Manhattan, the center of New York’s finest bagel shops. When Jim and I go, we know that we are going to fill up on fresh bagels and lots of great coffee every day that we are there. We love them!
My favorite New York bagel is an onion bagel with cream cheese and lox, one of the many popular foods you can find in New York. You just can’t go wrong with that. So on our last trip to the Big Apple, we were determined to find out how to bake these delicious bread rings. We signed up for a cooking lesson at the International Culinary Center on Broadway.
The Baking Class
Unlike all the other classes we’ve taken that are geared mainly for tourists, the ICC is a full on cooking school so they are very particular about what you wear and how you do things. We were sent an email stating that we had to wear long pants and long sleeves in the kitchen.
We were traveling in the summer, we didn’t have any long sleeve shirts, so the day before along with going to the 9/11 Memorial, we went clothes shopping, and if you know me, you know this is not something I would normally do. As soon as we checked in, we were given our apron and headband to wear as well.
We were the only tourists taking the class. The were about 10-12 people total, and each had a story, but none were from further than Connecticut taking the train in (one of my favorite things to do by the way).
Most of the students were amateurs, and all but a few had been to the school many, many times taking all the classes they could. One guy had just moved his young family to the city, and they were broke. In order to get hired at one of the bagel shops, he had to take the course.
Like always, it was an interesting group of folks, and I think that’s part of the fun of taking the classes is getting to know everyone’s back stories. Like Jim and me, though, many just love learning and cooking, and we love taking cooking classes.
Getting started, the instructor’s overview let us know that a good bagel requires overnight proving (rising of the dough), so we would make our dough to learn how, but use a dough made by ICC students for the actual bagels we baked.
The instructor and her assistant were very busy making sure they demonstrated, answered questions, ran the ovens, and doing whatever was needed. It was a pretty fast-paced, really fun experience, and I’m glad that I took the class.
Jim and I, as baking partners, had shaping and boiling of the bagels. His always turns out nicer than mine. Most of mine were stubby and fat after baking and his looked like, well, bagels. Darn it!
We also loved thinking up what kinds of toppings we wanted. We tried just about everything there was available. As travelers the hardest thing was that we ended up with a lot of bagels at the end that we knew there was no way we would ever eat, so we gave most of ours to people who were bringing them to their schools and offices.
New York Bagels
We took a bagel baking class with the International Culinary Center during one of our trips to NYC. Since then we've used this recipe a few times. The bagels always come out just right!
Ingredients
- 910 g ( or 5 ½ c) high-gluten or bread flour
- 470 g ( or 2 c) of lukewarm water
- 50 g (or 3 Tbsp) sugar
- 40 g (or 2 Tbsp) malt
- 8 g (or 1 packet) active dry yeast
- 20 g of 1 Tbsp Kosher salt
Instructions
Combine the first set of ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment. Mix for about five minutes on medium.
Add the salt, then mix for another seven minutes. The dough should be dense and tough. You don't want a smooth dough.
Divide the dough into logs (or "bâtard" in French) weighing 125 grams each. Set each aside until you end up with 12 portions. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. It is important to always work in the same direction, so that you portion the first piece and then roll that same piece first, so be systematic from the beginning.
Let the logs sit for 15 minutes.
Shaping into bagel rings, take a piece of dough and place it in front of you horizontally. Place your fingertips (right next to each other) in the middle of the dough and roll outwards, evenly, forming a ten-inch rope. Place your hand, palm side up over the middle of the rope. Place both ends (overlapping) into your palm, squeeze the last two inches together to seal.
Place the shaped bagels on a parchment lined baking sheet and refrigerate the bagels overnight, no longer.
The next day, preheat oven to 475 degrees F or 218 degrees C, and bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Drop a couple of bagels in the boiling water, flip after three seconds, and then take out after six seconds. Before placing on baking sheet again, dredge in your topping of choice.
Bake for 12-15 minutes; cool on rack
Notes
The bagels should be eaten within two days, otherwise they can be frozen for up to two months.
Toppings:
sesame seeds
cinnamon and sugar mix
poppy seeds
sunflower seeds
sea salt
crispy onions
*really anything you can imagine
Don’t you just love a New York bagel? Have you ever made them? Any tips?
Pin New York Bagel for later!
I have some high gluten flour from my husband’s family’s farm and have been looking for a bagel recipe. I’m going to have to try this. Thanks for sharing!
I hope you enjoy it! Come back and let us know!
This looks tasty! Love a nyc bagel, just the taste takes me right back! So cool to learn how to make them!
They were tasty. Something about taking the bread straight from the oven…yum!
Making bagels seems so much fun! These look really delicious too :)
Anwar, It was fun and tasty!
New York bagels are one of my favorite things. Your class looks like so much fun! I may have to talk my daughter into trying this recipe. Thanks for sharing :)
Melody, Let us know how it goes. It’s definitely worth it!
I’m actually a chef but I will admit right here and now… I’ve never made my own bagels! I guess that’s more baking anyway… but still! I’d love to do this next time I’m in the Big Apple. Thanks so much for sharing :)
Jenn, Then I’m sure you’d love it. Bagels = New York, don’t you think?
Ha, I love how you called them delicious bread rings. I totally agree, by the way :) My favorite is with smoked salmon and cream cheese. A classic. This is such a fun activity to do as a local and tourist… thanks for sharing!
Carmen, How can you go wrong with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Yum!
I love it how you guys immerse yourself into the local culture! I love to eat too, but I wouldn’t have the patience to attend any cooking classes. In fact, the more I like a certain food the less I want to learn how to cook it. Why would I shoot myself in the leg? It’s so hard to keep my weight in check (LOL)!
Anda, We love to take the cooking lessons; they’re just fun! We love to do things, too, not just see them. Maybe that’s why.
Oooh, this looks delicious! I will try to do it by myself. I am not a great cook but if the oven does not explode it should be ok!
Elisa, Well, good luck! I hope you like them.
The Bagels look really good. The recipe looks easy to try out, but only will know once I get into it. I like the fact that the ingredients are all Vegetarian. Will give it a try soon and hope it turns out the way they look in your pictures.
Sandy, Like I said, mine were a bit fat, so there wasn’t much hole in the middle, but boy were they delicious.
Wow that sounds so good, I definitely have to give this a try . Thank you for sharing.
Kevin, The bagels are really good. I love them.
Oh I must try this – your recipe looks pretty doable. Can’t beat fresh bread :)
Sibeal, Yes, it truly is one of life’s pleasures!
I love NY bagels but I’ve never thought to try and make them on my own. This class would be interesting. I would definitely like to check it out.
Nathan, We loved it! Homemade bagels, the best.
Looks like a fun experience. This reminded me that I miss bagels. Not that popular here in the UK but we’ll be back in the U.S. (including NYC) in the summer so will have fill up on them ;-)
Jess, That’s what I do every year when I’m home visiting Mom…fill up on bagels.
When we went to New York a bagel with cream cheese, onions and lox was high on my must eat list, and we did and they were delicious. Next time, we will do a cooking class and learn to cook them. Great post guys.
Paula, You would love it. It is always fun to meet new people while learning. (Maybe it’s a teacher thing?!)
To me, bagels are a guilty pleasure! I better keep myself far from them! I would have to show this recipe to my husband since he is a mixer and baker (sadly, bagels are not made in his bakery). Last December I visited New York and couldn’t take advantage of all the good bagels around. I had to eat as much Puerto Rican food as possible. #wkendtravelinspiration
Ruth, I hear you. There’s so much goodness in NYC, so we forgo the hotel breakfast to find a bagel shop.
We never get to eat bagels in Italy, so we basically live on bagels whenever we’re in the States. I should definitely try your recipe so I can cook them at home!!
Dany, You should. It’s not super-easy, because of the shaping, but I think well worth it!
I love New York bagels. Actually, most bagels from the U.S. are better than what I can get where I live. Thanks for the recipe. I will give them a try.
Rhonda, Let us know how it turned out!