What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of bagels? It's probably the traditional New York-style bagel, right? While these simple and chewy beauties are delicious, they're hardly the only bagels available. How many types of bagels are there? It depends on how you define bagels and how strictly you want to categorize them.
Technically, any roll made from leavened dough has the potential to be called a bagel (or bageleh in Yiddish). Still, most would agree that bagels refer to the traditional Jewish bread that we all know and love.
Bagels are a type of pastry, and they're typically made from a yeasted dough that's baked to a fluffy, chewy texture. The term "bagel" refers to the bagel's shape, which is sometimes round or oval. There are many different shapes of bagels, including square, round, crescent, cup, round with a hole, crescent with a hole, and cup with a hole.
In the case of bagels, the first thing that people think of is plain bagels. These are the simple, common bagels that you can find in the supermarket. However, other types of bagels are also very delicious, and you can find these bagels in various kinds of specialty stores, like bagel shops.
Bagels vs. Bread
A lot of people can't really tell you what a bagel is. They might say, "It's like bread?" or "It's shaped like a circle?", but these simple answers don't come close to describing what a good bagel is. So, let us try again: a bagel is primarily made up of water, flour, yeast, malt, and salt, with some other miscellaneous ingredients thrown in there too.
But let's be honest—while they are made up of these similar ingredients, bagels are not just an alternative to bread. There are two types of bagel lovers: those who love all kinds, including sesame seed, onion, and everything-bagel flavored, with a big spread of cream cheese on top, and those who go for bagels made with unique ingredients. These can include flax seeds or pumpkin seeds to boost their nutritional value.
Discover the Different Types of Bagels
Thanks to the many flavors and variations available in stores and online, enjoying a good bagel has never been easier. Whether you prefer your bagels thin or thick, chewy or crispy, it's only a matter of knowing what options are out there and which types of bagels will best suit your taste buds and lifestyle.
Here are the sixteen most popular types of bagels that you should try.
Asiago Bagels
These bite-sized bagels are made with Asiago cheese, giving them a savory, nutty flavor with a slightly sweet aftertaste. The bread is soft but firm enough to hold up in sandwiches. This is one of our personal favorites because it's so close to an Italian ciabatta bread. These bagels can be paired with cream cheese or cold cuts for a quick lunch if you're on the go.
Blueberry Bagels
Fresh blueberries make for a tasty bagel topping. Add these cinnamon-sugar-coated bites to your gastronomy recipes ASAP. Go crazy with blueberry spreads, jams, or compotes to mix things up! If you're having trouble getting into full-on breakfast mode, picture all those familiar blueberry bagel flavors from your childhood—blueberry cream cheese, anyone?—and try some at home. Soon enough, you'll be downing your new creation in no time flat!
This bagel's wonderful bluish-purple hue is due to the blueberries that are mixed into the dough when it is being prepared. This combination makes the bagels taste even more delicious than usual and also adds an element of fun to the breakfast table.
Cheddar Bagels
Cheddar bagels, for those who are a bit more traditional in their tastes, can be found at almost any bakery you visit. For those who love cheddar cheese, cheddar bagels offer a perfect opportunity to taste your favorite flavor. They are rather generic when it comes to it, though: light golden brown with a hole through their middle. As a result, they are perfect for making sandwiches with any type of filling you choose.
Cheddar bagels are a perfect fit for those who want to have a sandwich without the overpowering taste of cheese. To achieve this, they have to have a very subtle cheese taste. This makes them very versatile in the way they can be used.
Chocolate Chip Bagels
Chocolate chip bagels are sweet, tasty, and you can pair them with your cup of coffee. The chocolate chips make them a decadent treat and an excellent choice for breakfast or an afternoon snack. They are available in many bakeries as well as grocery stores.
When choosing a chocolate chip bagel, pick up one with lots of big chocolate chips on top. There should be more than just some sprinkles on top; there should be enough so that each bite has some chocolate in it. If there aren't enough large chunks of chocolate in your bagel, consider going somewhere else next time because they probably won't satisfy your craving!.
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
Cinnamon is a natural aphrodisiac. Now, I'm not saying you should use cinnamon bagels as an excuse to get frisky, but what I am saying is cinnamon raisin bagels just might give you a little extra zing in your step. It's like nature's own pick-me-up, especially when smeared with butter.
Anyway, if you love cinnamon rolls or snickerdoodles, then there's no reason why you shouldn't love these bagels too. Just don't overdo it!
Cinnamon-Sugar Bagels
These are one of my favorite bagel flavors—if not my favorite in general! They're sweet and spicy all at once, which makes them perfect for breakfast or as an afternoon snack on days when I need something quick but satisfying.
To make cinnamon-sugar bagels, you'll want to roll your dough out into a rectangle before cutting it into circles. Then you can sprinkle each circle with cinnamon sugar before placing it in your oven to bake. Once they come out of the oven, you can top these babies with cream cheese and enjoy!
Egg Bagels
Egg bagels are one of bagel history's most common forms. Cooked in a round shape, these bagels have holes throughout their center from being boiled during production. They're best enjoyed as a sandwich bread or when baked with topping ingredients like sesame seeds or poppy seeds for a crackly crust. (Plus, you know it's fresh because it has an eggy smell.) When buying your next loaf, opt for plain over flavored varieties; while they're tasty on their own, adding toppings takes away from the traditional egg bagel flavor.
Everything Bagels
This bagel was first invented in New York City. Everything bagels have a unique set of toppings that include sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion flakes, garlic flakes, salt, and pepper. Everything bagels are a good breakfast choice when you're pressed for time because they taste great with various spreads. These bagels work well as toast or in sandwiches.
These bagels are so popular because of their crunchy texture and sweet flavor profile. The next time you go out for breakfast, try ordering one of these mouthwatering treats. Be sure to ask your server what type of cream cheese they use on top—you might be surprised by how much better it tastes than regular cream cheese!
French Toast Bagels
French toast bagels are just like regular bagels, but they are much sweeter. They're delicious when you're in a rush or have gotten sick of regular old bagels. To make these, simply take your favorite flavored bagel and dip it into an egg mixture with cinnamon added to it. Then fry it up until it is golden brown on both sides. It's best served with butter or cream cheese! This can be eaten for breakfast or as a dessert at night. Make sure to enjoy it while it's hot!
Garlic Bagels
Garlic bagels were introduced at an Italian restaurant in New York City in 1979, making them one of America's most popular varieties. It is made with garlic butter or garlic oil injected into a dough ball before baking. The best part about these garlicky bagels is their freshness, making them as delicious as they are healthy. When paired with eggs, cheese, and bacon or sausage, these bagels make great breakfast sandwiches. They also go well with cream cheese for a snack on the go.
Onion Bagels
Onion bagels are among some of our favorites. If you're craving a savory bagel for breakfast, look no further than onion bagels. They're often topped with sesame seeds, but they also make an excellent base for a sandwich at lunch or dinner. Top onion bagels with cream cheese for an easy lunchtime snack.
Besides being topped with things like garlic, poppy seeds, onions, or sesame seeds, onion bagels can also be eaten as-is for a warm breakfast treat. If you're not a fan of cream cheese, top your onion bagel with balsamic vinegar for an extra burst of flavor.
Or, you could pair them with fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, and cherry tomatoes for a simple yet delicious summertime snack.
Plain Bagels
Plain bagels are a great option for anyone looking for an uncomplicated, solid bagel with great taste. While plain bagels don't usually offer many flavor options, they are delicious on their own. Plain bagels are perfect for pairing with your favorite toppings or an afternoon snack. They can also be sliced in half and used like bread to make your favorite breakfast sandwich! Enjoy a plain bagel while it's still fresh out of the oven—warm is best!
Poppy Seed Bagels
Poppy seeds have a variety of health benefits, from lowering cholesterol levels to acting as a mild sedative. If you're looking for extra restfulness in your life, try some poppy seed bagels. These are sweet-tasting treats that can help lull you into dreamland with each bite. Contradictorily, many people also report feeling more alert after eating them in the morning!
In addition to tasting incredible on their own, poppy seed bagels pair well with other flavor varieties like sun-dried tomatoes and roasted garlic. Like any other product on the market, there's some variation between brands in quality control. The healthiest option is an organic poppy seed bagel made without preservatives.
Pumpernickel Bagels
Pumpernickel is a dense, dark-colored type of bread made from rye flour. So it makes sense that bagels made with pumpernickel flour would be just as dark in color and slightly more chewy than other bagel varieties. Pumpernickel bagels are available at most major grocery stores, but they're also easy to make yourself if you have a bread machine. The best part about making your own pumpernickel bagels? You can add your favorite seeds or nuts on top—or even try out different flavors like chocolate or cinnamon!
Rosemary-Garlic Bagels
Baking with rosemary is a great way to take plain bagels from delicious to fantastic. With hints of pine, rosemary offers a mild taste that's still complex. The leaves can be stripped off and added directly into your dough while mixing up your ingredients, but they also offer a unique flavor when lightly roasted before being used in your recipe. When combined with garlic, rosemary adds a savory quality to these bagels, making them an instant favorite for dinner parties or lazy weekend mornings.
Salt Bagels
If you love salt, these bagels are for you. They were first created in a Jewish bakery in New York. The recipe calls for an extra pinch of salt on top. They are best served with cream cheese, lox, and red onions. This is one of my favorite bagels because they taste so good when they're warm.
Sesame Bagels
Sesame bagels are one of America's best-loved bagel types. They're made with sesame seeds, giving them a slightly nutty flavor and a crunchy texture, further enhanced by an egg wash on top. These bagels are perfect for dipping in different spreads like jam or almond butter. They have a distinctive taste that won't get lost or overpowered. In fact, if you really want to enjoy your sesame bagel, try spreading it with some cream cheese and then topping it off with sliced strawberries. The sweetness of both flavors will play off each other beautifully!
Whole Wheat Bagels
Whole wheat bagels are considered healthier than other varieties since they don't contain as much fat and sugar as their counterparts. These bagels are made with a mix of whole wheat flour, whole grain flour, yeast, malt powder, diastatic malt powder, evaporated cane juice, and salt. When it comes to nutritional value, whole wheat bagels contain around 100 calories (5g carbs), 3g protein (1.5g fiber), and 7g fat per slice. Although there is no cholesterol in whole wheat bagels, they have high sodium levels at 300 mg per serving.
Making a whole wheat bagel is quite similar to that of white bread. The main difference lies in using only freshly milled hard spring or winter wheat rather than the soft red winter or spring wheat used for white bread. The method includes sifting together refined flour and bran before adding other ingredients like vital gluten, which helps retain moisture in the dough for better fermentation during rising periods.
The Evolution of Bagels
Today, bagels are a worldwide staple. However, if you look at history, you will see that bagels' true roots go much deeper than we expected. The history of bagels dates back to 1610 in Poland. Of course, they have changed quite a bit since then, and they continue to change every day. There is always something new from flavors to shapes when it comes to bagels.
Bagels came about as a way for Polish bakers to use less flour without impacting their business. Initially, they used scraps leftover from making bread loaves and twisted them into ring shapes. Today, you can find bagels in many sizes, shapes, flavors, and even colors. Keep these fun facts in mind when you shop for your next bagel! Since their creation, bagels have been made with rye, wheat, and barley. However, some varieties are now also made with cornmeal or potato flour.
Wrapping it Up
While it's tempting to load up on your favorite type of bagel, you should also try some other types. The best way to get a nice variety is by making friends with your local baker or deli owner. And, if you don't have a local option, check out some online options. Bakeries will often ship across state lines! Whatever you do, make sure you taste as many varieties as possible and enjoy every bite.
