread a thin coating of egg over each bagel. If you want to keep this recipe egg-free, use melted butter. Sprinkle your favorite topping over the egg wash. See below for a list of toppings to try.
• 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 brown on the outside.
• The agels will be lightly golden brown when finished baking.

Notes

1. Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Authentic Foods Steve's Bread GF Blend, and Cup4Cup. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours. Cup4Cup needed a LOT more gluten free flour than Steve's blend, almost a cup more. This is probably because of the dried milk powder in the Cup4Cup blend. Use as much Cup4Cup as needed to be able to work the dough.
2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
3. 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.
4. If you use a sourdough starter, you need to let this rise a lot longer than if you use dry yeast. I recommend a 5-6 hour rise minimum. For dry yeast, rise 1 hour.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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!

You can make your bagel shapes one of two ways:

1. Make a dough circle and poke your finger into the middle to push the dough away from the middle.
2. You can roll your dough and then wrap it into a circle and seal the edge where they meet.

How To Make Gluten Free Bagels With Active Dry Yeast:

You can easily make this homemade bagels recipe with yeast instead of a sourdough starter.

1. Add one packet of yeast, or 2 ½ teaspoons, and one teaspoon of honey to ½ cup of warm water. Be sure your water is warm but no hotter than 110º F. If your water is too hot, and the yeast will die. As with sourdough, I always recommend using filtered water when you are rising yeast. Some chemicals in the water, like chlorine, can slow yeast growth or kill the yeast.
2. 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 my consistency of mine.
3. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together into a soft bagel dough. Using dry yeast, the first rise will be the best, so I recommend shaping your bagels and then letting the dough rise.
4. Place the dough on a counter dusted with a little bit of flour. Shape the bagels in one of the two ways I instruct in step 3 above.
5. Cover the bagels loosely with plastic wrap and rise for one hour in a warm place.
6. Boil the bagels as instructed in steps 5 and 6. Brush with the egg wash and top with seeds.
7. Place the boiled bagels into the oven and bake as instructed in steps 7 and 8.
8. Enjoy these gf bagels :-).

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 109kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSodium: 145mgPotassium: 1mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

Note, this bagel recipe was updated from an older June 2020 post with more detailed instructions.