Homemade Cream Cheese Stuffed Garlic Bagels (Print version)

Chewy homemade bagels stuffed with garlic cream cheese, brushed with parsley garlic butter, and baked until crisp at the edges.

# Ingredients:

For the bagel dough

01 - 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) warm water, about 105 F
02 - 2 teaspoons instant yeast
03 - 1 tablespoon barley malt syrup or honey
04 - 4 cups (520 g) bread flour, plus more for dusting
05 - 2 teaspoons fine salt

For boiling

06 - 10 cups (2.4 L) water
07 - 1 tablespoon barley malt syrup or honey
08 - 1 teaspoon baking soda

For the cream cheese filling

09 - 8 oz (225 g) full-fat block cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/3 cup (35 g) finely grated parmesan cheese
11 - 2 scallions, finely chopped
12 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the garlic butter topping

14 - 5 tablespoons (70 g) unsalted butter, melted
15 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
17 - 2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
18 - 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
19 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

# Instructions:

01 - Combine warm water, yeast, and malt syrup or honey in a large bowl. Add bread flour and salt, then mix into a firm dough. Knead for 8-10 minutes by hand or 6-7 minutes in a mixer until smooth and elastic.
02 - Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise at room temperature until puffy, about 60 minutes. It may not fully double, which is fine for bagels.
03 - Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each into a tight ball, poke a hole through the center, and stretch into a ring with a 2-inch opening. Rest on a parchment-lined sheet for 15 minutes while the oven heats to 425 F.
04 - Bring the water, malt syrup or honey, and baking soda to a gentle boil. Boil 2 bagels at a time for 30 seconds per side, then return them to the lined sheet.
05 - Bake at 425 F for 18-20 minutes, until golden and set. Let cool for 10 minutes so they are easier to cut and fill.
06 - Beat the softened cream cheese, parmesan, scallions, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped.
07 - Cut 5 or 6 deep slits across the top of each bagel without slicing through the bottom. Pipe cream cheese into each slit. Stir together the melted butter, fresh garlic, parsley, parmesan, salt, and red pepper flakes, then brush generously over the bagels.
08 - Reduce the oven to 350 F. Bake the stuffed bagels for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are crisp, the garlic smells mellow, and the filling is warm. Serve right away.

# Good to know:

01 - Makes 8 stuffed bagels.
02 - Plan on about 1 hour of rising time.
03 - Best served warm after the final bake.

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