This is the best 3-ingredient bagel recipe packed full of poppy seeds. You only need self-raising flour, Greek yogurt, and poppy seeds for the dough, and a few optional pantry ingredients including baking soda, butter, and eggs. They come together in around 45 minutes and can be batch made so you can have them throughout the week!
These super easy 3-ingredient bagels are honestly one of the best things I've ever made. I wanted to develop this recipe because my sister loves poppy seed bagels. So, I thought I could come up with a recipe so she could them make them from scratch whenever she fancied! The recipe was so good however, that I decided to share them with you (lucky thing).
If you loved these bagels but fancy a normal bread version, you'll love my 2-ingredient bread bites.
For those of you looking to make a delicious bagel sandwich, check out my smoked salmon bagel recipe with dill cream cheese, asparagus, scrambled eggs, and red pickles.
One of my favourite things to make our stuffed flatbreads, and I have several that have gone viral over the past year...my cheese-stuffed naan breads are one of them and my feta spring flatbreads are another you guys love!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
3-Ingredients: Yes, that's right. To make these poppy seed bagels, you only need three ingredients; self-raising flour, Greek yogurt, and poppy seeds. You can also optionally use some pantry staple ingredients to soup up the recipe including baking soda, butter, and eggs.
Simple: This is such an easy recipe. You just make a dough that requires no kneading, then split the dough into four, roll them into balls, make a hole in the centre, boil them, and then bake them. SO easy yet it doesn't compromise on flavour!
Batch-friendly: If you're looking to make a load of this 3-ingredient bagel recipe, then all you have to do is multiply the ingredient quantities. They also freeze really well, so you can just leave them to thaw and then devour them to your hearts content.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Self-raising flour: Use any self-raising flour you fancy! If you don't have self-raising, you can use plain flour and baking powder. For this recipe that makes 4 bagels, simply combine 250g plain flour with 2.5 teaspoons of baking powder to achieve the same result.
Greek yogurt: I love using plain Greek yogurt for this recipe. If you're looking to make this bagel recipe vegan, then I'd recommend using unsweetened soy or coconut yogurt.
Poppy seeds: Poppy seed bagels are one of my favourite types of bagels, so just grab some down at your local supermarket and get going! If you're looking for different kinds of seeds...sunflower seeds are great. As are sesame seeds, fennel seeds, or caraway seeds.
Baking soda: Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) makes the water more alkaline, giving the bagels a pretzel-like quality that contributes to their chewiness.
Butter: This is just to provide an anti-sticking agent on the sheet pan so that the bagels don't stick to the bottom...you could easily replace this with baking paper.
Eggs: We whisk an egg and then brush it over the boiled bagels before they go into the oven. It adds an extra depth of colour to the bagels. You can optionally use olive oil.
Recipe Variations
Spicy: The thought of a spicy bagel served with a tuna filling makes my tummy rumble. So, if you're the same. I'd recommend adding in some finely chopped chilli into your dough mixture. You can also add 1 teaspoon paprika and 1 teaspoon dried parsley too, to balance it out with some herbs.
Vegan bagel: To make this 3-ingredient poppy seed bagel recipe, simply use unsweetened coconut or soy yogurt instead of Greek yogurt. Then use vegan butter and olive oil to brush the bagels with instead of egg.
Sweet: If you're a fan of sweet bagels, then add some dried fruit like raisins or sultanas into your dough mixture with ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add 1 tablespoon sugar or maple syrup into the boiling water. After you've brushed the boiled bagels with egg, sprinkle with brown sugar and bake. Serve up toasted with butter and enjoy!
Step by Step Instructions with Photos
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the self-raising flour and poppy seeds. Then, add in the Greek yogurt and mix using a spoon or your hands until a rough dough forms. It should be light, airy, and slightly sticky...but not overly sticky...if it is, add a bit more flour.
Step 2: Split the dough into 4 equal parts and then roll each piece into a ball. Poke a hole down the middle and then enlarge the hole slightly so it's around ½ inch to an inch wide. Repeat for all 4 bagels.
Step 3: Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Place a large saucepan of boiling water on high heat and add in your baking soda. Then, one by one, add in your bagels and leave to boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove using a slotted spoon and set aside.
Step 4: Butter the base of your tin or use a piece of baking paper to ensure the bagels don't stick to the bottom. Then add on your bagels with enough space in-between them to expand. Brush with egg wash.
Step 5: Sprinkle with poppy seeds until well covered, then place in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 6: Remove from the oven once they've turned a gorgeous golden brown. Leave to cool and then serve up and enjoy!
Top Tips!
- Don't mix the dough too much! The more you combine it or knead it, the less airy the bread will be.
- If you like having a hole in your bagel, then make the size of the hole around 2 inches wide. You can also flatten the bagel too, if you prefer yours like that!
- To add even more flavour, you can season the boiling water with salt and sugar. This will provide a deeper taste in your bagel but it's totally optional.
What can I fill my 3-ingredient bagel with?
Salmon & cream cheese filling: simply chop up smoked salmon, cream cheese, chives, a little bit of lemon juice, pepper, and salt. Mix it all up and then add it into your bagel.
Parma ham salad: combine parma or prosciutto ham with arugula/rocket, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, a bit of dijon mustard and some seasonings of your choice. Place it into your bagel and enjoy.
Breakfast bagel: if you're looking for a morning option, I love adding some fried bacon, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and some ketchup and mayo into my bagel.
If you're looking for more easy bread recipes, my Cheese Boat Pie is such a great side dish is always a crowd-pleaser!
What to do with Leftovers
Storage: Once you've cooked your 3-ingredient bagels, store them in an airtight container either in the fridge or in the pantry for up to 3 days.
Freezing: Wrap in plastic wrap and place into the freezer for up to 3 months. Leave to thaw for a few hours or place them in the microwave on defrost setting.
Reheat: I love toasting my bagels, but warming them up in the air fryer or the oven is great too.
FAQs
Yes, absolutely! Wrap in plastic wrap and place into the freezer for up to 3 months. Leave to thaw for a few hours or place them in the microwave on defrost setting.
For sure! To make this 3-ingredient poppy seed bagel recipe plant-based, simply use unsweetened coconut or soy yogurt instead of Greek yogurt. Then use vegan butter and olive oil to brush the bagels with instead of egg.
Absolutely. Simply multiply the recipe quantities until you've reached your desired outcome!
Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) makes the water more alkaline, giving the bagels a pretzel-like quality that contributes to their chewiness.
Other related recipes you might enjoy!
If you tried this 3-Ingredient Bagel Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thank you!
The BEST 3-Ingredient Bagel Recipe
Ingredients
For the dough
- 250g self raising flour plus more for dusting
- 220g Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoon poppy seeds
Extras
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- Block of butter
- 1 egg whisked
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the self-raising flour and poppy seeds. Then, add in the Greek yogurt and mix using a spoon or your hands until a rough dough forms. It should be light, airy, and slightly sticky...but not overly sticky...if it is, add a bit more flour.
- Split the dough into 4 equal parts and then roll each piece into a ball. Poke a hole down the middle and then enlarge the hole slightly so it's around an inch wide. Repeat for all 4 bagels.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Place a large saucepan of boiling water on high heat and add in your baking soda. Then, one by one, add in your bagels and leave to boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Butter the base of your tin or use a piece of baking paper to ensure the bagels don't stick to the bottom. Then add on your bagels with enough space in-between them to expand. Brush with egg wash.
- Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon poppy seeds until well covered, then place in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven once they've turned a gorgeous golden brown. Leave to cool and then serve up and enjoy!
Notes
- Don't mix the dough too much! The more you combine it or knead it, the less airy the bread will be.
- If you like having a hole in your bagel, then make the size of the hole around 2 inches wide. You can also flatten the bagel too, if you prefer yours like that!
- To add even more flavour, you can season the boiling water with salt and sugar. This will provide a deeper taste in your bagel but it's totally optional.
Samantha
Hi, oh my days! I'm so proud of this. It's my first time baking anything to do with bread and it can feel a little daunting, but this is a fantastic recipe to start. I can't wait to use more of your recipes!
I can not thank you you enough. ✨
Samantha. Xx
Emily Roz
Awh thank you so much for your comment Samantha! I'm so glad you love the recipe and that you found it really easy and delicious! Have a gorgeous rest of your day! Em xx