I try to stick to an anti-inflammatory, low-grain diet as much as possible… but breads, bagels, and muffins are my weakness. However, thanks to these amazing grain-free blueberry bagels, I can enjoy bagels that are still delicious and enjoyable without splurging on store-bought gluten-free bagels! I love making these homemade bagels completely from scratch. Toasting one up in the toaster oven, topping it with honey, and enjoying it for breakfast makes me completely satisfied that I can make something on the homestead that is just as good, if not better, than the store-bought version. You have to give these homemade blueberry bagels a try!

a gluten-free homemade blueberry bagel on a rustic tray

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Pioneer Recipe

I consider these grain-free blueberry bagels a pioneer recipe. They use simple ingredients that the early pioneers would have had on hand… like butter, flour, and eggs. Plus they are made completely from scratch and the perfect alternative to traditional store-bought bagels. You even boil them and everything!

The process of making these bagels is sooo much fun. If you are intimidated by grain-free baking or making bread products from scratch on the homestead, I highly encourage you to give these bagels a try. They are such a fun recipe and you really can’t go wrong, especially if you follow the guidelines I discuss in recipe tips later on.

These grain-free bagels are almost exactly like traditional bagels. I have tried countless gluten-free bagels from popular gluten-free and grain-free brands, and these homemade bagels rank as one of my top bagel choices. They may be slightly denser than some traditional gluten-free bagels, but when they are toasted and topped with your favorite bagels topping, they make for a hearty and satisfying breakfast (or lunch).

These simple, homemade blueberry bagels are allergy-friendly too! Check it out, these bagel are…

grain-free
gluten-free
dairy-free option
yeast free option
nut free
soy free
corn free
refined sugar free

Want to try making some more breads and muffins from scratch on the homestead? Make sure you check out these jumbo grain-free chocolate chip muffins or these grain-free artisan bread rolls!

the modern pioneer checklist challenge free printable

a bowl of 3 Wishes honey cereal served with grain-free blueberry bagels

Bagels Flavors & Toppings

If you haven’t already gathered…. I love bagels! And I have enjoyed many different bagels with many different toppings in many different ways. When it comes to enjoying a bagel, I think there are two ways you can add variety to a bagel. One, choose a flavored bagel. Two, mix up your bagel toppings.

For these grain-free blueberry bagels… you don’t just have to stick with blueberry! I love that this recipe can easily be adapted into a variety of other bagel flavors too. Here are my favorite bagel flavors that this recipe can easily be made into:

plain bagel– no add ins!
everything bagel– omit the blueberries and top with everything seasoning, add 1/4 tsp. of garlic and onion powder or flakes to the bagel dough if desired
blueberry– follow recipe
cinnamon raisin– omit the blueberries and add in 1/2 cup of raisins and 1 tsp. of cinnamon to the bagel dough

These blueberry bagels are super adaptable and can easily be customized to your favorite bagel flavor! Along with playing with bagel flavors, you can also get creative with your bagel toppings. Whether you enjoy your bagel for breakfast, lunch, or dinner… these bagels go with countless toppings. Keep in mind that certain bagel flavors pair better with certain toppings. Then again, you can get creative and you might just find that you enjoy a blueberry bagel made into a breakfast egg sandwich!

Here are some of my favorite bagel toppings or ways to enjoy a bagel…

Enjoy these bagels….

toasted and buttered with a topping of choice
topped with raw honey
sprinkled with cinnamon sugar
slathered with pure maple cream
spread with cream cheese
made into an egg sandwich
topped with garlic salt
made into an egg-in-a-hole sandwich
made into a sandwich of your choice
with a side of homemade granola or your favorite grain-free cereal
with a side of fresh scrambled eggs and bacon

gluten-free blueberry cardamon granola free recipe

a tray of grain-free homemade bagels made with cassava flour and blueberries

Bagel Recipe Tips

Can I make these bagels dariy-free?

Yes! These grain-free blueberry bagels can be made dairy-free! The recipe originally calls for melted butter, but you can easily replace the butter with melted coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil.

Are there any flour substitutes for the flours used in this recipe?

The main grain-free flours in this recipe are cassava flour and tapioca flour. The only substitution I would recommend is using arrowroot flour instead of tapioca flour. I have not tried making these bagels with any other flour substitutes.

Can I make the bagels yeast free?

Yes! You can make these bagels yeast free by omitting just the yeast (not the maple syrup or water used for proofing the yeast) and adding 1 1/2 tsp. of baking powder instead. The bagels won’t have that classic yeasty smell or taste, but they will still rise fine and have a delicious blueberry flavor!

Can these bagels be made egg-free?

Unfortunately, you cannot omit the eggs in this recipe. I have not tried any egg substitutes either. The eggs help the bagels keep their shape, yield a soft but workable dough, and aid in giving the bagels some rise as they bake.

How can I tell if the bagels are done boiling?

I’d say you can’t under-boil these bagels, but you could over boil them. If you boil the bagels for a shorter amount of time, the bagels will be softer. If you boil the bagels for a longer period of time, they will have a more crispy outside and soft, chewy inside. Either way is delicious! I usually allow the bagels to boil for about 1 minute. I always make sure the bagel is not stuck to the bottom of the pot and then just wait until the bagel is completely floating before removing it from the boiling water.

Do I have to apply an egg wash to the bagels before baking them?

No, you don’t have to apply an egg wash before baking the bagels. However, the wash does help the bagels get a nice brown color on the outside and the wash helps any toppings (like everything seasoning) stick to the bagel. There are several options you can brush the bagels with before baking them: an egg scrambled, olive oil, or milk.

How big shoud I make the bagel hole?

How big you make the bagel hole depends on preference. The bagels will puff up as they boil and they will rise some when they bake, which will shrink the size of the bagel hole. I like to make my bagel holes big enough that I can easily stick my thumb through the hole when I’m shaping the bagel. If you like bagels that just barely have a hole in the center, make the holes smaller. If you plan on making an egg-in-a-hole sandwich, make the holes bigger.

How should I store grain-free bagels?

These grain-free blueberry bagels can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 1-2 days. They can also be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. Plain bagels or bagels that don’t contain fruit can be stored at room temperature for closer to 3-4 days. These bagels also freeze well!

Should I use fresh or frozen blueberries?

You can use either fresh or frozen blueberries in these bagels. If you are using frozen blueberries, I recommend adding them to batter while the berries are still cold versus letting the berries unthaw. You can also choose to chop up frozen blueberries or add the blueberries whole. I find that using whole blueberries makes for nice pockets in the bagels that are perfect for filling with honey or maple cream…. yum!

Have some leftover blueberries? Then you’ll definitely want to give these gluten-free pb&j energy balls a try or have these grain-free blueberry waffles for breakfast!

These grain-free blueberry bagels are super fun to make! Try your hand at shaping bagels, boiling bagels, and then biting into a delicious homemade bagel that you made from scratch. Let’s head to the homestead kitchen!

Grain-free Blueberry Bagels

Recipe by The Pioneer Chicks

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 25

Total Time 1 5

Servings 4 bagels

Author Alexa Lehr

Ingredients

1 cup cassava flour
1 cup tapioca flour
1 tsp. sea salt
1/4 cup melted butter or oil of choice
4 large pasture-raised eggs, room temp.
1/4 cup warm water (100-110°F)
1 T. pure maple syrup
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast (1 packet)
1/2 cup organic blueberries
1 egg wash or oil wash

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine the warm water and maple syrup. Stir in the yeast and set it aside to proof for 5-10 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the cassava flour, tapioca flour, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Also prepare a pot for boiling the bagels in by filling a large saucepan half full with water.
Once the yeast is puffy and bubbly, add it to the flour in the mixing bowl. Add the melted butter or oil and the eggs. Stir until a smooth batter forms. Gently stir in the blueberries. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If it seems too moist, let the dough rest for 4-5 minutes. If it seems too dry, add warm water 1 T. at a time until a soft, workable dough forms.
Bring the pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions (you can also make 6 smaller bagels instead). Roll each dough portion into a ball, flatten the ball, and shape a hole in the center. Finish shaping the dough into a bagel.
Boil the bagels one at a time by dropping the bagel into the boiling water. Use a soft spatula to make sure the bagel doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Wait until the bagel is floating at the surface (about 1 minute), then remove the bagel and place it on the baking sheet. I find a potato masher works well for removing the bagel without scooping up the boiling water.
Once all of the bagels have been boiled, brush them with the egg wash or oil wash. Bake the bagels for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Let the bagels cool before slicing, toasting, and enjoying!

Where to Find the Ingredients

a tray of homemade grain-free bagels served with raw honey and fresh blueberries

These grain-free blueberry bagels have the perfect bagel texture and are bursting with bites of blueberry goodness! Whether you choose to make these bagels with blueberries or try a different bagel flavor, I’m sure you will enjoy both making these bagels from scratch and enjoying every bite of your homemade bagels. My favorite way to enjoy these blueberry bagels is toasted, buttered, and topped with plenty of raw honey. They are the perfect alternative to store-bought bagels and can be whipped up quickly in the homestead kitchen.

I’d love to share more chuckwagon recipes with you, so make sure you join our modern pioneer newsletter community to find out when new recipes hit the blog and get access to all our modern pioneer resources!

by Alexa