If you are making (or maintaining) a sourdough starter, you likely have a lot of sourdough discard. You can either throw it away (literally, discard it), or you can use it in sourdough discard recipes like these Sourdough Discard Bagels. Homemade bagels are delicious and surprisingly easy to make - these might just become a staple recipe for you!
If you're looking for a version of this recipe that does not use sourdough, try these Homemade Everything Bagels. And if you'd like a high-protein version of this recipe, try these Sourdough Discard Protein Bagels!
I make these bagels multiple times per week and they are gone within minutes of coming out of the oven!
- Kennedy
Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy weekend bake! Once you make homemade bagels once, you'll realize how easy they are you may never run out to the store for bagels on the weekend again!
- This is a same-day recipe with one rise and you'll have fresh bagels to enjoy in just a few hours.
- You can also make these bagels with active sourdough starter.
- Less than 30 minutes of prep! Most of the time making this recipe is rise time; there is actually less than 30 minutes of prep to make these bagels.
- They freeze well so it's great to make a batch and then freeze the bagels to enjoy throughout the week.
- You can modify the toppings to suit your taste! Try sesame seeds, poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or flaky sea salt! In a savory mood? Try these Sourdough Discard Rosemary Salt Bagels, too!
Jump to:
Ingredients
As long as you have sourdough discard, the other ingredients are pantry staples you likely already have at home.
- Sourdough discard: The sourdough discard should be unfed and at room temperature for this recipe. This recipe is designed for discard with a 1:1 ratio (when you feed your starter, it's with 1 part flour and 1 part water). If your starter uses a different ratio, you may need to adjust some of the ingredients in this recipe.
- Learn more about making a homemade sourdough starter.
- Interested in making a loaf of bread with your sourdough discard? Try this easy Sourdough Discard Bread recipe!
- Toppings: These are optional, but you can top your bagel with anything you like. Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and everything bagel seasoning are all great options!
See full recipe below for detailed instructions.
Substitutions & Variations
This is a very adaptable recipe and below are a few easy substitutions and variations you can try.
- Use active sourdough starter: If you'd like to use active sourdough starter to make sourdough bagels, you can! To do so, omit the yeast and replace the sourdough discard with active sourdough starter (200g). You will also need to adjust the rise times.
- Make mini bagels: Perfect for little hands or a cute appetizer or snack, you can make these into mini bagels! To do so, divide the dough into 24 equal-sized pieces (instead of only 8 full-size bagels). For me, that was about 46g per bagel. Continue with the directions as written.
- Change up the toppings: You can easily make these bagels different by changing your choice of toppings. These bagels are great with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning, flaky sea salt, and more!
- Make stuffed bagels: Try these Sourdough Discard Stuffed Bagels, too!
- If you're in the mood for a Fall flavor, try these Sourdough Discard Pumpkin Bagels.
How to Make Sourdough Discard Bagels
These Sourdough Discard Bagels only need one rise, and the recipe is pretty forgiving. The full recipe with detailed directions is at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix until a smooth ball forms, kneading on a work surface if needed. Transfer to an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap to rise for 90 minutes.
- Step 2: After the dough rises, turn it out onto a flat surface and divide it into 8-10 equal pieces. 8 pieces will give you larger bagels compared to 10 pieces.
- Step 3: Roll each piece into a ball using the base of your palm to create friction and form the seal of the dough (this will be the bottom, "ugly" side of the bagel).
- Step 4: Push your thumb through the center of each ball and stretch the hole to form your bagel shape. Cover the bagels with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Step 5: Boil each bagel for 15-30 seconds on each side. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bagels to the prepared baking sheet.
- Step 6: Brush each bagel with egg wash, then dip or sprinkle with your desired toppings (optional).
- Step 7: Bake the bagels until they are golden brown. Let cool, then slice and serve!
Expert Baking Tips
- Make sure to knead the dough long enough. The dough should be completely smooth, not shaggy.
- Once kneaded, the dough will be smooth and soft, and should not be sticky as it goes into the first rise.
- Every sourdough starter (and therefore every sourdough discard) is different. You may need to add some additional flour or water to reach the desired dough consistency. If your dough seems too dry, add more water, 1 Tablespoon at a time. If your dough seems too sticky (wet), add more flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time.
- Make your bagels more or less chewy to suit your taste by boiling them for a shorter or longer amount of time. Boiling for less time will create a less chewy crust. Boiling for longer will create a chewier crust. I like to boil mine for about 30 seconds on each side for a thinner crust.
- Change up the toppings! This is a great base bagel recipe that you can top with your favorite toppings like everything bagel seasoning, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, cinnamon sugar and more!
- Looking for more sourdough discard breakfast recipes? Try these Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls and Sourdough Discard Scones.
What is "passing the float test"?
When you put your bagels in the boiling water, they should float (which is called "passing the float test." This is the same process you would use if you were making Sourdough Discard Pretzels.
I recommend doing this with one test bagel first, so you can adjust if needed. If the bagel floats, it has passed the float test! And if the bagel does not float, then they're not yet ready to boil and need to take a bit more time to rise.
If the bagels float: This indicates that the dough has risen enough and the bagels will be light and airy once they're baked. Go ahead and boil and bake the bagels as directed!
- A bagel is considered "passing the float test" if it floats right away, or even if it sinks to the bottom, then slowly floats back up to the top. Both of these options pass!
If the bagels do not float: This indicates that the dough is too dense. If you boil and bake them now, your final bagels will be too dense and chewy. Cover the unboiled bagels with a clean kitchen towel again, and let sit for 10 more minutes to let the dough rise more. Then, try again.
Storage
Room Temperature Storage: Homemade bagels are best fresh, of course! Once cooled, they can be stored in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature for up to three days. Reheat the bagels in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make them warm and soft again.
Freezer Storage: These bagels freeze well! Once fully cooled, transfer the bagels to a freezer-safe plastic bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. I like to freeze them in individual plastic bags so I can reheat just one bagel whenever I like. Reheat frozen bagels in the microwave for about 60 seconds until warm and soft again.
Recipe FAQs
There are a few things that could cause this. First, make sure to shake off the excess water after boiling the bagels. Excess water can make the bagels sticky.
If you have excess egg wash pooling beneath the bagels, this can also make them sticky. You only need to use enough egg wash for the toppings to stick to the bagels.
Check the type of parchment paper you're using. Some are not designed for higher baking temperatures (and we're baking at a high temperature for this recipe!). I recommend using this parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (such as a Silpat mat).
Lastly, some ovens (like mine) heat unevenly and are hotter on the top or the bottom. Make sure to flip and rotate your pans (top to bottom and front to back) while baking so the bagels on each pan bake evenly!
More Sourdough Discard Bagel Recipes
If you tried these Sourdough Discard Bagels or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you! Happy Baking!
Sourdough Discard Bagels
Ingredients
For the Bagels
- 4 cups bread flour
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 200 grams (about ¾ cup) sourdough discard unfed, at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups warm water
For Topping
- 1 egg white for egg wash
- 1 Tablespoon water for egg wash
- Toppings (optional)
Instructions
- Combine flour, 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar, instant yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Mix to combine. On low speed, add the sourdough discard and water until combined. Increase speed to medium and knead for 4-5 minutes until a smooth ball forms*. This will be a fairly sturdy dough and should not be sticky. You may need to add more water or more flour (1 Tablespoon at a time), depending on your sourdough discard, to reach the right dough consistency.
- Grease a large bowl, transfer the dough to the bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for 90 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface and divide into 8-10 equal pieces. 8 pieces will give you 8 large bagels; 10 pieces will give you 10 smaller bagels. Roll each piece in your palm to form a smooth ball, then use your thumb to press through the center of each ball, stretching the hole to form your bagel. Cover the bagels with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 20 minutes while you prepare the next step.
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Prepare 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside. Bring a pot with 2 quarts of water and 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar to boil.
- Place your bagels in the boiling water for 15-30 seconds on each side**. The bagels should float (if not, see notes below). You can likely fit 2-3 bagels in the pot at a time, just make sure there is enough room for them to float openly as they will expand. Remove from the boiling water using a slotted spoon and transfer to the prepared baking sheets. If needed, you can reshape the bagels a little after they've cooled.
- Whisk together the egg white 1 Tablespoon water to create the egg wash. Lightly brush the bagels with egg wash, then sprinkle with your chosen toppings, if using (such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or everything bagel seasoning). You can also dip the bagels into the toppings if you prefer.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool fully before slicing and serving.
Julie Burnham says
I love this recipe. It is so easy and you pretty much can’t mess it up if you follow the recipe. What I like is that you can make either round bagels or salt sticks. And you can put on any topping you like. I have tried sesame seed, everything, salt, cheese, bagels, cinnamon sugar, and poppy seed. They taste so amazing.
Kristy says
I’ve made this recipe several times and will never buy bagels again. These bagels are amazingly easy and come out absolutely perfect every time. I freeze them and love having the option of a fresh bagel anytime I want one. I simply let them defrost on the counter for about 15 min then toast them and they are perfect. This is my go-to recipe for bagels!
Shannon says
I was new to the sourdough world about a year ago when I found this recipe. I’ve been making variations of this for over a year now. Every Sunday I make a fresh batch! Thank you for converting me to fresh homage bagels instead of store bought.
Britt says
I loved this recipe! So easy and so yummy!
I do want to add a little more discard. Do you know how much flour I should take away?
Thank you!!
Sam says
Maybe I missed someone else asking but can I add inclusions (blueberries)? If so, when would I add them?
Jessica Vogl says
Inclusions that don't have a high water content are great (like raisins, nuts, etc.). You would just fold them in while you're kneading. If you want to make blueberry bagels, I recommend you use my recipe for that (blueberries have a high water content, so you have to do a few things diffrently): https://www.thisjess.com/blueberry-bagels/
Roice Elliott says
Never in my life have a dealt with sourdough but after working in New York and having a bagel everyday for 26 weeks I have missed them and Oklahoma bagels just aren’t the same . This morning I decided to give it a shot with my very first discard recipe and oh my goodness!!! From the dough in my hands to the first bite all of cravings for a New York bagel were satisfied. Super simple recipe to follow and the outcome was simply delicious !!! Thank you.
Jessica Vogl says
Yayyy! So glad you loved them (and welcome to the sourdough world!).
Ann Marie says
Hi Jess,
I’m relatively new to sourdough & I’m Loving it!
Made your bagel recipe the other day for the first time & am pleasantly hooked!
I’ve been picking wild blueberries this week & would love to incorporate them into the bagels … any suggestions of how that might be done successfully?
Perhaps into half of the dough ~
Thanks,
Ann Marie
Jessica Vogl says
Hi! So glad to hear it and welcome to the sourdough world! I have a recipe for Sourdough Discard Blueberry Bagels that you might love: https://www.thisjess.com/blueberry-bagels/
Katiana Heath says
Hi there! I’m excited to try this recipe! My husband wants no toppings, so would I skip the egg wash as well?
Jessica Vogl says
The egg wash will help give your bagels a bit of shine, but it's totally optional if you're not adding any toppings!
Melodie Dailey says
I was wondering if you can add honey to this recipe? And how much would you add?
Jessica Vogl says
Hi Melodie! I don't think it's needed! But if you really wanted to add honey, you could use honey instead of the granulated sugar in the recipe.
Jeff says
I was looking to try something with my sourdough discard and came across this recipe. I liked the simplicity of it, so I decided to give it a try. I was very happy with the results. I followed the recipe as written and for my first attempt, they turned out fantastic. The entire batch didn't last a day because the family liked them so much.
Brittany says
These are a top seller for me! But I swear your recipe used to say 3 3/4 cup flour and now it says 4…. Am I going crazy?
Jessica Vogl says
You're not going crazy! I updated it somewhat recently after finding that I was preferring the bagels (and getting a better shape) when they have a bit more flour to them. Recipes are a living thing and do get updated sometimes!
Suzanne says
These look great! Can't wait to try them! next time I'll make 10 as the 8 are giants...clearly I had happy discard lol
I did make a few modifications. I like to always bloom my yeast so I did that with a bit of the sugar and water before adding the discard and, I used honey when boiling instead of the rest of the sugar! Great recipe!
Marlin P Vis says
Baked for 1st time and they turned out good. I need to make the hole a bit bigger though — most of them closed up. But that’s learnable. Thanks.
Kelly says
Hands down the best bagel recipe I have found. Could you sub in whole wheat flour instead of bread flour?
Jessica Vogl says
I haven't tried it, but I imagine it would work! The only thing to keep in mind is that bread flour will help make the bagels more crusty (so using whole wheat flour might give you a less crusty bagel). One idea would be to try half and half (half bread flour, half ww flour)!
Alex says
I just finished making this recipe and I know it says to add additional tablespoons of flour if needed depending on the discard, however, I ended up using more than 10 tablespoons of flour and my dough is still sticky. I’m not sure if I have done something wrong and I’m worried it will not come out right. Have you had this happen before?
Jessica Vogl says
That sounds like something is really off. Did you follow the measurements closely? Unfortunately I don't have any insight for you, but I'd guess that something was off in measuring!
Cortney says
Any recommendations on how to use this recipe for mini bagels for toddlers don’t waste?! ☺️
Jessica Vogl says
The recipe divides the dough into 8 pieces (8 bagels), but you could do smaller! I'm not sure how small you're aiming for, but you could easily do 16 pieces for half-size bagels. All other directions would remain the same. If you do end up doing more than 16 mini bagels, just keep an eye on them as they're baking (very small bagels may not need as much time in the oven).
Courtney says
I used active starter. Does it take as long as a typical loaf of bread to bulk rise for the bagels to double in size?