Montreal Style Bagels
Nothing beats a homemade bagel in the morning — warm, chewy, and spread with cream cheese. Brought to Montreal by Jewish immigrants in the early 1900s, these bagels are smaller, denser, and sweeter than their New York cousins. Dipped in honey water and traditionally baked in wood-fired ovens, they carry a flavour that is both comforting and distinct. Fun to make at home, they freeze beautifully, and always feel like a treat — especially with smoked salmon, lemon, and capers.
Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus resting time)
Total Time: 2 hours
Serves: 16–18 bagels
Ingredients
1 ½ cups (360 ml) warm water
2 packets instant yeast (or 1½ oz fresh yeast)
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 whole egg + 1 egg yolk
¼ cup (60 ml) oil
½ cup (120 ml) honey
5 cups (or more) bread flour
For boiling:
3 quarts water
⅓ cup (80 ml) honey or malt syrup
To top:
Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or “everything” mix. I add hemp seeds to make this a superfood
Method
Make the Dough – In a bowl or mixer, blend warm water, yeast, sugar, and salt. Let sit until foamy. Stir in egg and yolk, oil, and honey. Add flour until dough is too stiff to stir, then knead until smooth and elastic.
First Rest – Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rest for about 20 minutes.
Shape – Punch down and divide into 16–18 equal pieces. Roll each into a 25 cm (10") rope, form into a ring by wrapping around your fist, and press firmly to seal.
Second Rest – Place shaped bagels on a towel-lined tray; rest for 15 minutes.
Boil – Bring water and honey (or malt syrup) to a boil. Boil bagels in batches; once they float, turn and boil 1 minute more.
Seed & Bake – Remove, drain, and dip tops in seeds. Place on lined trays. Bake at 230°C (450°F) on the lowest rack until medium brown, about 25 minutes.
Cool & Serve – Let cool slightly before serving warm.
Variations
Sesame Classic – the traditional Montreal topping.
Everything Bagel – sesame, poppy, garlic, onion, and salt mix.
Sweet Maple Bagel – brush with maple syrup just before baking for a Canadian twist.
French culture runs deep in Canada, and nowhere is it more alive than in Montreal. From the early French settlers came a love of bread-making, refined through Old World techniques and adapted to New World life. Montreal’s bagels — smaller, denser, and wood-fired with a touch of sweetness — reflect that French-Canadian influence blended with Jewish immigrant traditions. More than just bread, they’ve become a cultural emblem of the city, tied to its identity and shared with pride across Canada.
Montreal, Quebec