Citric Acid Free Classic Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
Homemade bagels are one of those kitchen projects that feel ambitious but deliver a reward completely out of proportion to the effort — and this cinnamon raisin version is no exception. The dough comes together with straightforward pantry staples: bread flour, yeast, cinnamon, plump raisins, and barley malt syrup, which gives the crust that signature chew and subtle sweetness without any citrus-derived additives. For anyone navigating a citric acid sensitivity, store-bought bagels can be a minefield, since preservatives and dough conditioners containing citric acid show up in commercial baked goods constantly. This recipe sidesteps all of that by keeping the ingredient list clean and transparent from start to finish. The overnight cold retard in the refrigerator does the heavy lifting on flavor development, so by the time you're shaping and boiling, the dough is beautifully extensible and deeply aromatic. Boiling in malt syrup-spiked water before a hot oven bake is what creates that glossy, crackly exterior with a dense, chewy interior — the hallmark of a proper bagel. Pull one apart while it's still warm and the cinnamon perfume alone will make the whole process feel completely worth it.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
For the dough
- 1 ½ tsp active dry yeast
- 1 ½ tsp granulated sugar
- 1 ¼ cups warm water (105–110°f / 40–43°c)
- 3 ½ cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 ½ tsp fine salt
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp barley malt syrup or honey
- 1 cup raisins
For the boiling water
- 2 tbsp barley malt syrup or honey
- 1 tbsp baking soda
Instructions
- 1
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let stand for 5–8 minutes, until foamy and fragrant.
- 2
Add the bread flour, salt, ground cinnamon, and 2 tbsp barley malt syrup to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until a shaggy dough forms, about 2 minutes, then increase to medium speed and knead for 8–10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, stiff, and pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
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