Smoked salmon and cream cheese on a white poppy bagel
When I was a little girl, I always wanted to play tea party. I have a younger sister, but she wasn’t really into that sort of thing. That sucked. She also didn’t want to play Barbie 
. I was also denied the Easy Bake Oven. Damn, I really really wanted that. I wonder if I’ll ever forgive my mother for not buying me one. These are the things that can scar, you know? Sometimes life isn’t fair. Well, things that have been denied to me in my childhood have become full blown obsessions as an adult. Afternoon tea is now de rigueur, and you guys know how much I adore baking 
. In my mind I conjured up an idea that combines my two obsessions, and it includes one of my all time favorite treats: bagels! In my head I am imagining a fabulous NYC themed afternoon tea with mini cream cheese and smoked salmon bagels, little pastrami bagels, and maybe some teeny black and white cookies and baby cheesecakes. Wouldn’t that be the most adorable thing ever?! I so wish you guys were here with me and we could play tea party. You foodies are my kindred spirits, so I totally know you’d go for it. I’d make the mini bagel sandwiches, others could make some New York themed sweets– you guys are so talented, I know you’d make something awesome. It would be divine. I might even take out my Barbies 
.
I am really surprised and happy to tell you that these bagels really weren’t that difficult to make at all. I was incredibly pleased with the way these turned out. In fact, I am considering making my own bagels from scratch from now on. They were both a pleasure to make, and a pleasure to eat. Mr P gives them his seal of approval. He is the one who artfully bit into that bagel in the top picture. He is so fun at tea parties. I’m sure it’s one of the reasons why I married him.
This is the recipe I based the bagels on. To make the bagels miniature, I just used half of the recommended dough per bagel. I made some plain, some sesame, and some white poppy, as that’s what I had in the house. They are not all the same shape and size. I am sure that’s something that will require a bit of practice, but they were all cute.
Bagels
Ingredients:
• 7g sachet dried yeast
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 450g bread flour
• poppy, fennel and/or sesame seeds to sprinkle on top (optional)
• 1 egg white
1. Tip the yeast and 1 tbsp sugar into a large bowl, and pour over 100ml warm water. Leave for 10 mins until the mixture becomes frothy.
2. Pour 200ml warm water into the bowl, then stir in the salt and half the flour. Keep adding the remaining flour (you may not have to use it all) and mixing with your hands until you have a soft, but not sticky dough. Then knead for 10 mins until the dough feels smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and put in a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover loosely with cling film and leave in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1hr.
3. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 10 pieces, each about 85g, or 20 pieces if you intend to make a miniature version. Shape each piece into a flattish ball, then take a wooden spoon and use the handle to make a hole in the middle of each ball. Slip the spoon into the hole, then twirl the bagel around the spoon to make a hole about 3cm wide. Cover the bagel loosely with cling film while you shape the remaining dough.
4. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to the boil and tip in the remaining sugar. Slip the bagels into the boiling water – no more than four at a time. Cook for 1-2 mins, turning over in the water until the bagels have puffed slightly and a skin has formed. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain away any excess water.
5. Whisk an egg white with three tablespoons of water and brush over the top of each bagel. Sprinkle over your choice of topping and place on a baking tray lined with parchment. Bake in the oven for 25 mins until browned and crisp (or closer to 15 minutes if you make them tiny) – the bases should sound hollow when tapped. Leave to cool on a wire rack, then serve with your favourite filling.
Makes 10 regular bagels, or 20 minis.
I hope you had a bagel filled weekend!
Wow, the mini bagels look awesome…I am into baking bread, but never tried making bagels…now you sure inspired me to try…love it with lots of cream cheese and smoked salmon, SO GOOD!
Cute Mini Bagles! HH I must say you make Murray proud!
Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe !
Happy Tuesday!
Always wanted to try churning out some fresh bagels from my kitchen. You’ve given me hope. Can’t wait to try these…maybe this weekend. Thanks so much for sharing!
These look great! I have yet to make bagels but I’m telling you one of these days I’m going to do it!
gosh, your childhood sounds torturous
I hope you’ll get over it eventually. I’m very much impressed with your bagel baking ability!
Watch out NYC and Montreal…HH is right behind you making some darn fantastic mini-bagels ;o))
I’m so proud of the great job you did with these finicky baked goods…you obviously have a magic touch ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
No Easy Bake Oven growing up – I can’t even imagine it. I would love to come play tea party one day. I’ve been wanting to make bagels for some time now. This may just be the post that pushes me over the edge.
Outrageous! Fantastic! They are adorable – and homemade! I will try this recipe and translate it to the Thermomix. YUM!
Never heard of white poppy seeds, ever!
Seriously scared not having a No Easy Bake Oven growing up, my goodness, your right, little oversights like this are just the pits. Love the bagels, it really does sound so easy.
I am super impressed that you made your own bagels! How very enterprising, indeed! And, you’ve made it sound totally do-able as well. They’re darling and, I’ll bet, tasty!
beautiful bagels! i think they look divine.
What an amazingly divine idea! Mini bagels! Why didn’t I think of that? Thank you so much for the inspiration