6 Fail-Proof Flavors of Homemade Japanese Bagels 

Have you ever tried Japanese Bagels? Japanese Bagels are crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside; plus, they are oil-free, dairy-free, and low on sugar! In this blog post, we will be going over SIX different homemade Japanese Bagels together.

• Classic Bagels 
• Blueberry Bagel 
• Matcha Bagel stuffed with Red Beans and Mochi 
• Cheesy Jalapeno Bagel stuffed with Cream Cheese 
• Pumpkin Bagel stuffed with Cream Cheese 
• Black Sesame Bagel stuffed with Red Bean and Roasted Walnuts 

What Makes Japanese Bagels Unique?

Japanese bagels have a distinct character that sets them apart from their American counterparts. Here are some elements that make them unique:

1. Sweet and Savory Flavors: While classic bagels primarily come in savory flavors, Japanese bagels are available in an array of sweet and savory options. You can enjoy flavors like matcha, red bean, sweet potato, and even teriyaki chicken bagels. This diversity caters to a wide range of tastes.
2. Decorative Toppings: Japanese bagels often feature creative and eye-catching toppings, such as sesame seeds, nori (seaweed), or colorful sprinkles. These decorative touches not only add to the bagel’s visual appeal but also infuse extra flavors.
3. Fusion Fillings: Besides the unique flavors, Japanese bagels often feature fusion fillings like cream cheese with yuzu citrus or miso butter. These combinations blend traditional Japanese ingredients with classic bagel components, producing exciting flavor profiles.

Baking 6 Bagels With My Mom

Growing up, I used to love coming home to my mom’s freshly baked bread. In this episode of Mama’s Bakery, we will be making my mom’s fail-proof Japanese Bagels and six different easy flavors you can make at home. I filmed this whole process of making SIX different kinds of homemade Japanese Bagels on my YouTube channel. If you are also a visual learner like me, let’s bake together.

How To Bake A Perfect Japanese Bagel

To make a great bagel, you’ll have to boil the dough before baking. This causes the surface of the bagels to become extra crispy in the oven. You’ll see a diamond cracking pattern on the surface, which is the sign of a perfect bagel!

The Japanese Bagel Master Dough

Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, this Classic Japanese Bagels are oil-free, dairy-free, and low sugar. My mom’s fail-proof Japanese bagel recipe are delicious on their own or with your favorite spreads! Using this bagel recipe as the perfect master dough, you can creaate so many other bagel flavors!

Classic Plain Japanese Bagel

Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, this Classic Japanese Bagels are oil-free, dairy-free, and low sugar. My mom’s fail-proof Japanese bagel recipe are delicious on their own or with your favorite spreads! This bagel recipe is the perfect master dough to create other bagel flavors.

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour
• ½ tsp Salt 
• 1 tbsp Honey (or sugar) 
• ⅔ cup Water 
• 1 tsp Yeast 
• ½ cup Sugar 

Adding Fun Flavors To Your Japanese Bagel

You can customize Japanese bagels with any flavor of your choice. I love adding seasoned fruits, powdered matcha, or chopped jalapenos. To add these flavors, just add them into your dough as you’re mixing all the dough ingredients together.

Depending on the mix-in, it may make the dough slightly sticker. Have around 3-4 tablespoons of flour nearby to adjust for the stickiness. The dough should be more on the dryer side. It shouldn’t stick to your fingers when kneading. 

Blueberry Bagel with Blueberry Cream Cheese

I love this Blueberry Bagel with Blueberry Cream Cheese. It’s SO MUCH BLUEBERRY! It’s tart, it’s sweet, and crispy. My favorite way to enjoy these Japanese blueberry bagels is with homemade blueberry cream cheese. Made with jam and cream cheese, this homemade blueberry spread is creamy with a slightly sour fruitiness. You’ll want to take one bite after another.

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour (4 tablespoons on stand-by) 
• ½ tsp Salt 
• ½ cup fresh blueberries 
• 1 tbsp Honey (or sugar) 
• ⅔ cup Water 
• 1 tsp Yeast 
• ½ cup Sugar 

Sweet Red Bean Walnut Black Sesame Bagel

I had some red beans leftover from baking Mochi Stuffed Matcha Bagels. We baked another classic Asian bakery flavor combination: Sweet Red Bean Walnut Black Sesame Bagel. A bite of sweet red bean with chunky walnuts paired with a big mug of Apple Tea is the perfect fall breakfast combo that you need to try.

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour
• ½ tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Honey or sugar
• ⅔ cup Water
• 1 tsp Yeast
• ½ cup Sugar
• 2 tbsp ground black sesame
• 1/2 cup sweetened red bean paste
• 1/2 cup roasted walnuts

Stuffing Your Bagels With Fun Ingredients

You can stuff your Japanese bagels with different ingredients for a more filling and satisfying snack! I love stuffing with everything from red beans to cream cheese. To stuff the bagels, roll the ingredients into the flattened dough. You’ll have an even distribution of fillings in every bite!

Red Bean and Mochi Stuffed Matcha Bagel

One of my favorite Japanese bagel flavors is a matcha bagel stuffed with mochi and red bean paste. I remember the first time I tried it in Japan!

The sweeten red bean paste filling combined with the chewy mochi and earthy matcha bagel, it was the perfect dessert bagel. I found this mochi to be the most long-lasting, even after freezing! Once reheated, the mochi is goes back to being chewy and delicious! 

Cream Cheese Stuffed Cheesy Jalapeno Bagels

This Japanese Style Stuff Jalapeno Bagel is my favorite flavor of ALL TIME. It is the ultimate savory bagel you need to try: spicy, creamy, crispy. From a crunchy cheese crust to the melty filling, this is a cheese-lover’s dream. For a beginner baker like me, this Asian baking recipe was a breeze! Make this spicy creamy stuffed bagel with me this weekend, and you’ll have breakfast all week!

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour 
• ½ tsp Salt 
• 1 tbsp Honey (or sugar) 
• ⅔ cup Water 
• 1 tsp Yeast 
• ½ cup Sugar 
• 1 cup shredded cheese 
• ½ cup pickled jalapeno, chopped 
• ¼ cup cream cheese 

Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin Bagel

Fall is coming, and this Japanese Style Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin Bagel is the bagel you need to start the day right. Fluffy and packed with chunks of creamy cheese, this Japanese-style bagel is softer and chewier. Easy to grab and go, and easy to freeze, too! This Japanese Pumpkin Bagel will be the easiest to-go breakfast you make every week.

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour 
• ½ tsp Salt 
• 1 tbsp Honey (or sugar) 
• ⅔ cup Water 
• 1 tsp Yeast 
• ½ cup Sugar 
• ½ cup Japanese pumpkin, chopped
• ¼ cup cream cheese 
• Pumpkin Seeds