Everything Bagel Bites with Bacon-Scallion Cream Cheese Dip

For The Secret Recipe Club this month, I had Nicole of I am a Honey Bee. She actually had my blog in February and made my Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken so it was fun to return the favor, especially since I read her blog already and always like what I see. She also does Thirsty Thursdays posts with Amanda of Fake Ginger and I almost made her Red, White, and Blue Sangria, because it would be the perfect Fourth of July drink.

That was until I saw the recipe for these Everything Bagel Bites. I love making homemade bagels but shaping them is sometimes a pain. This recipe avoids that by cutting them into nuggets. However, it also results in a dangerously poppable treat as I downed 6 before I even knew what happened. I was just standing in my kitchen testing them out before photographing and could not stop! Pairing them with a bacon-scallion cream cheese dip just enhances this effect.

As a side note: I have discovered one benefit to the summer heat – letting dough rise outside! Yup, I set the dough for these bagel bites outside to rise, covered and in the shade. I am a genius.

Two years ago: Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

EVERYTHING BAGEL BITES WITH BACON-SCALLION CREAM CHEESE DIP

Serves 6

Ingredients:

BAGEL BITES

2 tsp active dry yeast

1/4 cup+ 1/2 tsp sugar

2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1-1/2 cup white whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp light brown sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1/4 cup baking soda

4 cups water

2 Tbsp everything bagel topping (recipe below)

CREAM CHEESE DIP

2 slices bacon

1/4 cup lowfat plain Greek yogurt (I used 2% Chobani)

4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

2 scallion greens, thinly sliced

1/2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

EVERYTHING BAGEL TOPPING

3/4 tsp salt

1 Tbsp sesame seeds

2 tsp black sesame seeds (or toasted regular)

2 tsp poppy seeds

1 Tbsp dried minced onion

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in the warm water. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flours, 1/4 cup sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center and add the oil and yeast mixture.
3. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes or use a stand mixer with the hook attachment. While the dough is coming together, watch it to see if it is looking dry. If so add a tablespoon or so of water until slightly tacky but doesn’t stick to your fingers.
4. Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl. Lightly coat the dough with oil as well. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 – 2 hours.
5. While the dough rises, prepare the cream cheese dip and bagel topping. In a medium pan, fry the bacon until crispy. Remove, crumble and reserve bacon fat. In a medium bowl, blend together the Greek yogurt and cream cheese. Stir in bacon fat, bacon crumbles, and remaining ingredients. Store in refrigerator until ready to use. In a small zip-top baggie, combine all topping ingredients and shake.
6. When the dough has risen, preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, set aside.
7. Place the baking soda and water into a pot and bring to a boil while preparing the dough.
8. Put the risen dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 1-inch thick (do not re-knead) and cut into 1 to 1.5-inch pieces (I cut each rope into six pieces to get 36 total).
9. Once all of the dough is all shaped, drop into the boiling water 6 at a time. Let boil for about 10 seconds, then remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with the everything bagel topping, and repeat with remaining dough.
10. Bake in preheated oven for 6-8 minutes, until lightly browned. Serve warm with dip or mustard. Best the first day.

Source: Bagel bites adapted from I am a Honey Bee. Dip and Bagel Topping adapted from Momofuku Milk Bar.