Sweet Banana Homemade Bagels
[Home Baking Recipe] How to Make Banana Bagels with a Rich Banana Aroma
Do you often find yourself with a few too many ripe bananas that you don’t want to waste? Instead of throwing them away, here’s a delightful way to use them up! This recipe for banana bagels is filled with the rich flavor of bananas and is surprisingly simple to make at home. Even baking beginners can achieve delicious results with these easy steps.
Main Ingredients- 90g bread flour
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by gathering the simple ingredients for our bagels. You’ll need a ripe banana for sweetness, baking powder for lift, bread flour for that chewy texture, and just a pinch of salt!
Step 2
In a bowl, mash the banana with a fork until it’s mostly smooth but still has a tiny bit of texture. Be careful not to over-mash, as too much moisture from the banana can make the dough too wet. Once the banana is mashed, add the bread flour and baking powder. Mix gently with a spatula or your hands until the ingredients come together into a cohesive dough.
Step 3
When the dough starts to form a ball, lightly flour your work surface and transfer the dough. Gently knead the dough until it becomes smooth and slightly elastic. Once the dough is ready, shape it into traditional bagel rings. Press your finger through the center to create the hole, and you’ll have your bagel shape.
Step 4
If you like, you can add a personal touch! Sprinkle some granola over the dough for extra texture and flavor. Feel free to get creative and add your favorite nuts, dried fruits, or other toppings to make your bagels uniquely yours.
Step 5
To achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust, brush the top of the bagels with an egg wash. It’s best to apply the egg wash *before* adding any toppings like granola. This ensures an even color without splotches and makes your bagels look even more appealing.
Step 6
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) for about 5-10 minutes. Place the bagels in the preheated oven and bake at the same temperature for approximately 20 minutes. The lighter colored bagels in the photo were baked in an oven, while the darker ones were made in an air fryer. Air fryers tend to cook hotter, so if you’re using one, it’s a good idea to reduce the baking time and check on them frequently, adjusting the temperature as needed. Our first attempt in the air fryer resulted in a slightly darker bake!
Step 7
For our second batch using the air fryer, we adjusted the baking time to about 16 minutes at 175°C (350°F). This time, the color is much closer to the desired golden-brown hue! Remember that air fryer models can vary, so always keep an eye on your baking and adjust accordingly.
Step 8
Let the bagels cool completely before slicing. When you cut them open, you’ll see little bits of banana inside and be greeted by a wonderful, strong banana aroma. These banana bagels are best enjoyed fresh and warm, right after baking, for the chewiest texture. They tend to become a bit drier over time, so it’s recommended to eat them the same day.
Step 9
Serve them warm with a dollop of cream cheese or your favorite homemade jam, perhaps alongside a cup of hot coffee or tea. They offer a delightful chewy texture, and the well-baked ones have a slight crispness similar to a baguette. The natural sweetness from the banana is surprisingly noticeable, even without adding any sugar, making these homemade bagels incredibly appealing and addictive!
