The most delicious bagels, ever! These Italian Herbs and Cheese Bagels are everything you think they would be! If you are a fan of Subway's Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread, then you are going to LOVE these bagels.
These Italian Herbs and Cheese Bagels have been on my to-make list for far too long, and now that I have finally tested the recipe out, I am so happy to share it with you. I have mentioned before how much I love making bread, and making bagels has become one of my favorite breads to make here recently.
I do a lot of freezer prep for school lunches, and with two young boys in school right now, we go through a lot of pizza bagels. According to my boys, these Italian Herbs and Cheese Bagels make the perfect bagel for pizza bagels. While they make great pizza bagels, they are also great for sandwiches or just snacking.
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How To Make Italian Herbs and Cheese Bagels
If you are new to making bagels go check out my original Bagel recipe for more info and tips on making bagels.
The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
- Make the Dough – Combine the brown sugar, yeast, and warm water. Once active, add in the salt, garlic powder, Italian herbs, and flour. Knead until the dough is fully developed and passes the windowpane test.
- Bulk Rise – Lightly coat the dough in oil, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise for approximately 2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Shape the Dough – Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Using the palm of your hand, shape each portion into a ball. Working with one ball at a time, press a hole through the middle and gently stretch it to about 2 inches in diameter. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Proof the Bagel Dough – Either proof the bagels using the refrigerator method or the non-refrigerator method.
Tip
Bagel dough is a lot drier and stiffer than most bread doughs. Avoid adding more water to your dough.
The Refrigerator Method
Refrigerate up to 24 hours. Once you are ready to cook them pull them out of the refrigerator, place one bagel in a bowl of water, if the bagel floats continue on with the recipe. If the bagel does not float, let them proof until one floats.
You would find that many bakers prefer this method of allowing the shaped dough to go through a long, cold fermentation in the refrigerator overnight. This helps develop better flavored dough and better structured dough. Not to mention, it is much easier to pick up and handle a cold dough than a room temperature dough.
The Non-Refrigerator Method
Is just simply allowing the dough to proof for 30 minutes or until puffy before boiling the bagels. This method works just fine and is perfect when you are strapped for time. But, if you want better flavor and structure, use the refrigerator method.
- Boil the Bagels – Working in batches, boil the bagels for 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side. Place them back on the baking sheet after boiling each bagel.
- Flavor the Bagels – Brush each bagel with an egg wash and top with the herb and cheese mixture.
- Bake – Place in a preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you have to boil bagels before baking them. Boiling the bagels before baking them helps to achieve the brown exterior and chewy texture that bagels are known for.
Bread Flour is the flour of choice when making bagels. The higher protein content of bread flour aids in the chewiness of the bagels.
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📖 Recipe
Italian Herbs and Cheese Bagels
Ingredients
Bagel Dough
- 1 ¼ cup warm water 100-110°F
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon italian herb blend
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ cup bread flour
Water Bath
- 3 qt water
- ½ Cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon baking soda
Egg wash
- 1 Large egg
- 1 Tablespoon water
Topping
- 1 Cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 1 ½ teaspoon italian herb blend
- 1 Pinch salt
- 1 Pinch garlic powder
Instructions
Bagel Dough
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the warm water, brown sugar and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Mix in the garlic powder, italian herbs, salt and flour. The dough will be shaggy, don't add any more water. Begin kneading the dough on low.
- Knead the dough for 10-15 minutes or until it becomes smooth and passes the windowpane test. Since the dough is a dry, stiff dough it may help to turn the dough out onto your work surface and knead the dough by hand.
- Once the dough is fully kneaded and passes the windowpane test, shape into a boule, lightly coat it with oil, cover with a damp cloth and let it bulk rise until doubled in size. This may take 2 hours, longer if your kitchen is cold.
- Once double, deflate the dough and turn it out onto an un-floured work surface. Divide into 8 equal portions. Line and lightly grease a large baking sheet.
- Lightly cup your hand around the ball of dough and begin gently rolling it in a circular motion using the palm of your hand to build tension in the dough as you are shaping it. The ball of dough should be tight and smooth on the top. Place seam side down on a lined and greased baking sheet.
- Working with one piece of dough at a time, take your thumb and press a hole through the middle of the dough. Then pick up the dough and gently stretch the hole to about 2 inches in diameter.
- Place back onto the lined and greased baking sheet, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap.
- If you decide to refrigerate your bagels before baking them do so now. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. Once you are ready to cook them pull them out of the refrigerator, place one bagel in a bowl of water, if the bagel floats continue on with the recipe. If the bagel does not float, let them proof until one floats.
- Allow the bagels to proof for 30 minutes or until puffy. Once the bagels are proofed, preheat an oven to 425° F.
- In a large pot add in the 3 quarts of water, brown sugar and baking soda. Mix well. Bring to a boil. In a small bowl mix together the egg and water to make an eggwash.
- Drop 3 bagels into the boiling water, let each one boil for 30 seconds to 1 minute, flip and boil for another 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from the water and place back onto the greased and lined baking sheet. Continue until all bagels have been boiled.
- In a small bowl combine the topping ingredients.
- Dip the top of each bagel in the egg wash and sprinkle with toppings. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Tayler says
I made these bagels for breakfast this morning and they were so easy to make! So delicious too
Sky Pilgreen says
So glad you tried them!
Emily says
This is a five-star recipe! The kids went crazy over these bagels as an after-school snack! It was so good; everyone loved the flavors of the Italian herb blend along with the cheese!
Sky Pilgreen says
Thank you!
Dina and Bruce says
Wow! What great flavor these had! Used one to make a sandwich today, and the bagel held together and made the sandwhich so tasty!!
Sky Pilgreen says
So glad to hear that!
Kim says
This really did taste just like Subway's bread! Everyone in the house really enjoyed these bagels and asked me to make them again.
Sky Pilgreen says
That's wonderful to hear!
Casey says
This was the perfect bagel for my turkey sandwich! I loved every single bite.
Sky Pilgreen says
Thank you!
Chenee says
I love homemade bagels and these were incredible! Perfect with butter.
Sky Pilgreen says
Glad to hear you liked them!