Maple Cinnamon Chip French Toast Bagel Recipe
Delight in the sweet and spicy flavor of Maple French Toast Bagels, featuring a soft, chewy texture infused with cinnamon chips and a hint of maple flavoring. These homemade bagels are boiled to perfection and baked until golden brown, then finished with a sweet egg wash for a mouthwatering crust reminiscent of classic French toast flavors.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 bagels 1x
- Category: Breakfast / Brunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Yeast Mixture
- 2 cups warm water (105°F – 113°F)
- 1 1/2 tbsp dry active yeast
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (divided from 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp)
Dough
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (from total 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp)
- 1 tsp maple flavoring
- 4 1/2 – 5 cups bread flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups cinnamon chips
Egg Wash
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm water, dry active yeast, and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Stir gently and set aside until the mixture becomes foamy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is activated.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl or stand mixer bowl, combine 4 1/2 cups bread flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Add the activated yeast mixture and maple flavoring to the dry ingredients. If the yeast hasn’t foamed, discard and restart with fresh yeast and proper water temperature.
- Knead the dough: Using a stand mixer with a dough hook, knead for 10 minutes, adding extra flour up to 1/2 cup if necessary to keep the dough soft and workable. Alternatively, knead by hand on a clean surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Rest the dough: Let the kneaded dough rest for 5 minutes, allowing gluten to relax.
- Divide and shape: Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces using a sharp knife or bench scraper. Shape each piece into a tight ball, then create a hole in the center with your thumb, stretching and rotating the dough around your thumb to form traditional bagel shapes.
- Proof the bagels: Place shaped bagels on a parchment or silicone-lined cookie sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 20 minutes until slightly puffy.
- Preheat oven and boil water: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Meanwhile, bring about 4 inches of water to a rolling boil in a large pot.
- Prepare egg wash: Whisk together the egg, milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Boil the bagels: Carefully drop the risen bagels into the boiling water in batches. Boil each side for 1 minute, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon and return to the cookie sheet.
- Brush with egg wash: Brush each boiled bagel generously with the prepared egg wash to create a shiny, sweet crust.
- Bake the bagels: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and serve: Allow bagels to cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm and enjoy the maple-cinnamon French toast inspired flavors.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Ensure water temperature is between 105°F and 113°F for proper yeast activation; too hot or cold water can kill or not activate the yeast.
- If yeast does not foam, discard and try again with fresh yeast and correctly heated water.
- Adjust flour quantity as needed to achieve a soft but workable dough; the dough should not be dry or overly sticky.
- Boiling the bagels before baking is essential for their traditional chewy texture.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking during baking and boiling steps.
- Cinnamon chips add texture and bursts of cinnamon flavor but can be omitted or substituted with cinnamon sugar if preferred.
Keywords: Maple French Toast Bagel, Cinnamon Bagels, Homemade Bagels, Breakfast Bagels, Sweet Bagels, Maple Bagels, French Toast Inspired
