An egg bagel isn’t just any old bagel with eggs on top of it.
It has its own unique taste, texture, and consistency that makes them a wonderful addition to your morning meal.
You may be wondering what exactly is an egg bagel, so let us explain everything about this delicacy.
- What is the difference between an egg bagel and a regular bagel?
- How do you make an egg bagel from scratch?
- What are some common toppings for egg bagels?
- How do you like your egg bagel?
- What is your favorite egg bagel recipe?
What Is The Difference Between An Egg Bagel And A Regular Bagel?
Egg bagels are typically made with egg whites or whole eggs (or even both).
They also tend not to contain much other than the basic ingredients of flour, water, yeast, salt, oil, and egg yolks.
The most important thing when making an egg bagel is that they must be cooked thoroughly.
Eggs should never be cold when used as part of the dough because if they are, then the finished product will turn out very rubbery and chewy.
If you want to know more about how these little guys got their name, check out our article explaining why bagels are called “eggs” instead of “bagels.”
In comparison, traditional bagels are usually made with all-purpose flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt, vegetable shortening, egg yolk, and sometimes sesame seeds.
These bagels have a distinctive flavor and texture that sets them apart from egg bagels (Can bagels be vegan? Read here).
They are often served plain, but many people enjoy adding different kinds of toppings such as poppy seed, onion, garlic, cinnamon, raisins, jelly, cream cheese, etc.
The history of egg bagels
There are several theories behind how egg bagels originated.
One theory says that Jewish bakers started using egg whites for bagels during World War I, which could explain why there aren’t many recipes available online.
Another theory suggests that the first egg bagels were created by accident.
A chef was baking bagels one day without realizing he had forgotten one ingredient — egg yolks.
He decided to use egg white to make up for his mistake, and after seeing that the bagels turned out well, he continued doing so.
A third theory claims that egg bagels originated in New York City where Jews would bake them at home while waiting for their bread delivery trucks to arrive.
How Do You Make An Egg Bagel From Scratch?
Egg bagels are made from whole wheat flour, yeast, water, salt, oil, and eggs.
The most important thing when making an egg bagel is having all of these items at hand.
If you don’t have them all together, then there will be problems.
To get started, mix up the dough by adding 1 cup of warm water (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit) into 2 cups of whole grain bread flour until well combined.
Add 3 tablespoons of active dry yeast and let sit for 10 minutes.
Next, add 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 egg to the bowl.
Mix thoroughly.
Once mixed, place the mixture onto a floured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
You should feel resistance while mixing but not too much effort.
Your hands shouldn’t hurt either as long as they aren’t overly sweaty.
Place the kneaded ball back into the bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
Let rest for 30 minutes.
When the dough has rested, roll out the dough into a circle slightly bigger than your baking sheet.
Place the rolled out dough onto your prepared pan and press down gently to flatten evenly.
Cover again and let rise for another 45 minutes.
After rising, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a small bowl, beat two eggs lightly and brush over both sides of the risen dough.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving.
What Are Some Common Toppings For Egg Bagels?
Egg bagels aren’t just made up of scrambled eggs or hard-boiled eggs.
You can add other tasty fillings into the mix as well.
Some popular choices include bacon, cheese, avocado, peppers, ham, tuna salad, tomato sauce, and more.
As long as you keep these items relatively small (a couple tablespoons), you will still get all the flavor without overwhelming the main ingredient—the egg.
Bacon
If you’re looking for something savory, try adding cooked bacon bits into your egg bagel.
The sweet and salty combination tastes great, especially when paired with cream cheese spread.
Cheese
For those who prefer a little bit more tangy flavor, consider using shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese instead of the usual American cheese slices.
Avocado
The creamy flesh of avocados lends itself perfectly to egg bagels because it melts easily yet remains firm enough not to crumble under pressure. If you don’t want to use fresh sliced avocado, you can also grate the skinned fruit and toss it into the batter.
Peppers
Add another spicy element by topping your egg bagel with diced red or green bell pepper strips.
They go very well together and provide a nice contrast to the mildness of the eggs and bread.
Ham
This one is pretty self explanatory.
Ham adds a meatier flavor to the overall dish, while providing a solid base for the eggs.
For extra protein, feel free to sprinkle chopped ham onto the surface before baking.
Tuna Salad
A classic pairing of tuna and mayonnaise goes surprisingly well with eggs.
Tossed with lettuce and tomatoes, you can enjoy a complete meal right out of the oven if you choose.
Tomato Sauce
Adding tomato paste gives your egg bagel a rich, deep color that complements the whole package nicely.
Try mixing a tablespoon of tomato paste with water and whisking until smooth before adding it to the mixture.
Herbs
Fresh herbs are often used in cooking, but they also make excellent additions to egg bagels.
Basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, mint, and dill are all good options to experiment with.
Feel free to chop them finely and stir them into the batter along with the rest of the eggs.
Onion
Another vegetable that pairs extremely well with eggs is onion.
Slice thinly and sauté in butter over medium heat for several minutes before removing the pan from the stove.
Add the onions back to the pan once cooled down to avoid burning the eggs.
Sliced Mushrooms
Mushrooms are usually considered healthy due to their high vitamin content, so they’re a natural choice for anything containing eggs.
Not only does mushroom soup sound delicious, but you can also pair mushrooms with the eggs themselves for a hearty breakfast.
Lettuce
Green leaf lettuce works best here since it holds up better than regular iceberg or romaine types.
However, if you find yourself short on time, simply leave out the greens altogether.
How Do You Like Your Egg Bagel?
Egg bagels are very popular among all ages because they provide a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
They also come with natural flavors that help give you energy throughout the day.
If you enjoy eating egg bagels but want to get creative with your toppings, there are plenty of ways to customize these tasty treats.
Some people choose to add cheese or other toppings while others prefer their egg bagels plain.
Whichever way you decide to go, you will find many different recipes online and in restaurants across America.
The Classic Egg Bagel Recipe
To begin creating your own egg bagel recipe at home, start by cracking an egg into a bowl.
Next, whisk together 1/4 cup flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper until well combined.
Add one tablespoon olive oil to the mixture and stir again until smooth.
Pour this batter into an oven-safe pan (preferably nonstick) and cook over medium heat for around 5 minutes until set.
Remove from the stovetop and allow to cool completely before slicing.
Once cooled, slice each layer of the egg bagel into four sections using a pizza wheel or knife.
Place the sliced egg bagel pieces onto a large sheet of parchment paper.
Now roll up the slices tightly starting at the bottom edge and ending near the middle.
If you don’t feel confident rolling up the egg bagel yourself, then ask someone who works in the kitchen to help you out.
After wrapping the egg bagel up, use scissors to cut off any excess parchment paper from the edges.
You should now have a perfectly rolled egg bagel ready to eat.
What Is Your Favorite Egg Bagel Recipe?
Egg Bagels were first created by Jewish immigrants who came over to America during the early 1900s.
They brought their traditional recipes with them as they settled into new countries.
There are many different variations of egg bagel recipes out there, but the most popular versions are the New York style egg bagels (also known as “Jewish rye”) or the Philadelphia style egg bagels (also know as “Italian bread”).
These two styles of egg bagels are very similar in terms of how they are made.
But there are also other types of egg bagels that have come along since then.
For example, if you live near Seattle, Washington, you might see a version called the “Seattle-style” egg bagel which uses a whole wheat flour blend instead of white flour.
So, whatever type of egg bagel you prefer, here are three great egg bagel recipes that will help you get started on making one at home today!
The New York Style Egg Bagel Recipe
This classic egg bagel recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, start to finish, and it can be ready in under 10 minutes once the dough comes together!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water
- 4 teaspoons dry yeast
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 5 cups all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 large eggs
- Optional: 2 tablespoons poppy seeds or sesame seeds
Directions:
In a small bowl or measuring jug, mix 1 cup warm water with 4 teaspoons dry yeast until dissolved.
Add ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ tablespoon sugar.
Set aside for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, add 3 cups of flour and ⅓ cup vegetable oil to a mixing bowl.
Using a fork or whisk, combine well.
Once combined, slowly begin adding liquid to form a soft dough ball.
Cover with plastic wrap and leave alone for 15 minutes.
Once the mixture is nice and sticky, remove plastic wrap and knead dough briefly until smooth.
Place back in covered container and allow to rise for another hour.
After rising, divide dough into 6 equal pieces.
Take each piece of dough and roll into a ball.
Roll each ball up tightly in foil and place on baking sheet.
Allow to rest for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
When preheating the oven, take each rolled up ball and press down the center of each, creating a long tube shape.
Bake for 7 – 8 minutes.
Remove from oven and flip onto plate.
Repeat process for remaining balls.
Assembling the Egg Bagel:
After the egg bagels have cooled completely, slice horizontally through the middle of each bagel.
Brush both sides with melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Top with desired topping(s), such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, cinnamon sugar, etc…
The Philadelphia Style Egg Bagel Recipe
If you want to go ahead and try something different, check out this egg bagel recipe.
You can use this recipe to turn almost anything into an egg bagel! Just change up the ingredients and tweak the directions accordingly.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water
- 4 teaspoons dry yeast
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 6 cups unbleached flour
- 1/8 cup shortening
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 large eggs
- Optional: 1 tablespoon poppy seeds or sesame seeds
- Olive oil cooking spray
Directions:
Mix 1 cup of warm water with 4 teaspoons of dry yeast until dissolved.
Add ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ tablespoon sugar.
Set aside for 5 minutes.
Add 2 cups of flour and 1/8 cup shortening to bowl and mix well.
Slowly incorporate additional flour while forming a soft dough ball.
Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for another 45 minutes.
Divide dough into six even portions.
Roll each portion into a ball.
Roll each ball up tightly in aluminum foil, twisting ends of foil around each ball.
Place on greased cookie sheets and allow to rise for 25 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Carefully open foil wrappers and carefully brush tops of rolls with olive oil cooking spray.
Sprinkle with desired toppings and bake for 12 minutes.
To assemble egg bagels:
Remove from oven and flip onto plates. Serve immediately.
The Seattle Style Egg Bagel Recipe
Even though these egg bagel recipes are based off of classic ones, we decided to include one more variation in case you don’t want to give up your traditional egg bagel flavor.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water
- 4 teaspoons dry yeast
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 5 cups all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 large eggs
Directions:
Combine 1 cup warm water and 4 teaspoons dry yeast until dissolved.
Add ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ tablespoon sugar.
Set aside for 5 minutes.
Add 3 cups of flour and ⅓ cup vegetable oil to mixing bowl and mix well.
Slowly incorporate additional flour while forming a soft dough ball.
Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 60 minutes.
Divide dough into six even portions.
Roll each portion into a ball.
Roll each ball up tightly in foil, twisting ends of foil around each ball.
Place on greased cookie sheets and allow to rise for 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Carefully open foil wrappers and carefully brush tops of rolls with melted butter.
Sprinkle with desired toppings and bake for 18 minutes.
What Are Some Creative Ways To Eat An Egg Bagel?
Egg bagels are great because they come together quickly when you need something fast in the morning.
They also keep well after they are baked, which means you can store them in the fridge or freezer for later use.
If you don’t want to wait until the next day to enjoy one, there are plenty of other things you can put into an egg bagel besides eggs.
- Add avocado slices
- Put cheese over the egg bagel
- Top with bacon strips
- Place sausage on top of the egg bagel
- Spread cream cheese on the inside of the egg bagel
- Serve as a sandwich
How Long Does It Take To Make An Egg Bagel?
The average time it takes to make an egg bagel is about 15 minutes, which includes all the steps involved in preparing the dough and baking it.
Most people find they can get their hands dirty at home pretty quickly as well.
You don’t need much equipment or special kitchen tools either since you will be using standard household items such as flour, yeast, water, salt, and oil.
If you want to speed up the process even more, you can use store-bought bread machine recipes instead of cooking them by hand.
Once you have completed the preparation stage, the next step is to shape and bake the egg bagel.
The final result should look something like this:
What Are Some Tips For Making The Perfect Egg Bagel?
Egg bagels are made by adding beaten eggs to bread dough before baking.
The result is a soft, chewy, and sweet bread that is full of flavor and nutrients.
To get started, we recommend using high-quality ingredients such as fresh yeast or active dry yeast.
To create this tasty treat, first mix together two cups warm water, one tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Once mixed well, add four tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup of instant coffee.
Next, stir in 2 teaspoons of honey (or more if desired) and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
Next, pour the liquid into a large bowl along with 4 cups flour, 3 teaspoons of kosher salt, and 1 package of active dry yeast.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients thoroughly until all the lumps disappear.
Finally, knead the mixture for 5 minutes.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for about 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
After rising, divide the dough into three equal parts, shape each part into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rest for another 15 minutes.
Now comes the fun part – shaping and cooking the egg bagels.
Heat up a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
While the pan heats, roll out each piece of dough into a circle approximately 8 inches in diameter.
Once the pan is hot enough, place a round disc of dough inside and cook both sides until golden brown and crispy.
Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.
Place cooked egg bagels onto a plate covered with paper towels and lightly dust with powdered sugar.
Enjoy immediately while they are still warm!
What Is The Best Way To Store An Egg Bagel?
The shelf life of the egg bagel is quite short because they don’t last long once they start to dry out.
You should eat them as soon as possible after cooking them.
If you want to keep them longer than one day, place them in a sealed container or jar and refrigerate them immediately.
If you prefer not to use the refrigerator method, try placing the egg bagels in a closed plastic bag and keeping them in the freezer for up to three months.
When you take them out, thaw them first before eating them.
They will still be good if you put them back into the fridge right away.
How Do You Know When An Egg Bagel Is Done?
Eggs must always be at room temperature before being used in a recipe.
If they aren’t, then the eggs will cook unevenly, which could ruin the whole dish.
To check if the eggs are good to go, simply crack one open and see if there is liquid inside.
The yolk should not appear runny or broken in pieces.
If it does, then heat up the eggs again until they become warm enough to use in your recipe.
Equipment
- 1 electric mixer bowl
- 1 theelectric mixer
Ingredients
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 4 cups bread flour
- ½ cup water
- 5 egg yolks
- 2 eggs plus 1 egg for optional eggwash
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1½ tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Cornmeal optional
- Poppy seeds or Everything seasoning optional
Instructions
- Combine the bread flour, yeast, salt, and brown sugar in an electric mixer bowl (or a regular large mixing bowl). Mix in the eggs, egg yolks, and water on low speed until the dough forms a bowl.
- Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place for 1 hour, or until the mixture foams and doubles in size.
- Reattach the dough bowl to the electric mixer and continue to mix on low speed for 7 minutes (or 10 minutes without an electric mixer), or until the dough is smooth and pliable.
- Roll the bagel dough into 8 equal parts and shape into a ball. Place the dough balls on a large plate or baking sheet, cover with a damp towel, and set aside for 15-20 minutes.
- Poke a hole in the center of the dough with your thumb and stretch the dough by rotating your thumb to widen the hole. Repeat with the rest of the dough balls.
- Place the shaped bagel doughs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside for another 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°F and position the rack in the center.
- A large pot of water should be brought to a boil. Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water and return to a low boil. Boil for 1 minute after gently dropping the bagel doughs into the water. Boil for another minute after flipping the bagels. Transfer the bagels to a lined baking sheet dusted with cornmeal using a slotted spoon.
- 1 extra egg, whisked together, should be brushed onto the tops of each bagel. Poppy seeds or Everythingseasoning can be sprinkled on top.
- Bake the bagels for 15-17 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, or until golden brown.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and cool the bagels on a wire rack.
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.