Pretzel Bagels Recipe

Roll the dough into a log and cut into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12 inch log, overlap the ends, and place on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Cover air tight and allow to rest for either 30 minutes or ideally overnight in your fridge (the ladder helps develop better texture and deeper flavor of the dough).

Bring a large pot of water to a simmering boil. Using a skimmer, lower the bagels into the boiling water and boil for about 1 to 2 minutes per side, using your skimmer to help you flip your bagels (the longer the bagel boils, the chewier the texture will be). Don’t boil more bagels than will fit the surface of your pot. You will work in batches. Remove the bagels using a skimmer and place on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper, leaving an inch between the bagels, as they will rise some more during the baking process.

Add the cold water for the lye solution to a stainless steel or glass bowl. Add the lye and whisk until completely dissolved. Carefully, using a skimmer, dip the bagels, one after the other, in the lye solution, for about 10 seconds each. Transfer back to the parchment paper.

Beat together an egg white with some cold water and brush the surface of the boiled bagels with it. This will help the bagels appear shiny once baked and will double as a glue to hold your toppings. Sprinkle or roll your bagels in the pumpkin seeds (feel free to use any other topping of choice instead or in addition).

Turn your oven to 430 degrees Fahrenheit on the convection setting and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully transfer to a cooling rack and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with Obatzda cheese for an Oktoberfest-style brunch.