Bagels are one of those magical foods that can turn a simple breakfast into something extraordinary. The best part? You can make them right at home with minimal effort and ingredients (it just takes a little bit of time, but not too long)! I tend to have smaller breakfasts, so making my own bagels gives me just the right portion to start my day.

I’m excited to share my go-to recipe for easy homemade (mini) bagels with my Thai twist on toppings (hint: chili jam?).

Let’s get cooking!

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Ingredients:

• 300 gram lukewarm water 
• 10 gram yeast
• 1 1/2 tbsp sugar  
• 3 1/2 cup bread flour 
• Pinch of salt
• Egg wash (1 egg beaten with a splash of water)
• Bagel seasoning (optional)

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Preparation:

1. Activate the Yeast
   • In a mixing bowl, combine the warm water with the sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy. This means your yeast is ready to work its magic!
2. Make the Dough
   • Add the bread flour and a pinch of salt to the yeast mixture. Knead the dough by hand or stand mixer with hook attachment until it becomes glossy and smooth—this usually takes about 8-10 minutes by hand (shorter with stand mixer).
3. First Rise
   • Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with a damp cloth. Let it rise in a warm area for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
4. Shape the Bagels
   • Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces (or 12 if you like smaller portions, which is what I usually go for).
   • Form Balls: Pinch the bottom of each piece and roll it into a ball shape on a flat surface.
   • Rest: Place the shaped balls on a lightly floured baking tray and let them sit for about 10 minutes.
5. Create the Bagel Shape
   • Flour your hands and gently pinch a hole in the center of each dough ball, then stretch it out to form the classic bagel shape.
6. Boil the Bagels
   • Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil. Carefully drop the bagels into the water, boiling them for about 1 minute on each side. This step is essential for achieving that chewy texture!
7. Prepare for Baking
   • After boiling, place the bagels back on the baking tray. Brush each bagel with an egg wash and sprinkle with bagel seasoning if you like (I used sesame seeds, grains, salt, black garlic, and onion powder I have in the pantry).
8. Bake
   • Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and bake the bagels for 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
9. Cool and Serve
   • Once baked, let the bagels cool on a wire rack for a few minutes. Slice them open and enjoy with your favorite spreads—cream cheese, butter, or even avocado!

My favorite topping? We’re currently obsessed with Sweet chili jam, avocado, and pork fu topping. This reminds us of a classic Thai crepe fillings that you can usually get from street crepe stands. It’s a perfect sweet and savory topping to start your day with!

Sweet chili jam is a classic Thai pantry item, which is also great to put in Tom Yum soup, stir fry dishes, or even fried rice with some Thai basil. Chili jam or “Nam Prik Pao” comes in many level of spiciness.

Here are some of the brands I recommend:

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Watch the recipe:

I hope you all enjoy this recipe and please let me know what you think about the chili jam spread!

Love,

Birdie

FTC: Some of the links above are affiliate links which means I earn a small percentage of sales made from those links. It’s a small way to support the blog so thank you!

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