Homemade Bagel Recipes To Try With Children

Try these bagel recipes from-scratch with children for National Bagel Day. Fun, hands-on baking ideas the whole family can enjoy together.

National Bagel Day (January 15) is the perfect opportunity to turn baking into a shared family experience. While topping store-bought bagels can be fun, making bagels from scratch adds a whole new level of excitement, especially for children. Mixing dough, watching it rise, shaping bagels, and tasting something they truly helped create builds confidence and unforgettable memories.

These six bagel recipes start with simple homemade dough, each one flavoured from the inside out. They’re playful, hands-on, and designed so children can safely help at every stage.

1. Veggie Rainbow Bagels

These soft bagels are made by kneading colourful vegetables directly into the dough, adding both flavour and visual interest. They’re a gentle, approachable way for children to explore vegetables in a familiar food.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1¼ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup finely grated carrot
• ½ cup finely chopped spinach (squeezed dry)
• A pinch of garlic powder

How to prepare:

1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for a few minutes until bubbly.
2. Add flour, salt, olive oil, carrot, spinach, and garlic powder.
3. Mix until a dough forms, then knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth.
4. Cover and let rise for about 1 hour.
5. Divide into balls, poke holes, and shape into bagels.
6. Boil each bagel for 30 seconds per side, then bake at 425°F (220°C) for 18-22 minutes.
7. Tip: If veggies feel very wet, add 1-2 tablespoons extra flour during kneading.

How children can help: Children can add vegetables to the bowl, stir the dough, and help shape the bagels while noticing the colours in the dough.

2. Pizza-Style Bagels

Pizza flavour is built straight into the dough using herbs, tomato paste, and melted cheese. The result is a savoury, comforting bagel that smells and tastes instantly familiar while baking.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1¼ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella

How to prepare:

1. Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl and let bubble.
2. Add flour, salt, olive oil, Italian seasoning, tomato paste, and cheese.
3. Mix and knead until smooth and slightly elastic.
4. Let rise for 1 hour.
5. Shape into bagels, boil briefly, and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 18–22 minutes.

How children can help: Children can sprinkle herbs and cheese into the dough, stir carefully, and help form bagel shapes.

3. Cheesy Herb Bagels

These bagels are soft, savoury, and full of comfort. Cheese and herbs are mixed throughout the dough, creating a flavour that works well for lunches, snacks, or alongside soups.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1¼ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¾ cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella
• 1 teaspoon dried herbs (oregano or parsley)

How to prepare:

1. Activate yeast with warm water and sugar.
2. Add flour, salt, olive oil, cheese, and herbs.
3. Knead until smooth, then let rise for 1 hour.
4. Shape into bagels, boil, and bake until golden.

How children can help: Children can measure cheese, mix herbs into the dough, and help count dough portions.

4. Breakfast Egg & Cheese Bagels

This hearty bagel combines classic breakfast ingredients into one baked-from-scratch recipe. It’s filling, satisfying, and perfect for slow mornings or make-ahead meals.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1¼ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup scrambled eggs, finely chopped
• ½ cup cooked turkey, bacon, or sausage, chopped
• ½ cup shredded cheese

How to prepare:

1. Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast until bubbly.
2. Add flour, salt, olive oil, eggs, meat, and cheese.
3. Knead gently until combined.
4. Let rise for 1 hour.
5. Shape, boil, and bake until lightly golden.

How children can help: Children can whisk eggs with help, tear cooked meat into small pieces, and gently fold ingredients into the dough.

5. Sweet Cinnamon Swirl Bagels

Lightly sweet and warmly spiced, these bagels feel cozy without being overly sugary. The cinnamon swirl adds flavour and aroma while keeping the texture soft and bakery-style.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1¼ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

How to prepare:

1. Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast until bubbly.
2. Add flour, salt, olive oil, and cinnamon.
3. Knead until smooth and let rise for 1 hour.
4. Sprinkle brown sugar over the dough, gently swirl, then shape into bagels.
5. Boil and bake until golden.

How children can help: Children can sprinkle cinnamon, swirl sugar into the dough, and help shape the bagels.

6. Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bagels

These bagels are softly sweet with small pieces of apple baked directly into the dough. They’re comforting, lightly fruity, and perfect for a winter breakfast or snack.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1¼ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup finely chopped apple (peeled)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

How to prepare:

1. Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast until bubbly.
2. Add flour, salt, olive oil, apple, and cinnamon.
3. Knead until smooth and slightly tacky.
4. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
5. Shape into bagels, boil briefly, and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 18-22 minutes.

How children can help: Children can help add apple pieces to the dough, sprinkle cinnamon, and assist with shaping the bagels.

Final Thoughts

Making bagels from scratch on National Bagel Day turns a simple meal into a meaningful family activity. When children help mix, knead, and shape, they’re learning patience, independence, and confidence.

Whether families choose one recipe or spend the day baking together, the real celebration is the time shared in the kitchen.

Stay in the know and check us out on social media! Follow BrightPath on Facebook and Instagram for a variety of fun activities and daily inspiration.