These super simple homemade bagels are soft, chewy and better than any store-bought version. Top them with everything seasoning and cheddar cheese for the best Starbucks chonga bagel copycat!
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Have you ever had a chonga bagel from Starbucks? It was originally named chonga for the toppings: CHeese, ONion, and GArlic. I was way too impressed by this clever little fact that I just learned. This bagel is essentially topped with everything seasoning + cheddar cheese. That’s actually exactly what Starbucks calls these bagels now, “Everything & Cheddar Bagel”.
You don’t have to go to Starbucks for one of these incredible creations though. Instead, make these right at home and enjoy the freshest bagel you’ll ever sink your teeth into. These are just as the name implies, soft and chewy which perfectly balances the slightly crusty, golden brown exterior. These bagels stand strong on their own but add the “chonga” toppings for a burst of flavor. First, there’s a nice even layer of salty, garlicky everything seasoning, then a blanket of sharp cheddar cheese melts over which together creates the flavorful, cheesy chonga bagel. So let’s go over what you’ll need to make these.
Water + Yeast: I always like to use instant yeast because there is no need to activate it before adding the other ingredients. You can use active dry yeast instead but you will need to activate it with the water first, which takes about 10 minutes. Make sure that your water is between 90 - 110 degrees F if using active dry yeast so it activates properly.
Bread Flour: You’ll want to use bread flour to get the chewy, dense texture of a classic bagel. All-purpose flour has a lower percentage of protein which means that it will produce a much softer texture. You need the higher protein content from the bread flour which creates more gluten and a more elastic dough. This equals the ideal chewy bagel.
Brown Sugar: A little bit of brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness.
Salt: Every bread recipe needs some salt for flavor.
Water + Honey Bath: Don’t skip this step! Boiling the bagels in a water bath before baking creates the crispy crust and the honey helps achieve the perfect dark golden brown exterior during baking.
Egg Wash: This will help the toppings stick to the bagels, especially any seeds or seasonings. It also gives them that shiny, golden finish while baking.
Everything Seasoning: A classic bagel topping that you can buy or make yourself. Traditionally this mix is made up of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and sea salt.
Cheddar Cheese: I use a good quality extra sharp cheddar cheese and recommend buying a block of it and shredding it yourself. It’s a little less expensive this way and there are no extra additives like the pre-shredded cheeses which don’t melt as well either. I personally think it always tastes better when you grate it yourself fresh and saving a little money doesn’t hurt either.
You can’t go wrong with a good plain bagel or my chonga copycat but the possibilities of toppings you can add are endless. Here are a few more of my favorite toppings to add:
For any seeds or seasonings, I find it easiest to pour these out onto a small plate so you can dip the top of the bagel right in after brushing on the egg wash. Although for salt, I would just do a light sprinkle. For cheeses and heavier toppings, you’ll want to press these gently onto the bagel while it’s on the baking sheet. When adding cheese, I use around ½ cup for each bagel. This may seem like a lot for one bagel but you want to make sure to have a nice layer covering the surface. Play around with the combination of toppings to find your favorite!
Best Ways to Eat a Soft & Chewy Bagel
My favorite way to eat these is sliced in half, toasted to golden perfection and smeared with heaps of cream cheese. Then I sandwich the sides back together so the warm cream cheese ever-so-slightly melts and oozes out the sides when you take that first big bite. This is something I could eat daily and never get tired of. Here are several other ways to enjoy these bagels that are quite delightful too.
These super simple homemade bagels are soft, chewy and better than any store-bought version. Top them with everything seasoning and cheddar cheese for the best Starbucks chonga bagel copycat!
I’ve combined my lifelong love of baking and creating beautiful desserts along with an appreciation for all things delicious. Here you will find mostly sweet recipes, with some savory ones sprinkled in, to satisfy your cravings and delight your loved ones. Classic yet special and sure to impress!
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