These whole wheat sesame bagels are made with just four ingredients, need no yeast, and are ready in under 35 minutes. No mixer, no proving time, no boiling. Just Greek yogurt, self-rising flour, an egg wash, and sesame seeds. I legit could not believe how good these turned out the first time I made them.
I used to avoid homemade bagels completely because every recipe I found required hours of proving and a water bath boiling step. These changed that for me. The dough comes together in about 10 minutes and then they go straight into the oven. The Greek yogurt does all the work that yeast would normally do, giving you a soft, chewy bagel without any of the wait.
They are also incredibly easy to customise. I love topping mine with everything but the bagel seasoning, poppy seeds, or classic sesame. And the toppings do not stop there, swap the sesame for cinnamon and raisins, add blueberries to the dough, or keep them plain and let whatever you spread on top do the talking.
Speaking of which, my vegan basil pesto on top of these is one of my favourite quick breakfasts, and my easy vegan tofu ricotta turns them into a filling high-protein meal.
Tips to Make this Recipe Perfectly:
- Do not overwork the dough. Mix until just combined. Overworking makes the bagels tough rather than soft and chewy.
- Wet your hands when shaping. The dough is slightly sticky. Wet hands make it much easier to roll and shape without it sticking to your palms.
- The Greek yogurt is non-negotiable. It is the ingredient that replaces both the yeast and the boiling step. Use full-fat or 2% Greek yogurt for the best texture — low-fat or regular yogurt has too much liquid and will make the dough too wet.
- Brush with egg wash generously. This is what gives the bagels their golden brown, slightly glossy finish. Do not skip it and do not be shy with it.
- Toast them. These bagels are good fresh from the oven but they are incredible toasted. The crust crisps up and the inside stays chewy. Worth the extra two minutes every time.
More Recipes You'll Love
- Pesto Toast with Tofu Scramble — a full savoury breakfast to make on mornings when you want something more substantial
- The Best Healthy Hummus — another great topping that pairs perfectly with these bagels
- Crispy Air Fryer Tofu — slice it thin and layer it on top of these bagels with pesto for one of my favourite quick lunches
- Baked Falafel — another plant-based recipe that works just as well tucked into a bagel as it does in a bowl
📖 Recipe
4 Ingredient Whole Wheat Sesame Bagels
Ingredients
- 1 c whole wheat flour
- ½ tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 c greek yogurt
Optional Topping
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- For self-rising flour, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl.
- Add in the greek yogurt and stir together with a wooden spoon until a large ball of dough forms.
- Lightly flour a flat surface and knead the dough with your hands (lightly sprinkle additional flour on top of the dough if it gets sticky).
- Form the dough into a large circle and cut with a sharp knife into 4 even pieces. Form each into a bagel shape.
- For sesame seed bagels, brush melted butter on top of each bagel and sprinkle on sesame seeds (the butter is essential for sesame seeds to stick).
- Transfer the bagels to your prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes until tops are lightly golden brown.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions for Easy 4 Ingredient Whole Wheat Sesame Bagels
Why do these need no yeast? The Greek yogurt in the dough activates the baking powder and creates enough lift to make the bagels light and chewy without any yeast or proving time. Traditional bagels need yeast and a water bath boiling step, this recipe skips both and still produces a truly great bagel.
Can I make these gluten-free? A 1:1 gluten-free flour blend can work but the texture will be slightly different. The bagels may not be as chewy. Use a blend that contains xanthan gum for the best result.
What toppings work besides sesame seeds? Everything But The Bagel seasoning, poppy seeds, onion flakes, garlic flakes, or a combination all work. Brush with egg wash first so the toppings stick.
Sara
My new go-to recipe! So good and so easy!!
Arisha
Hi Sara! I'm so glad you liked the recipe 🙂 It's so easy to whip up, I've been making them non-stop over here as well!
Grace
Easy, quick, and delicious!!
Thanks for the great recipe! The Greek yogurt and butter gave it an almost biscuit-flavor and I topped mine with chia seeds. Will definitely make again!
Arisha
Hi Grace! Thank you so much for sharing, so happy you love them!