Bagels come in many varieties these days, from sweet to savory bagel flavors, and it can be hard to choose which ones to try. Whether you prefer a classic plain bagel or wish to try something newer, the possibilities are endless: fruity flavors, chocolate options, or something more adventurous like a jalapeño bagel.
You may know different types of bagels from memory, such as Montreal-style and New York bagels, which are not included in this list of bagel types, but some of them are likely unknown to you, or even forgotten. Find your next tasting experience among the 25 popular types of bagels to try, with their flavors, textures, and recipes for how to make them.
Related: Types of Bread.
What is a Bagel?
Bagels are a type of bread made from a dough typically containing wheat flour, water, salt, leavening agents, and sweeteners, and may include additions such as eggs, milk and butter. Bagels are dense, chewy, and ring-shaped bread rolls that originated in Jewish communities in Poland. After being formed into a round shape with a hole in the center, bagels are briefly boiled, and then baked. The result is a crisp, golden crust and a soft interior. Today, bagel flavors have expanded and are usually topped with seeds, vegetables, and sweeteners. Whether you like it sweet or savory, there are many kinds of bagels that can be enjoyed as a sandwich or a snack.
The Different Types of Bagels
Plain Bagel
The most basic variety of bagels, Plain bagels are made from wheat flour, water, salt, sugar, and yeast. The enrichment of gluten in flour creates a slightly sweet dough with an unmistakable chewiness. Its golden, crispy crust and soft, chewy, sweet texture pair well with many meals, which makes it well-suited to everything from toppings like cream cheese to Smoked salmon and carpers bagel sandwich. While it is easy to make your standard bagel, there are so many bagel sandwich ideas that will confuse you.
Everything Bagel
As the name suggests, the Everything bagel contains several types of seeds, but it often includes sesame and poppy seeds which add nutty notes, dried onion and garlic with their savory, aromatic kick, and salt to enhance all the other flavors. The result is an extremely flavorful bite with a complex nutty flavor, and an exquisite extra crunch that blends together in a really pleasant way. The Everything bagel has become a popular American bagel type due to its bold flavor and satisfying crunch. Unlike traditional New York-style bagels, which are typically topped with seeds, the Everything Bagel takes you to the next level.
Try these Homemade Everything Bagels from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Sesame Bagel
Sesame is another type of bagel topped with sesame seeds. The seeds toast beautifully when baked on bagels, enhancing their nutty flavor. As the bagel bakes, the seeds become lightly browned and fragrant. Once cooled, toasted sesame seeds add a delicious crunch to every bite. Its mild, almost buttery flavor pairs well with both sweet and savory bagel toppings. While a sesame bagel may appear plain at first glance, its nutritious and flavorful seeds give it a subtle complexity.
Poppy Seed Bagel
Poppy seed bagel has been eaten as a bread roll for centuries in Eastern Europe, especially in Ukraine, and known as Bublik, and then was brought to North America by immigrants and became one of the most popular kinds of bagels. Poppy seed bagel is the perfect choice if you like a bit of crunch and nutty flavor. The smell of poppy seeds is mild when toasted and adds an earthy, Subtle nutty flavor, and gives an extra dimension to the texture. A poppy seed bagel is versatile and works well with all of your favorite toppings.
Chocolate Chip Bagel
What makes these bagel types a truly delicious treat are the chocolate chips. When the bagel is baked, the chocolate chips melt into gooey pockets of chocolate, creating a heavenly balance of chewiness and sweetness that makes it a dessert-like experience for breakfast or an anytime snack. The chocolate chips add flavor and texture with every bite. A chocolate chip bagel can be enjoyed first thing in the morning or as a dessert, just top it with plain or cinnamon apple cream cheese, peanut butter, or your favorite spread and enjoy.
Cinnamon Raisin Bagel
True to its name, these bagels are studded with plump raisins and coated in a cinnamon sugar mixture. The raisins provide a burst of natural sweetness and chewiness, the cinnamon adds a warm, spicy-sweet flavor that complements the raisins. To satisfy your sweet tooth, try the Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with plain cream cheese or peanut butter, for additional sweetness, top it with a drizzle of honey.
Whole Wheat Bagel
Whole wheat bagel is a hearty, nutritious choice. Made from whole wheat flour instead of regular white flour, the whole wheat bagel is packed with fiber, B vitamins, and minerals like selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese. The hearty whole wheat flour gives it an earthy, nutty flavor and a chewy texture. Besides their nutritional benefits, Whole wheat bagels pair well with nut butters like almond butter or topping like mashed avocado, you can add an egg or slice of cheese for extra protein. Sweet toppings like honey, cinnamon, and raisins or fresh berries also complement the hearty whole wheat flavor.
Multigrain Bagel
Unlike whole wheat bagels, which are made from the entire grain of wheat, the multi-grain bagel is made from a combination of whole grain flours like wheat, oat, barley, and rye, as well as seeds like sesame, sunflower, flax, and pumpkin. The variety of grains and seeds gives multigrain bagels their earthy, robust flavor and soft texture. However, the exact flavor profile will depend on the grain used. A multigrain bagel goes well when smeared with cream cheese or cottage cheese.
Sourdough Bagel
Sourdough bagel is a labor-intensive bagel, as it is made from natural starter, which is a mixture of water and flour that has been pre-fermented for several days to collect bacteria and create wild yeast. The result is a distinctive tangy, fermented and chewy, airy texture. Sourdough bagel is a popular breakfast, brunch item and makes a delicious breakfast sandwich or lox board vessel. Whatever the occasion, you can try this sourdough bagel recipe that will impress your family and friends.
Pumpernickel Bagel
Pumpernickel bagels are hearty, dark-colored types of bagels made with coarse rye flour. Unlike regular types of bagels, which are made from wheat flour, it has an earthy, slightly sweet flavor from the molasses added during mixing. Pumpernickel bagel tends to be denser in texture with a crisp crust and chewy interior. Its sturdy structure and full flavor stand up well to hearty sandwich fillings like corned beef, pastrami, Swiss cheese, or egg salad. Pumpernickel bagels keep longer than a classic bagel type and are still delicious 2-3 days after baking when stored in an airtight bag.
Related: What is Pumpernickel?
Rye Bagel
A rye bagel has an earthy, nutty flavor from the rye flour used instead of the wheat flour. Rye flour is made from rye berries, a grain related to wheat that grows well in colder climates. The rye flour gives the bagel a darker, denser texture and nutty earthy flavor similar to a whole wheat bagel. Rye bagel pairs well with hearty sandwich fillings due to its mild flavor. It is also delicious when toasted and topped with cream cheese or smoked salmon, capers, and red onion.
Related: What is Rye Bread?
Gluten-free Bagel
Are you gluten-free? Don’t worry, you can still enjoy delicious bagels. Gluten-free bagels are made with gluten-free flour such as rice flour, tapioca flour, and xanthan gum instead of wheat. It has the same soft, doughy texture as a regular bagel without the gluten. Gluten-free bagels are a perfect option for people trying to lose weight because they have no complex carbohydrates. You can enjoy all kinds of bagel flavors, poppy seed, everything, or sesame, as long as it is made with gluten-free flour. Try some traditional gluten-free bagel combinations, such as pickles, avocado puree, and chickpeas, or tofu cream cheese and cucumbers.
Garlic Bagel
A garlic bagel is a good bagel choice for those who want a burst of flavor. Made with a bagel dough enriched with granulated garlic, garlic powder, or fresh minced garlic, which adds a pungent spiciness flavor, that surprises many first-time eaters. Bakeries may also include herbs like rosemary or seeds like black or white sesame seeds to help balance and round out the strong garlic flavor. Garlic bagel pair well with savory sandwich fillings such as Ham, cheddar cheese, and avocado as well as turkey, spinach, and tomato. The garlic provides a nice complement to the other ingredients.
Onion Bagel
The onion bagel is a classic favorite reserved for savory fillings only, so these kinds of bagels are much less versatile than other bagel types. Garlic bagels and onion bagels are similar in flavor and texture, but onion bagels don’t have the same strong smell. It tastes like the distinct flavor of sauteed onions with aromatic spices such as garlic and poppy seeds, giving every bite a deliciously savory and pleasing scent. An onion bagel with cream cheese is a classic choice that complements the onion flavor.
Salt Bagel
A salt bagel is one of the favorite New York bagel flavors of all time, and as the name suggests, these kinds of bagels are topped with coarse salt, giving them an extremely salty flavor. Salt provides a subtle seasoning that enhances the chewy, yeasty qualities of the bagel without overpowering them. Its simple, no-frills flavor makes it one of the best selling bagels in many bagel stores and bakeries.
Cheese Bagel
Bagels are incomplete without a smear of cream cheese, so the cheese bagels are a very logical creation. Cheese bagels are filled with cheese and also baked directly into the dough. As the bagel bakes, the cheese melts into the bread, infusing each bite with its creamy, salty flavor. Some of the most common cheese bagel types are cheddar and asiago bagels. Cheddar adds a sweet, savory taste to the bagel, and Asiago adds a savory and piquant flavor, but some bagel shops get creative with more varieties with different flavors. Slices of Swiss or Goat cheese perfectly complement these kinds of bagels, for a classic combination make a bagel veggie sandwich with tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, red onion, capers, and lettuce.
Egg Bagel
Get its name from the addition of egg yolks in the bagel dough, which gives the bagel a rich flavor and golden color as well as a fluffier, airier texture and slightly sweet eggy taste, making it one of the best bagel flavors, especially for breakfast sandwiches. Egg bagels pair well with bacon, sausage, cheese, and of course cream cheese and butter. Egg bagels can be frozen for up to 60 days, giving you the ability to make a large quantity of homemade egg bagels.
Rainbow Bagel
The rainbow bagel is a fun, colorful bagel, dyed in bright rainbow colors, making it an instant eye-catcher. The colors are added with various neon food coloring into the dough. Underneath its vibrant hues, the rainbow bagel has the same soft, chewy texture as an ordinary bagel. It’s most often topped or filled with sweet additions like fruit jam, honey, or cake cream cheese frosting to complement its playful appearance. However, you can also pair it with savory sandwich fixings like smoked salmon, cheese, or capers.
Blueberry Bagel
A sweet type of bagel that kids love thanks to the generous amount of tasty fruit. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and have a sweet tanginess that pairs perfectly with the chewy bagel dough. When you make a homemade blueberry bagel or get it from bakeries, Be sure that the blueberries, which give the dough a bright purple color and a very strong and distinctly sweet flavor, are distributed throughout the dough rather than added as a topping.
Jalapeno Bagel
The Jalapeño Bagel is ideal for people who like bold, peppery flavors and want to spice up their mornings. It is made with real jalapeno-infused dough that adds a touch of spice to the traditional bagel. Be surprised by the unexpected spicy bite from time to time when you take a bite of one of these bagels. A jalapeño bagel pairs well with sundried tomato cream cheese, goat cheese, or herb cheese. If you are not a fan of spicy food but still want to try jalapeno bagels, look for ones mildly spicy.
Bialy Bagel
Bialy is a traditional Polish bagel, that gets their name from the Polish city of Bialystok and is known for its slightly sweet flavor from the onions and is best eaten warm or toasted. Made from a simple dough of flour, yeast, water, and salt, the Bialy bagel is round in shape, with a slight indentation in the center instead of a hole, and has a complex texture, and garnished with sautéed onions. Unlike other bagel types, bialy pairs fantastically with soup, or on their own.
French Toast Bagel
As the name suggests, the French Toast Bagel is inspired by the classic breakfast dish French Toast – a delicious, sweet snack with a hint of cinnamon-sugar flavor. Some bakeries add more luxury to their French toast bagels by spreading cream cheese, mascarpone, or Nutella on top before adding maple frosting and cinnamon sugar. For a wonderful combination of sweet and savory, use the French Toast Bagel as a base for a breakfast sandwich with egg and cheese.
Turkish Bagel
The Turkish bagel, also known as simit, is a famous food in Turkey. Unlike the sweet, doughy bagels common in North America, simit has a crisp, flakier exterior and a soft interior. Simit is typically dipped in molasses and topped with sesame seeds before baking, giving it a unique appearance and nutty flavor. Simit is a great afternoon snack on the go in Turkey and is often enjoyed with a cup of strong Turkish coffee or tea. But, if you want to try a homemade simit recipe, the key is to get a smooth and elastic dough after kneading.
Jerusalem Bagel
The Jerusalem Bagel, also known as Ka’ak Al Quds, is a fluffy sesame bagel type from Jerusalem. It is made with ingredients that include milk or milk powder and sugar, making it slightly sweet, and topped with sesame seeds. Unlike the common bagel, Jerusalem Bagel is not boiled before baking and takes longer to bake, giving it a crispier crust and lighter interior. Jerusalem Bagel pairs well with Mediterranean spreads such as hummus, baba ghanoush, and tapenade. It is also often topped with za’atar. Its hearty, nutty flavor stands up well to the bold spices and tangy flavors of Palestinian cuisine.
Pretzel Bagel
Inspired by pretzel bread, and combines the soft, buttery, salty goodness of a pretzel with the slightly chewy texture of a bagel. Pretzel Bagel dough is made from bread flour, yeast, brown sugar, kosher salt, and butter. After the dough is shaped and rolled into a bagel, it is briefly boiled in a baking soda bath before baking, giving it a deep brown, shiny crust with a slightly bitter flavor that perfectly balances the sweetness. The result is a bagel that is crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, just like a regular bagel.
Conclusion
You can try one of these popular bagel flavors if you want to try something new. Go for an Asiago cheese for something creamy and savory or a blueberry for a morning treat. And don’t forget the cream cheese- it goes with any bagel types. The possibilities are endless when you explore all the different types of bagels, such as olive and pizza bagels, which are not included in this list. Whatever the occasion, bagels go great with any meal.
