How To Make Bagels In A Bread Maker

You can absolutely make bagels in a bread maker, and it’s one of the easiest ways to get that chewy, bakery-style texture at home.
 
Making bagels in a bread maker takes the hard work out of kneading and proofing, so you can focus on the fun parts like boiling and baking.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to make bagels in a bread maker without a stand mixer or hours of hand-kneading, this guide is for you.
 
We’ll walk through every step, from loading the dough into your machine to achieving that shiny, crisp crust.
 
In this post, we’ll cover the exact process for making bagels in a bread maker, the best dough cycle to use, and my favorite tips for a professional finish.
 
Let’s dive right in and start baking.
 

Why You Can Make Bagels in a Bread Maker

The bread maker is your secret weapon for bagel dough because it handles the heavy lifting for you.
 
When you make bagels in a bread maker, the machine kneads the dough to the perfect gluten development, which is crucial for that dense, chewy bite.
 
A bread maker also maintains a consistent temperature for proofing, so your bagels rise evenly every single time.
 
This method saves you about 15 minutes of active kneading, and it’s foolproof for beginners who want to learn how to make bagels in a bread maker successfully.
 
The key is to use the dough-only cycle, not the full bake cycle, because bagels need to be boiled before they hit the oven.
 

The Dough Cycle Is Your Best Friend

When you make bagels in a bread maker, always select the “dough” or “pizza dough” setting on your machine.
 
This cycle mixes, kneads, and lets the dough rise once, right inside the bread pan.
 
You don’t want the bake cycle because that would cook the bagels into a bread loaf shape, and you’ll miss the boiling step entirely.
 
Once the dough cycle finishes, you’ll have a smooth, elastic ball that’s ready to shape.
 
That’s the beauty of making bagels in a bread maker—it does the timing for you, so you don’t have to watch the clock.
 

Shaping the Dough After the Machine Finishes

After your bread maker signals that the dough is done, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
 
Divide the dough into eight equal pieces, and roll each piece into a smooth ball.
 
To shape the bagel, poke your thumb through the center of each ball and gently stretch it into a ring with a hole about 1.5 inches wide.
 
You can make bagels in a bread maker with this classic hand-shaping method, or you can roll each piece into a rope and connect the ends.
 
Either way, place the shaped bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment and let them rest for 10 minutes.
 

How to Boil and Bake Bagels from Your Bread Maker

The boiling step is what sets bagels apart from regular bread rolls.
 
While the dough rests, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
 
For extra flavor and that beautiful golden crust, add a tablespoon of honey or barley malt syrup to the boiling water.
 
Boil each bagel for 30–60 seconds per side—the longer you boil, the chewier the crust will be.
 
After boiling, place the bagels back on the parchment-lined sheet, brush with an egg wash, and sprinkle with toppings like sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or coarse salt.
 
Bake for 20–25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the bagels are deep golden brown.
 
When you make bagels in a bread maker, this final bake is quick and gives you that satisfying crackle when you tap the crust.
 

Why Boiling Makes a Difference

The boiling process gelatinizes the starches on the surface of the dough, which locks in moisture.
 
This is exactly why bagels from a bread maker still taste dense and chewy instead of light and fluffy like sandwich bread.
 
Boiling also sets the crust quickly, so the bagels hold their shape as they expand in the oven.
 
Without this step, you’d end up with soft rolls that look like bagels but have the texture of dinner rolls.
 

Best Ingredients for Making Bagels in a Bread Maker

You don’t need fancy equipment, but the right ingredients make a huge difference when you make bagels in a bread maker.
 
Use bread flour with a high protein content (around 12–14%) to get that chewy structure.
 
All-purpose flour will work, but your bagels will be less dense and more tender.
 
Water temperature matters too—use warm water (about 110°F) to activate the yeast quickly.
 
Here’s a simple ratio that works perfectly for most bread makers.
 
Add the wet ingredients first, then the flour, and finally the yeast on top to keep it away from the salt.
 

My Go-To Bagel Dough Recipe

For 8 bagels, combine 1.5 cups of warm water, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 4 cups of bread flour, and 2.25 teaspoons of active dry yeast.
 
If you want to boost the flavor, swap the water for a mix of water and barley malt syrup.
 
Add the water, sugar, salt, and oil to the bread pan, then the flour, and make a small well in the center for the yeast.
 
Set your bread maker to the dough cycle and let it run—this is the simplest way to make bagels in a bread maker because you don’t even have to mix anything by hand.
 

Flavor Variations You Can Try

Once you master the basic process, you can make bagels in a bread maker with endless flavor twists.
 
Add a cup of raisins and a teaspoon of cinnamon to the dough for a breakfast-style bagel.
 
Or mix in shredded cheddar cheese and jalapeños for a savory, spicy kick.
 
For everything bagels, just sprinkle a blend of dried garlic, onion flakes, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds on top after the egg wash.
 
You can also brush the baked bagels with melted butter and garlic powder for an extra-rich finish.
 

So, How Do You Make Bagels in a Bread Maker?

You can make bagels in a bread maker by using the dough cycle for kneading and proofing, then shaping, boiling, and baking the bagels manually.
 
It’s a simple process that gives you all the satisfaction of fresh bagels without the arm workout.
 
Start with the dough cycle, shape the dough into rings, boil them briefly, and finish in a hot oven for that signature crust.
 
With this method, you’ll get perfect bagels every time, and you can customize them with any toppings you love.
 
So, fire up your bread maker and enjoy your very own homemade bagels in just a couple of hours.
 
Happy baking, and don’t forget to share them warm with cream cheese.