These air fryer blueberry bagels come out perfectly fluffy and filled with fruity flavor. Bagels are one of my favorite breakfast foods, and the air fryer is great—not just for toasting bagels, but for making them from scratch as well.
These bagels take a little time and effort to prepare, but they’re so worth it. If you’re short on time and looking for an easier alternative, try this four-ingredient Air Fryer Bagels recipe instead.
I like to add a touch of lemon to these air fryer blueberry bagels. By adding just a ½ teaspoon of lemon extract and the zest from one lemon to the dough, you get a delicious and fresh lemon flavor that pairs perfectly with the blueberries.
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Bagels
- Delicious and fresh blueberry flavor! Even with frozen blueberries, these bagels come out of the air fryer fluffy and “berry” flavorful.
- Only six simple ingredients. If you have frozen blueberries in your freezer, you probably already have everything you need to make this recipe.
- Faster than oven-baked bagels! Cooking bagels in the oven can take more than 30 minutes. But not these air fryer blueberry bagels; after just 10 minutes in the air fryer, they’re ready to be devoured!
If you love this air fryer bagels recipe, make sure you check out this Air Fryer Homemade Donut Recipe and our Homemade Air Fryer Pop Tarts. The air fryer works great for making recipes like these from scratch!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Don’t forget to knead your bagel dough! This softens the dough and creates that delicious, fluffy texture. Check out this fantastic tutorial video for two different methods of kneading dough.
- Boil and air fryer your bagels in small batches. Only boil what you can immediately cook in your air fryer. Since just two bagels can fit in my air fryer, I boil two at a time, then place them in the air fryer to cook them. When they’re almost done in the air fryer, I start boiling the next two bagels.
- Use frozen blueberries. Since you’ll have to knead the dough and let it rise for more than an hour, I suggest using frozen blueberries rather than fresh ones. They’ll keep their shape better and still provide that intense blueberry flavor.
How to Store Air Fryer Blueberry Bagels
Store your air fryer bagels in the fridge in a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them; they’ll stay fresh in the freezer for 3-4 months.
Did you know you can also toast your bagels in the air fryer? Just slice it in half, spread a little bit of butter or olive oil on top, and pop it in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes (or a little bit longer, depending on how crispy you want your bagel). It comes out perfectly toasted!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Bagels
When it comes to bagels, I like the classic topping: cream cheese. Add a few blueberries, a dash of honey, and a little lemon zest on top, and it’s 100% Instagrammable.
You can also top your air fryer blueberry bagels with peanut butter, almond butter (this one is my all-time favorite), or your favorite fruits: diced strawberries, raspberries, and bananas are fantastic additions.
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes
- Air Fryer Scrambled Eggs: The first time my friend told me she made scrambled eggs in the air fryer, I was shocked! Now, I make them all the time—this recipe gets you perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs in 10 minutes.
- Crispy Air Fryer Bacon: Avoid the mess, the oil splatters, and the cleanup—make deliciously crispy bacon in your air fryer in just 8 minutes.
- Homemade Air Fryer French Toast Sticks: Made with soft, fluffy Brioche bread, these cinnamon-sugar French toast sticks are easy to make in the air fryer and go great with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh strawberries.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from fellow home chefs and air fryer fans. Comment below, follow Air Fryer Eats on Instagram, pin this recipe to Pinterest, and join our Air Fryer Recipes Facebook group too.
Air Fryer Blueberry Bagels
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water
- 1 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 cups frozen blueberries
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add the warm water, yeast, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Give it a gentle stir, then let it sit for 5 minutes, until foam and bubbles form.
- Add 4 ½ cups of flour and 2 tsp of salt to another bowl. Mix, then gradually stir into the water mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Fold the blueberries into the dough.
- Add ½ cup of flour to a hard surface and knead the dough gently for 5-7 minutes, until smooth. After you’re done kneading, add a little bit of oil to a bowl and place the ball of dough inside. Cover and let it rise for an hour (or until the dough doubles in size).
- Add a bit of flour to a hard surface and divide your dough into 8 small pieces. Roll into a smooth ball. Using your thumb, punch a hole into the center of the dough and form bagel shapes.
- Place the bagel dough rings onto a baking sheet and cover for 25 minutes.
- In a large saucepan, boil water and add 1 tbsp of sugar. Place a bagel into the water and boil for 1 minute on each side.
- Remove from the boiling water and immediately place the boiled bagels in the air fryer basket on parchment paper.
- Cook at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes, flipping the bagels at the 6-minute mark. Continue cooking your bagels in batches until all the dough is boiled and cooked.
Notes
- This recipe makes 8 bagels. Cook the bagels two at a time in your air fryer to avoid overcrowding.
- This recipe can be made in an air fryer unit with a basket or an air fryer oven. If you are using an air fryer oven, use the middle rack and choose the “Air Fry” function.
- Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Make sure to check your food as it’s cooking to learn your air fryer better and avoid over- or undercooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can toast bagels in the air fryer—and it’s super easy. Just slice it the bagel in half, spread a little bit of butter or olive oil on top, and pop it in the air fryer (face-side up) at 350°F (180°C) for 3 minutes. If you want your bagel a little more crispy, just add another minute. The bagels come out perfectly toasted!
There’s a super-easy way to know when your dough is fully kneaded and ready to rise: just poke a finger in your dough. If it comes out sticky, the dough isn’t ready quite yet. If there’s no sticking and the dough quickly bounces back, it’s ready! Check out this fantastic tutorial to learn how to knead dough like a baking expert.
Boiling the bagels for a few minutes before cooking them in the air fryer helps your bagels come out shiny and crisp. The boiling water cooks the outer layer of dough and makes sure it stays bagel-shaped while it cooks in the air fryer.
