<br /> Cinnamon and Raisin Bagel Blog Post<br />

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The Delightful World of Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are a beloved breakfast treat, known for their sweet and spicy flavors combined with a chewy texture. In this post, we’ll cover everything from the essential ingredients and step-by-step instructions for making your own at home, to equipment recommendations and notes for success. We’ll highlight the unique cinnamon raisin flavor and explore delightful toppings like vegan cream cheese. We’ll also provide tips on forming and baking the dough, ensuring a perfect bake every time. Discover the joys of a homemade cinnamon raisin bagel, and learn how to store and toast them for ongoing enjoyment. This is an ideal starting point if you’re new to bagel-making and includes handy hints for making plain bagels as well. Let’s delve into this flavorful adventure!

Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Ingredients

Creating the perfect cinnamon raisin bagel starts with sourcing high-quality ingredients. You’ll need bread flour for its high gluten content, which gives bagels their chewy texture. Cinnamon brings a warm spice, complementing the sweetness of raisins, which should be plump and juicy for the best flavor.

Other staple ingredients include yeast, crucial for dough rising, as well as sugar and salt to balance flavors. Warm water acts as a catalyst in activating the yeast, ensuring your dough reaches the perfect rise. For a rich hue and additional flavor, consider adding a tablespoon of molasses or honey to your mixture.

Instructions

Begin by mixing your dry ingredients—flour, cinnamon, sugar, and salt—in a bowl. Next, activate the yeast by dissolving it in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar. Once foamy, combine it with the dry mixture, adding raisins last. Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic, indicating it’s ready to rise.

Let the dough rise until it doubles in size, then shape it into individual bagels by rolling into balls and poking a hole in the center. Allow the formed bagels to rise briefly before boiling them, a key step for achieving a chewy crust. Finally, bake until golden brown and fragrant with cinnamon.

Equipment

To succeed with your bagel-making, ensure you’re equipped with the right tools. A stand mixer with a dough hook attachment can be helpful for kneading, though it can also be accomplished by hand. For the boiling step, a large pot is essential.

You’ll also need baking sheets lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking and retain moisture. A slotted spoon will assist in transferring bagels from boiling water to baking sheets. Lastly, a wire rack for cooling is indispensable to keep the bagels from becoming soggy on the bottom.

Notes

To enhance your baking success, consider these notes. Allow the dough to rise in a warm area free from drafts, as temperature fluctuations can affect yeast activity. For deeper flavor, add a dash more cinnamon or a handful of extra raisins.

Feel free to experiment with additional spices like nutmeg or cardamom for a unique twist. If your bagels appear flat after boiling, ensure you’ve given them enough time to rise beforehand. A little patience will go a long way in achieving ideal results.

Cinnamon Raisin Flavor

The signature flavor of cinnamon raisin bagels is both comforting and invigorating. Cinnamon brings a depth of warm spiciness, making each bite aromatic and enticing. Paired with the natural sweetness and chewiness of raisins, each bagel offers a balance of taste and texture that delights the palate.

This classic pairing not only enhances the flavor but also adds to the bagel’s visual appeal with a speckled appearance from cinnamon swirls and raisins. The taste is versatile enough to pair with both sweet and savory toppings, making it a beloved staple in breakfast menus.

Vegan Cream Cheese

For those seeking plant-based options, vegan cream cheese is a wonderful complement to cinnamon raisin bagels. Made from ingredients like cashews or tofu, vegan cream cheese offers a creamy, tangy alternative that pairs well with the sweet cinnamon and raisin undertones.

It’s easy to make at home using soaked nuts, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast for added flavor depth. Store-bought versions are also widely available, offering convenience and a variety of flavors. Whether plain or loaded with herbs and garlic, vegan cream cheese adds an elegant touch to your bagel experience.

Dough formed into bagels…

One of the joys of making bagels is transforming a simple dough into beautifully rounded bagels. The process begins by dividing the dough into equal parts to ensure even baking. Rolling each piece into a ball before poking a hole in the center is the key to achieving that classic bagel shape.

The dough should feel firm and elastic, indicating the gluten is well-developed. As you shape each bagel, keep the surfaces smooth to prevent cracks during the boil and bake phases. Properly formed bagels will sport that desirable, uniform shape every time.

I added some optional “egg wash” using JUST Egg…

For those opting out of traditional egg wash due to dietary preferences or restrictions, using JUST Egg as a plant-based alternative is an excellent choice. This egg substitute mimics the properties of egg wash, providing a glossy finish after baking.

Brush your formed dough gently with JUST Egg before baking to enhance crust color and texture. This step is completely optional but adds an aesthetic appeal and additional layer of flavor to your homemade bagels.

Bake and done!

After shaping and an optional steam bath, your bagels are ready to hit the oven. Be sure to preheat it to maintain a consistent temperature for even baking. The delightful aroma of cinnamon will soon fill your kitchen, signaling the nearing finish line.

After reaching the perfect golden hue, take the bagels out and cool them on a wire rack. This will keep their bottoms from retaining moisture and losing texture. Once completely cooled, they’re ready to be sliced, toasted, or enjoyed as is.

Loved these insides…

When sliced open, a well-baked cinnamon raisin bagel reveals a soft, chewy interior peppered with sweet raisins and lovely streaks of cinnamon. The texture is airy yet substantial, making each bite satisfying.

This is the beauty of homemade bagels—knowing every mouthful is fresh and crafted with love and care. Serve these delights warm with a spread of your choosing, or enjoy them plain, letting the cinnamon and raisins truly shine.

If you want to try plain bagels first…

Beginners in the world of bagel baking might consider starting with plain bagels. These offer a simpler taste profile and allow you to master the fundamental techniques of bagel-making before advancing to flavored varieties.

Plain bagels serve as a blank canvas, versatile and adaptable to a plethora of toppings, both sweet and savory. Once comfortable with the process, you’ll have a solid foundation for experimenting with flavors like cinnamon raisin, garlic, and more.

Toasting Bagels

Proper toasting can elevate a bagel from tasty to extraordinary, unlocking flavors and enhancing textures. When ready to enjoy your bagels, slice them evenly and toast them until the edges are crispy and the inside remains soft.

Adjust the toasting time to achieve your preferred level of crispness. For an added burst of flavor, spread garlic butter or a flavored cream cheese on the toasted surface. Enjoying your bagel toasted ensures you appreciate its full flavor profile.

Freeze Bagels for Later.

If you find yourself with more bagels than you can enjoy at once, freezing them is a great option. After your bagels have cooled completely, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid.

Transfer the bagels to an airtight container or resealable bag, and they’ll keep beautifully for weeks. When you’re ready to indulge, simply thaw at room temperature or give them a quick toast for near-instant freshness.

Section	Main Points
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels	Introduction to ingredients, instructions, equipment, and notes for making cinnamon raisin bagels.
Cinnamon Raisin Flavor	Details on the unique taste of cinnamon and raisin combination.
Vegan Cream Cheese	Description of vegan cream cheese as a topping for bagels.
Dough formed into bagels…	Steps in forming dough into bagels with tips on achieving uniform shape.
I added some optional “egg wash” using JUST Egg…	Use of plant-based egg wash alternatives.
Bake and done!	Instructions on baking bagels to perfection.
Loved these insides…	Description of the bagel’s interior post-baking.
If you want to try plain bagels first…	Recommendation for beginners to start with plain bagels.
Toasting Bagels	Tips on toasting bagels to enhance flavor and texture.
Freeze Bagels for Later	Instructions for freezing bagels to enjoy later.
More All Posts	Invitation to explore other culinary blogs and gain more insights.